The Forgotten Giant of Australian Aviation

Book excerpt: This book tells the full story of ANA, the forgotten giant of Australian aviation. Told through the eyes of ANA's pilots, hostesses, engineers and other staff, there are many humorous and dramatic stories, including the pioneering Bass Strait flights of the early 1930s, submarine hunting in DC-3s in 1939-40, a unique courier service to Manila in 1945, some extraordinary migrant charters in the late 1940s, and evacuation flights ahead of the advancing Communists in 1949. As well as describing ANA's key role in the development of safe and reliable intercapital routes, this book covers the airline's lesser known services including the 'Gulf run', the aerial ambulance out of Cairns, and the Riverina milk runs. Filling a major gap in Australian aviation history, this book will make fascinating reading for aviation enthusiasts, students of history and the general reader alike.