ATSB Chief Commissioner Greg Hood accepted the donation on behalf of the ATSB, saying it was a significant piece of Australian aviation history.
“The Supermarine Walrus was a British single-engine amphibious(Opens in a new tab/window) biplane(Opens in a new tab/window) reconnaissance aircraft first flown in 1933,” Mr Hood said.
“It was operated by the Fleet Air Arm(Opens in a new tab/window) and also served with the Royal Air Force(Opens in a new tab/window) (RAF), Royal Australian Air Force(Opens in a new tab/window) (RAAF), Royal New Zealand Navy(Opens in a new tab/window) (RNZN) and Royal New Zealand Air Force(Opens in a new tab/window) (RNZAF).
“It was the first British squadron-service aircraft to incorporate in one airframe a fully retractable main undercarriage, completely enclosed crew accommodation and all-metal fuselage.
Designed for use as a fleet spotter to be catapult(Opens in a new tab/window) launched from cruisers(Opens in a new tab/window) or battleships(Opens in a new tab/window), the Walrus was later employed in a variety of other roles, most notably as a rescue aircraft for downed aircrew. It continued in service throughout the Second World War(Opens in a new tab/window).”
Mr Hood said Peter Lloyd was a champion of aviation safety nationally and internationally for more than a half a century.
“He has made an indelible contribution to aviation safety through his position as President Emeritus and Life Member of Safeskies Australia,” Mr Hood said.
“I’d to thank Peter for his frank and fearless advice to myself and to successive Ministers and Governments on many occasions, and for his generosity in donating this significant piece of Australian aviation history.”
About Peter Lloyd
George Alfred or “Peter” Lloyd as he has become known, was born in Sydney(Opens in a new tab/window) in 1920, and attended Sydney Church of England Grammar School(Opens in a new tab/window), and then the University of Sydney(Opens in a new tab/window).
On 31 May 1940, Peter enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force(Opens in a new tab/window) and served throughout the Second World War. (Opens in a new tab/window)He was assigned to the 2/6th Field Regiment(Opens in a new tab/window) and saw action in the Middle East(Opens in a new tab/window) and New Guinea(Opens in a new tab/window). On 8 March 1945, Peter was Mentioned in Dispatches for gallant and distinguished service in the South-West Pacific.
On his return to Australia, he worked as a grazier and in 1951 was elected treasurer of the Royal Aero Club of New South Wales. He qualified as a pilot in 1955.
In 1957, he became president of the club, a position he held for 10 years, and then again from 1972 to 1974. He built up the club from poor condition to the largest aviation school in the British Commonwealth.
In 1958, Peter became president of the Federation of Australian Aero Clubs, and set about greatly increasing the federation's membership and promoting aviation sports throughout Australia.
Honors
In 1964, Peter was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire(Opens in a new tab/window) (OBE) as president of the Royal Aero Club of New South Wales.
In 1969, he received the Oswald Watt Gold Medal(Opens in a new tab/window)—Australia's highest aviation award. The late Sir Charles Kingsford Smith won this medal three times.
In 1987 Peter worked personally with Mikhail Gorbachev, the last president of the former USSR, and President Ronald Reagan of the USA and other world leaders to free a teenage German flyer, held after illegally flying to Moscow.
In 1989 he was presented with the FAI Gold Air Medal, the world’s highest and most prestigious civil aviation award. Only two other Australian's have received this honour — Bert Hinkler and Sir Donald Anderson.
Peter was also honoured by the USSR with the Yuri Gargarin Award for services to air sports internationally, aeronautics, cosmonautics, and the cause of world peace.
Peter still devotes extraordinary time and energy as President Emeritus of Safeskies, Australia's international Air Safety Conference.
In the 1990 Australia Day Honors, Peter was made an Officer of the Order of Australia(Opens in a new tab/window) for service to aviation and international relations. In 1992, he was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame(Opens in a new tab/window).
In the 2016 Queen's Birthday Honors, Peter was upgraded to a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), for eminent service to the aviation industry, particularly to the advancement of air safety in Australia, through leading roles with national and international aeronautical organizations, and airport associations.
He has nearly 11,000 hours of flying experience on general aviation and aerobatic aircraft and experience in gliding, parachuting and ballooning.
He is Patron of the Australian and International Parachute Federation and conducted parachute jumps over Canberra on his 80th, 85th, 90th and 95th birthdays.