Description
Title: Fly Boy
Author: Litchfield, Geoff
Condition: Very Good Plus
Edition: 1st Edition
Publication Date: 2002
ISBN: 0958052409
Cover: Soft Cover without Dust Jacket – 286 pages
Comments: This is a second-hand book
Born in Glen Innes, NSW and terminating his formal education at Tamworth, NSW high school, Geoff found his life’s niche in aviation circles after brief employment by the Commonwealth Bank.​
Attracted by the exciting evolution of aircraft development during and after the Second World War, he finally succumbed to suppressed urges, joining the Fleet Air Arm in 1952. Flying training with the RAAF, Royal Navy, Airworks (UK), RAF and RAN exposed him to nine aircraft types including the high performance Supermarine Seafire Mk. XVII and Hawker Sea Fury FBII. Conversion to de Havilland Vampire, Sea Venom and Gloster Meteor NF. II ensued. The peaceful interlude between conflicts in Korea and Vietnam failed to arrest a string of mishaps, as 22 compatriots lost their lives.​
Surviving 350 day and night deck landings/205 catapult launches, operating from carriers HMS ‘Illustrious’ and ‘Bulwark’ – HMAS ‘Sydney’ and ‘Melbourne’, as a fighter pilot, disaster was ever a hairsbreadth away. Near collisions included those seaborne, as HMAS ‘Quiberon’ marginally escaped being bisected by the bows of carrier ‘Melbourne’ on night exercises while he was embarked.
​Political decision forced his career re-assessment, and he joined the ranks of pilots with Trans-Australia Airlines in 1960. Nearly 30 years of airline flying followed in DC-3’s, F-27’s, Lockheed Electras, DC-9’s, B727’s and finally the Airbus A-300-B4. Duties included secondment to the Bureau of Mineral Resources, to New Guinea for domestic and international air services, supervisory positions in the check and training area, and a brief period in aircrew administration. A ferry flight from Miami came near to disaster. Subsequent early retirement resulted due to the 1989 airline dispute.
