Henry John "Harry" Butler was an Australian aviator and pioneer from Koolywurtie, South Australia.
Harry Butler was born on the 9th of November 1889 in Yorketown, South Australia. He was known to build model aircraft during school hours at Koolywurtie Public School. This often landed him in trouble, as he prioritised the construction of the model aircrafts over his school work. He was also known to study the capabilities of his mother's chickens, including measuring the wing span and weight before releasing them.
Pictured: Koolywurtie Public School, where Butler attended. (GC1PRM3)
In 1915, Butler became an engineer at the Australian Flying School at Point Cook, Victoria. He resigned after only 2 weeks. In 1916, he travelled to England to join the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) to become an air mechanic. Butler immediately received recognition and was promoted to Second Lieutenant only three weeks later. He was also a skilled flight instructor. During his time at the RFC, he was given the rank of Chief Fighting Instructor. He worked at Marske Aerodrome in North Yorkshire. By the time the war had ended in 1918, he had taught 2700 people. In 1918, he received the Air Force Cross, awarded to him for "an act or acts of exemplary gallantry while flying, though not in active operations against the enemy". He was also given the rank of captain.
Pictured: One of the hangers at Marske Aerodrome in North Yorkshire, England. (GCG1VH)
Post WWI, Butler returned to Australia with a Bristol M.1C monoplane, now known as "Harry Butler's Red Devil".
Butler established the first airport and flight business in South Australia with a man named Harry Kauper. The business was operated under the name "Captain Harry J. Butler & Kauper Aviation Co. Ltd". Around this time, the "red devil" became a familiar sight across the skies of Adelaide. The monoplane was not used in Butlers' flight business. Instead, it was used for sightseeing tours and to drop advertising leaflets around Adelaide.
Harry Butler flew the "red devil' on a 108km journey from Adelaide to Minlaton, making him the first person to fly over the gulf to Yorke Peninsula. This took place on the 6th of August 1919. This flight was also the first to deliver mail over a body of water in the southern hemisphere. Upon arrival his at Minlaton, he was greeted by 6000 people.
Photographed: The "Red Devil" monoplane.
When Butler flew back to Adelaide, he dropped a note over his old school which read:
“To my old school and its scholars. I sincerely hope that this little message from the air will bring to you all the very best of luck.”
The note was discovered and later framed and kept on the school wall.
Harry Butler was well known for hosting air shows across South Australia. These included shows outside the Royal Adelaide Hospital as a form of entertainment for the patients. As well as ones at Unley, Glenelg, Henley Beach, Grange and Kadina. Before the Kadina air show was set to begin, heavy rains swept over the area. As a result, the crowd that had gathered thought the show would be cancelled. Harry Butler then stated to the crowd:
"If it’s good enough for all you people to come out, it’s good enough for me to go up”. - Harry Butler, 9th of September 1919.
Pictured: Harry Butler performing an air show over Henley Beach Jetty, November 1919.
On the 10th of December 1919, The Smith Brothers arrived in Adelaide after being the first people to fly from England to Australia. The "red devil", which was being piloted by Butler circled the skies waiting for them to arrive. Butler lead the Smith Brothers to the runway of his airport at Northfield, where Butler's flight business was situated. Butler had made the airport available for them to use, as well as helping them in other ways during their stay.
In 1920, Butler moved his flight business operations from Northfield to a site in Albert Park (which was considered regional at the time) after purchasing a 60 acre plot of land in the area.
In September 1921, Butler was forced to close the airport and flight business due to rising transport costs and low demand. The department of defence took over the site in 1922 and used it as the first "Adelaide Airport" until 1927.
Pictured: The plane used by the Smith Brothers in 1919, now housed at Adelaide Airport. (GC9P4PR)
On the 11th of January 1922, Butler was involved in a plane crash near Minlaton shortly after take off. The plane encountered trouble at 400 metres above the ground when the engine stalled. Butler survived the crash. However, due to the injuries sustained during the incident, he never was able to fly again. The plane involved in the crash was not the "red devil" monoplane, rather a biplane used in his previous flight business.
On the 30th of July 1924, Harry Butler passed away suddenly of a brain injury at age 34. The brain injury is believed to be a result of the plane crash two years prior. His funeral was held on the 31st of July 1924 and was attended by large crowds of people. He was remembered as a man who brought a new experience to South Australians in the form of flight and entertainment, as well as his charity work.
He is now buried at Nailsworth Cemetery just north of Adelaide CBD.
Pictured: The aircraft involved in the crash after impact.
After Butler's passing, the "red devil" was privately owned by two seperate individuals. The plane was eventually donated back to the people of Minlaton and is now included in the memorial. Only 130 of these Bristol M.1C monoplanes were built. Of the original 130, Harry Butler's plane is the only one left in the world.
The memorial opened in October 1958. The memorial includes a model of the famous plane, which was built in 1919 by Jack Barclay from Warooka.
Logging requirements:
1. Take a photo of you, your personal item, or something that includes your caching name with the Harry Butler statue at the given coordinates. Your face does not need to be included in the photo. Upload this picture with your log.
2. On the propeller of the "red devil" is a string of letters and numbers. G XXX NO X. What are the 4 numbers (in place of X)? Please send this answer to me. Do not include the numbers in your log.
You can log the find straight away. Please send your answers to the CO within a timely matter, or your log may be deleted.
I hope you enjoyed the Harry Butler memorial site. There are plenty of plaques and information boards around to read on Butler's achievements and his plane.
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