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Issue 38: May/June 1987
The Father of Offsets
Hawker de Havilland 60th Anniversary Special Feature
Rollo Kingsford-Smith an Australian Aerospace Industry Pioneer
Last December Rollo Kingsford-Smith, one of Australia’s leading aerospace identities, retired after 37 years of distinguished service with Hawker de Havilland. The contributions he made to the industry throughout his remarkable career have made Hawker de Havilland a successful international company.
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After leaving Sydney High School, Rollo Kingsford-Smith spent three years working for the wool corporation as an office clerk, an industry far removed from aviation. In 1938 he commenced what was to become a lifetime association with aviation when he joined the Royal Australian Air Force as an Air Cadet. His first operational appointment was to the No. 6 RAAF Anson Squadron at Richmond NSW in 1939. Having completed his navigation specialist course in 1940 he became station operations/navigation officer in 1941 and spent some time serving as Chief Navigation Instructor Coastal Reconnaissance at Bairnsdale, Victoria. The shortest posting of his career, a mere three days, was to New Guinea. After his arrival in New Guinea, he was posted to the UK. A distinguished war service followed, awarded DSO and DFC, the 1939-45 Star, Aircrew Europe Star and Clasp and the Defence and War Medal 1939-45. Principal wartime appointments included command of a Royal Australian Air Force Lancaster Squadron, a Royal Air Force Mosquito Squadron and a RAF Stirling Operations Unit.
A combination of factors almost caused him to resign from the Air Force in 1944. The lack of Avro aircraft to fly, Avro were on strike and an attractive offer from Qantas (after unofficially training Qantas pilots) could have changed the future of the industry if it had not been for an offer from the RAF. The RAF offered Kingsford-Smith the command of a Mosquito Squadron, he consequently served another 5 years.
In 1948, De Havilland’s Managing Director, Murray-Jones literally made RKS an offer he could not refuse, to join De Havilland’s to market the De Havilland Drover. RKS wondered if he had made the right decision when shortly after he joined in March 1949, NSW was to experience an extended coal strike which meant there was no power for industry. The company had no option but to retrench hundreds of employees. For many years De Havilland’s policy had been to make and sell De Havilland products only. RKS recognised that unless this policy was changed De Havilland’s future would be bleak. This policy and the continuing decline in defence workload could result in the close-down of the operation. In true entrepreneurial style he recognised that the company needed to broaden its base and submitted a proposal recommending that De Havilland’s seek an agency for one of the successful US light aircraft manufacturers. He vehemently fought this battle and won. Having won this battle, it was necessary to find a suitable agency. After eliminating several others, he finally tracked down the senior management of Beech in Paris (they were on an extended overseas trip). This was to be the start of what is still today a successful relationship via Hawker Pacific. He was also instrumental in obtaining the contract for the manufacture of the first non-De Havilland product, it was the wings for the Winjeel.
A new era had begun.
Observing that other countries had reciprocal purchasing policies he became a champion for an Australian offsets policy. To date, Hawker de Havilland has won over $420 million worth of offset contracts. A tribute to Rollo Kingsford-Smith’s insight.
Through his membership of many industry and government committees and various associations, he was able to influence the direction of the industry, always encouraging it to expand its technological base and markets.
During the 60’s when everyone opposed offsets, he fought for HdH’s right to carry out workload of this type, always encouraging use of new technologies, always increasing the customer base and international markets. From a turnover of just $5 million in the late 40’s to an annual turnover of over $170 million in 1986, Rollo Kingsford-Smith has been instrumental in the development of an embryonic company to the status of a mature and prosperous industry.
“What is HdH’s strength?” I asked. “People are Hawker de Havilland’s strength and their attitude to win”, he replied. Rollo Kingsford-Smith is certainly one of Australia’s achievers.
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