Stories Past

by Lindsay Braden - Researcher Anglesea & District Historical Society

Joy flights from the Anglesea Camping Ground

Locals and holidaymakers flocked to the Anglesea Camping Ground for a joy flight with ex-wartime pilot Charles Pratt in his biplane constructed from wood, wire and fabric. He finished the day with a minor bingle, ending with the machine nose down in the ti-tree - no one was hurt!

Pratt came in his famous Avro 5O4K G-AUCJ on New Years Day 1921. The vagaries of the wind were reported to have caused the mishap, deflecting the plane into the scrub at the far side of the clearing.

The damaged aircraft was carted back to Belmont Common and repaired. Pratts holiday joy flights continued at Anglesea until the late 1930's. In later years, Charlie used a more versatile Gipsy Moth for his sky adventures.