The Initial Search for the Lady Southern Cross

The following documents describe the initial search by the Royal Air Force, Far East based in Singapore.

 

 

 


(Source: NSW State Archives, Probate Packet for Sir Charles Kingsford Smith)

 

Personnel of No. 205 Squadron, Royal Air Force at Seletar, Singapore with Short Singapore III K3593 in November 1935. Two of these aircraft were used on the search but it is not known if this particular aeroplane was involved.
(Picture: NLA, E.A. Crome Collection, PIC/3394/943 LOC ALBUM 1090/11)

 

Personnel of No. 100 (TB) Squadron, Royal Air Force with Vickers Vildebeest aircraft in their hangar at Seletar in 1935. The squadron was deployed to defend Singapore in January 1934. Four of their aircraft were used on the search. The squadron was still operating the type at the outbreak of hostilities in 1941.
(Picture: NLA, E.A. Crome Collection, PIC/3394/944 LOC ALBUM 1090/11)

 

On 15 November 1935, nine Vildebeest from No. 36 (TB) Squadron joined the search. The squadron had re-equipped with Vildebeests in July 1935 and was still operating the type when WWII began. It is presumed that this photo depicts personnel from 36 Squadron.
(Picture: NLA, E.A. Crome Collection, PIC/3394/945 LOC ALBUM 1090/11)

 


 

The Ted Wixted Searches for the Lady Southern Cross

 

Nobody has been more invested in locating the final resting place of Smithy, Tommy Pethybridge and the Lady Southern Cross than the late Ted Wixted. Being the eminent historian that he was, Ted has painstakingly documented his searches in two publications. Any attempt at summarising his published material could not do him justice so Ted's work should stand alone in his own words.

This booklet, The Search for the Lady Southern Cross, was privately published in 1991. Click on the image of the front cover to download a PDF of the entire publication.

 

 

Subsequently, in 1996, Ted published his definitive work The Life and Times of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, Chapter 14 of which is devoted to his searches for the Lady Southern Cross. Click on the front cover of the book to download a PDF of the entire chapter.

 

 

 


 

The Damien Lay Searches for the Lady Southern Cross


As a follow-up to the search led by the late Ted Wixted in 1983, film-maker, Damien Lay, travelled to Myanmar (previously Burma) in February 2009. At a press conference in Sydney on 22 March 2009, Damien Lay announced:

"Without shadow of a doubt, in my mind, we have undoubtedly found the Lady Southern Cross".


Mr Lay is reportedly seeking funding to pursue the search to a conclusion and to produce a feature film on Smithy. The film is to be titled "The Lost Anzac".



 

 

Thanks to:

Ted Wixted
Mick Raftery
Tim Kalina

 


Issue
Date
Remarks
2
08APR25
This page has been greatly expanded to include the report on the initial search by the RAF.
Ted Wixted's published works on his own searches have been reproduced in full.
1
-
Original issue.

 

 

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