Yesteryear

An Australian visionary

Lawrence Wackett – the father of major aircraft production in Australia – Part 1

Lawrence Wackett was a visionary whose drive and determination saw major aircraft production established in Australia. Born in Townsville on January 2 1896, inspired by the exploits of aviation pioneers and with a strong interest in mechanical devices, he joined Royal Military College, Duntroon on March 13 1913. After the declaration of war an aviation path followed, joining the Australian Flying Corps at Point Cook, where in August 1915 he trained on Bristol Boxkites and B.E. biplanes prior to departing for Egypt serving with No 1 Squadron AFC.

Wackett’s mechanical initiative was noticed after devising inventions aiding aircraft gunnery, resulting in a transfer to Orford Ness Experimental Station, Suffolk to witness aircraft construction, prior to a posting to No 3 Squadron AFC in France. Aware of Wackett’s inventiveness, General John Monash asked him to devise a method to accurately drop supplies in the field, solved by designing a carrier with a parachute to drop ammunition boxes. When over 90,000kg of ammunition was delivered using this method during the Battle of Hamel, Monash recommended Wackett be awarded £300.