Bonzer Words!: Lores Bonney
...In 1917 she married Harry Bonney a wealthy Queensland businessman. Lores soon tired of her life style, so while her husband was off playing golf she hitched a ride with the milkman to the local airstrip and took flying lessons...
Paula Wilson outlines the life story of pioneering Australian aviatrix, Lores Bonney.
When Lores Bonney asked legendary Australian aviator Charles Kingsford-Smith's advice on flying around Australia his reply was, 'You might make it if you've got the guts.' Lores went on to prove she did indeed have the 'guts'.
Born in Cape Town, South Africa in 1897, Maude Rose Rubens hated her name and changed it to Lores. The Rubens emigrated to Australia in 1906.
In 1917 she married Harry Bonney a wealthy Queensland businessman. Lores soon tired of her life style, so while her husband was off playing golf she hitched a ride with the milkman to the local airstrip and took flying lessons. When she gained her license in 1931 her husband bought her a De Havilland Gypsy Moth. It was a biplane made of wood and fabric, with an uncovered cockpit and no radio. Lores named it My Little Ship.
Lores set her first air record when she flew 1524 kilometres to Wangaratta in Victoria for a Boxing Day dinner with her family. It was a new Australian record for the greatest distance flown in one day, and the longest non-stop flight by a woman.
An around Australia flight was her next record-breaking trip, one not previously attempted by a woman. It was on her departure from Archerfield airport that she ran into Kingsford-Smith and his words of advice. Not to be deterred she set off on 15 August 1932.
Lores used a compass and followed roads to navigate from one destination to the next. Guts were definitely needed especially when an escort plane ventured too close and clipped My Little Ship tearing the fabric. Both planes managed to land safely, and after repairs Lores continued.
During a stopover in a country town a local was heard to comment, 'Yer know, mate, there can't be too much to this flying business if a woman can do it.' Lores faced this kind of chauvinism often. Even the press was more interested in her specially made leather flying suits than her flying achievements.
Five weeks after leaving Queensland she returned with another Australian record.
Lores really wanted to become the first woman to fly from Australia to England. Amy Johnson had flown the other way, but no woman had attempted it into the strong headwinds of the reverse direction.
In April 1933 Lores departed on a journey that would take almost four months, and cover 20 000 kilometres. Because fuel tanks were small she had to bunny hop her plane to England, stopping at airports scattered along the way to refuel.
While in Singapore she contracted food poisoning, putting her behind schedule. She took off at the beginning of the monsoon season, despite being advised against it.
Over the sea near Thailand she ran into a bad storm. In desperation Lores attempted a beach landing on Bang Biang Island. All was looking positive until a buffalo wandered onto the beach. Swerving to avoid it one wheel hit the water and the plane flipped over. Lores found herself hanging upside down in her harness as the waves covered her head. She managed to release herself and made it to safety.
My Little Ship was transported to Calcutta where she again encountered male prejudices when told to 'give up and go home to your husband.' Lores ignored their advice and continued on to Turkey and Czechoslovakia where she was arrested for unapproved landings. Finally she touched down in London on 21 July 1933 where she was awarded a MBE (Member of the British Empire medal) by King George V.
Lores had a break from setting records until 1937 when she became the first person to fly from Australia to Cape Town, South Africa. Compared to the Australia England trip this was relatively tame, even though she was lashed by fierce storms and cooked in her cockpit by the fierce African heat. She now flew a German Klemm Eagle called My Little Ship II.
During a bush landing the plane was damaged. She loaded it onto a paddle wheeler and rode down the Nile to Khartoum. Lores persuaded a RAF detachment into repairing the plane, and was again on her way. The Royal South African Air Force awarded her a set of pilots' wings for this record.
When World War II started Lores offered her services to the Australian government as a flight instructor or ferry pilot. After only one delivery flight she was informed women pilots were not required.
Lores had been planning to fly to the USA via Alaska but her plane was destroyed by fire and after being grounded throughout the war she felt her time was over and retired from flying. Lores Bonney died in 1994 at the age of 96.
© Paula Wilson
Paula writes for Bonzer! magazine. Please visit www.bonzer.org.au
