Travel the Aerial Way - The Kaitaia Airways

 

The Air Survey and Transport Company was formed in 1928 by Douglas Mill, a former pilot of the New Zealand Flying School. The company establish itself at Auckland’s Hobsonville aerodrome with a hangar built across the main road from the aerodrome which meant the planes had to cross the road for maintenance. Bob Johnson, also of the New Zealand Flying School, was appointed service manager. 

The Auckland Public Libraries' item description of its "F. Douglas Mill Collection" contains a good summary of Doug Mill and his involvement in aviation in the late 1920s and early 1930s. 

In 1919 Douglas ('Doug') Mill trained at the New Zealand Flying School as a pilot but, with few opportunities available for civil aviation, he took up law until 1927. Then, after having completed a refresher flying course in England, he decided to purchase a DH [de Havilland] 60 Moth. This was fitted with a Williamson 'Eagle' aerial camera and shipped back to New Zealand, arriving in March 1928. 

For many of the aerial photographs, while Doug Mill was piloting the plane, his wife Audrey was leaning out of the open cockpit with a camera.

Doug and Audrey Mill, dressed in flying gear, standing beside their De Havilland Moth plane. There is a suitcase in the aircraft's storage compartment and various other items of the couple's luggage are on the grass. Photo : F Douglas Mill Collection - Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections FDM-0915-P

Doug Mill's flying in Auckland began from Tamaki on the 11th of March 1928. The following day the Herald reported The Moth two-seater aeroplane recently imported from England by Mr, Douglas Mill, of Remuera, on behalf of the Air Survey and Transport Company, was removed yesterday from the city to a field on the Tamaki Heights, where it was finally assembled and tested, and later flown on a prolonged test flight over Auckland City and environs. Though the machine was towed from the city to the field in the early morning, its location was quickly discovered by Aucklanders, who appeared anxious to renew their acquaintance with an aeroplane, for since the closing of the flying school at Kohimarama, soon after the war, aeroplanes have been noticeably absent from Auckland.

During the day the Moth was eagerly examined by hundreds of young and old. One boy was heard to observe philosophically, "Well, I'd sooner ride my old bicycle, because you don't fall so far." Through the courtesy of Mr. Mill, a New Zealand Herald representative was allowed to accompany him on his first flight, which lasted for an hour and a-half. The preparation for a flight is simple. The engine is started, a swift but close examination is made of the controls, one is given a helmet which has telephones sewn inside it for communication with the pilot during flight, and then strapped into his seat in the front cockpit. The Moth taxies out on to the runway.

Suddenly the pilot's voice asks through the telephone, "Are you ready?" - The machine slowly moves off, headed into the wind. Speed is increased. "Giving her the gun," the pilot calls it. The ground slips away from under the machine. In less than a hundred yards it rises like a bird, rocks gently as though spreading its wings for the flight ahead, and then zooms up to one thousand feet in a flash.

De Havilland DH60 Moth G-NZAT at Tamaki Heights on 11 March 1928. Photo : F Douglas Mill Collection - Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections FDM-0892-P

View of Doug Mill and Mr. Williamson of the Herald standing by F. Douglas (Doug) Mill's de Havilland Moth plane at the time of its first flight in New Zealand. Photo : F Douglas Mill Collection - Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections FDM-0896-P

De Havilland DH60 Moth G-NZAT in 1928. Photo : F Douglas Mill Collection - Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections FDM-0905-P

In 1929 the Air Survey and Transport Company Limited was formally registered as a company. It described it's aims as carriers of passengers, goods and mail by air. The company had a capital of £3000, in £1 shares. The subscribers were Frank Douglas Mill, 2998 shares; Margaret Ann Mill and Audrey Lina Mill, 1 share each. He also accepted de Havilland's offer of their New Zealand agency, the imported aircraft being assembled at the family's Hobsonville base. By 1934 this side of the company's business had taken over from the aerial photography work.

Aerial view of Air Survey and Transport Company's new hangar (middleground) across the road from the airfield at Hobsonville. Photo : F Douglas Mill Collection - Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections FDM-0331-G

Meanwhile, in the far north, Colonel Allen (Allan) Bell, who had been the Member of Parliament for the Bay of Islands from 1922 to 1928, was always promoting the development of the Kaitaia area. He is described in “Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand” as a tall, handsome man with considerable presence. A powerful orator, he liked to 'smother' his opponents with words. He was a strong willed, charismatic, rather restless individual, who spent most of his adult life and financial resources campaigning for a range of private or public schemes and proposals. He had – for a man who supported the Reform Party for much of his life – rather radical social and political beliefs, which centred on protecting the rights and advancing the interests of ordinary working people. Although he was a controversial figure in Northland, there is no doubt that Bell had a profound affection for the region and made a great contribution to the development of modern Kaitaia and its environs.

On the 1st of April 1929 the Auckland Star reported that, Great enthusiasm for aviation is being displayed in Kaitaia, and following, on the matter being taken up by the local chamber of commerce, Mr. Allen Bell has arranged with the Minister of Defence to send up Major Isitt or Major Wallingford to help the. Kaitaia Aero Club to select an area for a landing ground and hangar. 

In July the Auckland Star reported that, Following on the Defence Minister's expression of sympathy with the project for instituting an aerodrome in Kaitaia, the Aero Club officials have been inspecting various sites, and at a meeting of the club they reported on three grounds. One other ground is to be inspected, and this is regarded as the most suitable one, being flat, dry and open, and nearly 200 acres in area. If it is secured the club will possess the biggest landing-ground in the Dominion. Various schemes for raising funds are being considered, and it is certain that the club has the support of the whole district.

While the search continued for a suitable aerodrome site two of Air Survey and Transport Company’s De Havilland Moths visited the Kaitaia areas from the 5th to the 7th of October 1929. The Auckland Star reported that, Some 3000 people assembled to watch the flying displays organised by the Kaitaia Aero Club at Mangonui and Ahipara. The assemblage at Ahipara was the largest ever seen in the Far North. Everything passed off without a hitch. Mr. F. D. Mill and Captain Hewitt, the pilots, took up 175 passengers. They left for Auckland on Monday evening. 

The Kaitaia Aero Club was, however, keen to develop the advent of air services to the Far North town. On the 6th of November 1929 the local newspaper, the Northland Age reported, In its battle to foster air-mindedness in this district the Kaitaia Aero Club is leaving no stone unturned and no possible scheme unexploited. Its latest endeavour is highly enterprising and ambitious, reaching a level probably never before attempted in the Dominion. A letter received from the aero club at the annual meeting of the Waipapakauri Racing Club stated there was a possibility, if sufficient passengers could be found, of a ten-passenger plane being available to carry local people to the race meeting to be held in Auckland on Boxing Day, and prospective passengers were asked to communicate with the aero club’s secretary. This venture of the aero club now seems improbable of accomplishment. Mr. R. A. Johnston, president of the club, stated yesterday that the club had expected there would be available one of the ten-passenger planes which are being imported by a Wellington company to run an air service between Wellington and Auckland via the East Coast. The company concerned, however, does not expect to commence operations until March, 1930, and the machines will not be landed in New Zealand until January or February. Although its scheme has apparently fallen through, the bare tact that it was fostering the venture serves to demonstrate the club’s enthusiasm, and it is to be congratulated on its progressiveness.

A 1930 photo De Havilland DH60 Moth ZK-AAR over Ponsonby, Auckland with Jervois Road in the foreground. By this stage ZK-AAR was with Falcon Airways. Photo : F Douglas Mill Collection - Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections FDM-0860-G

Allen Bell was President of the Kaitaia Aero Club and through an arrangement with the Air Survey and Transport Company he sponsored the establishment of an air service between Auckland and Kaitaia. Before this the journey between Kaitaia and Auckland took all day by service car connecting with the Express at Whangarei or 24 hours by taking a steamer.

On the 26th of November 1930 the Auckland Star reported that the aerial passenger service would start the following Saturday. The time occupied will be an hour and a quarter, as against 13 hours by car and train. The route will be over the West Coast. Mr Mill said yesterday that the proposed service was more or less experimental, but it was hoped that several trips would be made each week. It is proposed to leave Hobsonville aerodrome after the arrival of the 10 a.m. launch from Auckland, and to return in time to connect with the launch leaving for town at 3.40 p.m.

On the 28th of November 1930 the Whangarei newspaper, the Northern Advocate reported, The first commercial aerial service for North Auckland will be established tomorrow, when Mr Douglas Mill’s Moth plane will leave Hobsonville aerodrome for Kaitaia. Mr Allen Bell passed through Whangarei today, and with Mr Mill, the pilot, and Mr Stanley Holder, of Kaitaia, will participate in the inaugural flight. Taking off from Hobsonville at 11 o ’clock tomorrow, the plane will travel in a practically direct line to Ahipara, a distance of 139 miles. It Is expected to land at the Ninety Mile Beach at 12.15 p.m., and leave again for Auckland at 1 p.m. One of the passengers booked for the return trip is Miss Jean McKinnon, who was educated in Whangarei. She will be the first lady to traverse the peninsula by air. The service has been organised by the Kaitaia Aero Club, which is undertaking all preliminary arrangements. Interviewed by a "Northern Advocate” representative today, Mr Bell said a weekly service was aimed at. "I am afraid the people are too ‘windy’ of travel by air to make this possible immediately,” he said, "and our first work will be educative.”

The air service started on the 29th of November 1930 with Douglas Mill flying the Air Survey and Transport Company’s de Havilland DH80A Puss Moth ZK-ABR. This appears to be the first commercial flight for the newly arrived Puss Moth. The Auckland Star reported on the 2nd of December 1930 that, The first flights of the Auckland-Kaitaia aerial passenger service, organised by the Kaitaia Aero Club, in conjunction with Mr. F. D. Mill, were made on Saturday. Starting from Hobsonville aerodrome at 11.05 a.m. with Messrs. Allen. Bell and S. Holder as passengers. Mr. Mill traversed the west coast route to the entrance to Whangape Harbour, whence a course was set for Herekino and Kaitaia, which was reached in one hour 35 minutes. A landing was made on the Ahipara Beach. 

The De Havilland DH80 Puss Moth ZK-ABR at Hobsonville. Photo : F Douglas Mill Collection - Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections FDM-0022-G

The Northland Age of the same day recorded that, The airman was congratulated by Mr J. N. Berghan and Mr F. Holder, of the Mangonui County Council. The Auckland Star report detailed the flight back to Auckland - The return flight was made with Miss Jean McKinnon and Mr. R. V. Moore as passengers. The time occupied one and a half, On Sunday Mr. Mill conveyed two passengers to the Bay of Islands and flew on to Ahipara, where he picked up two Kaitaia passengers, Messrs, E. H. Hillman and A. Holmes. The time occupied on the return flight was again an hour and a half. The next day Doug Mill flew ZK-ABR to Te Aroha to take part in the air pageant arranged in connection with the jubilee celebrations of the district. 

Aerial view south along the coast at the southern end of Ninety Mile Beach showing Ahipara Bay. This shot was perhaps taken about the time that Douglas Mill, by arrangement with the Kaitaia Aero Club, began an air service between Kaitaia and Auckland. Photo : F Douglas Mill Collection - Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections FDM-0105-G

Meanwhile the next flights from Auckland to Kaitaia were arranged for the following Saturday and Sunday.

NZ Herald, 6 December 1931

On the 9th of December 1930 the NZ Herald reported on the success of the new service, noting that in the nine days to 7th of December, 15 passengers had been carried with an average flight time of one hour 20 minutes.

NZ Herald, 15 December 1930

The De Havilland DH80 Puss Moth ZK-ABR somewhere in the South Island. Photo : F Douglas Mill Collection - Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections FDM-0021-G

Douglas A Walker’s 1955 “Airmails of New Zealand, Volume 1” records that no mail was carried until March 24th 1931 when the first air mail was recorded as being flown from Auckland to Kaitaia and these letters were posted at Kaitaia after the flight as no official contract had been obtained. The first Kaitaia-Auckland mail was flown on the 7th of April when covers were posted at Auckland.  Initial envelopes were labelled “By Air Mail from The Winterless North, Kaitaia Aero Club’s Service Auckland to Kaitaia” as well as being imprinted with a rubber stamp “Air Survey & Transport Co. Ltd.” Later envelopes were labelled “The Kaitaia Airways”. These covers depicted one of Air Survey and Transport’s de Havilland DH60 Moths and it is reasonable to presume they were used on the service at times. The envelopes were all signed by one of the pilots and from this we know the flights were flown by F.D. Mill, D.M. Allan and J.D. Hewett.

A cover signed by Doug Mill carried on the flight with the first Auckland to Kaitaia air mail on the 24th of March 1931

A later cover, dated 27 April 1931

Another photo of Puss Moth ZK-ABR, again presumably in the South Island. Source unknown

The service was intermittent. A major user was Allen Bell. Leo White in his definitive book of pre-War book on New Zealand aviation, Wingspread, records, Whenever Allan Bell had clients a Puss Moth was sent to do the air taxi work, landing on the Ninety Mile Beach. 

The Northlander, 22 October 1931

The service continued throughout 1931 and there are 'The Kaitaia Airways' covers and one example of advertising from early 1932 but it seems the air service petered out sometime after this. Kaitaia was going to have to wait until 15 years until February 1947 to receive its next air service.

NZ Herald, 6 January 1932

A later 'The Kaitaia Airways' cover signed by Doug Mill

Meanwhile the Air Survey and Transport Company continued to operate until 1937 when the company’s last aircraft, de Havilland DH87B Hornet Moth ZK-ACP, was sold.

Aircraft included…

G-NZAT DH 60X Moth (c/n 500) From 1-May 1928 to 23-Nov-1928

G-NZEC DH 60G Moth (c/n 927) From 9-Mar-1928 to 15-Mar-1929

ZK-AAD DH 60G Moth (c/n 927) From 15-Mar-1929 to 21-Sep-1932

G-NZED DH 60G Moth (c/n 928) From 9-Mar-1928 to 1-Mar-1929

G-NZEF DH 60G Moth (c/n 929) From 19-Dec-1928 to 15-Mar-1929

ZK-AAR DH 60G Moth (c/n 1102) From 14-May-1929 to 28-Aug-1929

From 19-Oct-1934 to 28-Aug-1935

ZK-AAT DH 60G Moth (c/n 1132) From 25-Oct-1929 to 7-Feb-1930

ZK-ABA DH 60M Moth (c/n 1449) From 25-Mar-1930 to 19-Mar-1931

ZK-ABR DH 80A Puss Moth (c/n 2054) From 13-Mar-1930 to 28-Apr-1936

ZK-ABV DH 60M Moth (c/n 806) From 17-May-1933 to 2-Mar-1934

ZK-ACP DH87B Hornet Moth (c/n 8096) From 18-Feb-1937 to 27-Aug-1937