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Paul Joseph McGinness
Nickname(s)"Ginty"
Born(1896-02-14)14 February 1896
Warrnambool, Victoria
Died25 January 1952(1952-01-25) (aged 55)
Perth, Western Australia
AllegianceAustralia
Service/branch Australian Imperial Force
Australian Flying Corps
Royal Australian Air Force
Years of service1914–1919
c. 1940–1945
Rank Squadron Leader
Battles/wars First World War Second World War
Awards Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Conduct Medal
Other workCo-founder of Qantas
Arrival at Longreach of the Armstrong Whitworth FK8 with the first bag of air mail on the inaugural flight of the first Qantas air service from Charleville to Cloncurry, 22 November 1922. (Pilot McGinness is fourth from right.)

Paul Joseph McGinness, DFC, DCM (14 February 1896 – 25 January 1952 [1]) was an Australian flying ace of the First World War, credited with seven aerial victories. He was a co-founder of Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services (Qantas). [2]

Early life

McGinness was born on his family's property Riverview at Framlingham, Victoria, near Warrnambool, and attended St Patrick's College, Ballarat.

World War I service

McGinness enlisted in the 8th Light Horse Regiment on 17 September 1914 at the age of 18 and served throughout the Gallipoli and Sinai peninsular campaigns where McGinness was award the Distinguished Conduct Medal for "bravery and devotion to duty" on 22 April 1916. Due to a combination of outstanding leadership and heavy casualties, he rose through the ranks to become a squadron quartermaster sergeant.[ citation needed]

Transferring to the Australian Flying Corps on 22 October 1917, McGinness was posted to 67th Squadron AFC, later posted to X Flight and the 1st Squadron, Australian Flying Corps. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 25 August 1918 and returned to Australia after the armistice on 17 April 1919. [3]

McGinness is commemorated Mortlake Avenue of Honour (Tree North 54) Mortlake, Victoria alongside brothers James Patrick McGinness (Tree North 56, 47th Battalion, died of wounds, 5 September 1916) and Micheal McGinness (Tree North 55, inventor of the "Trench Destroyer"). [4]

Founding of Qantas

Qantas was founded in Winton, Queensland on 16 November 1920 by Hudson Fysh, McGinness and Fergus McMaster as Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Limited. [5] [6] The airline's first aircraft was an Avro 504K. It moved its headquarters to Longreach, Queensland in 1921 and Brisbane, Queensland in 1930. [7]

Later life

McGinness died at Hollywood Repatriation Hospital and was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery. [8]

Notes

  1. ^ "Squadron Leader Paul Joseph McGinness DFC DCM". Shrine of Remembrance - Melbourne. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  2. ^ "Paul McGinness". The Aerodrome. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  3. ^ McGinness Paul Joseph : SERN LIEUT 324 : POB Warrnambool VIC : POE Melbourne VIC : NOK M McGinness Catherine, c. 1914-1920. 1920.
  4. ^ "LATE NEWS". Albury Banner and Wodonga Express (NSW : 1871 - 1938). 21 April 1916. p. 21. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  5. ^ "Small Beginnings". Qantas. Archived from the original on 9 October 2006. Retrieved 16 December 2006.
  6. ^ "The Men Who Established Qantas". Qantas. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  7. ^ "Our history". www.qantas.com. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  8. ^ "Obscure funeral for hero". The Mail (Adelaide). Vol. 41, no. 2, 070. South Australia. 2 February 1952. p. 5. Retrieved 12 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.

Further reading

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