John Adair

OBE
Born
John Ronald Shafto Adair

22 May 1893
Maryborough, Queensland, Australia
Died27 June 1960 (aged 67)
Ascot, Queensland, Australia
NationalityAustralian
Other namesRon Adair
EducationMaryborough Grammar School
Occupations
  • Aviator
  • army officer
  • businessman
Spouses
Rose Ethel Ellis
​
​
(m. 1919; div. 1930)​
    Bertha Ella
    ​
    (m. 1937)​
    Children2

    John Ronald Shafto "Ron" Adair[1] OBE (22 May 1893 – 27 June 1960) was an Australian aviator, army officer and businessman.[2] In recognition for his service to aviation, Adair was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1955.[3]

    Early life

    John Ronald Shafto Adair was born 22 May 1893 at Maryborough, Queensland, to a Victorian-born couple, John Hamilton Adair, a surveyor and Constance Ada (née Smith), a homemaker.[4] He was educated at Maryborough Grammar School.[5]

    Career

    Ron Adair (right) with Edgar Johnston, circa 1926

    After completing an engineering apprenticeship, Adair volunteered for World War I and joined the Australian Military Forces, attaining the rank of sergeant.[6] On 21 February 1916, Adair enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) and served as a machinist in No. 1 Squadron Australian Flying Corps.[1][7] Reaching Egypt in April 1916, he was reclassified as an air mechanic seven months later, in November 1916. After the completion of his pilot training in February 1918, Adair rejoined his original squadron members and was subsequently promoted to the rank of lieutenant[5] a month later. On 29 September of the same year, his AIF contract terminated.

    Adair displayed exceptional airmanship during his career as a commercial pilot; in 1928, he safely landed an Avro Avian aeroplane even after its engine had fallen out.[8] On 28 March 1928, he founded his first commercial airline, Aircrafts Pty. Ltd. [sic][8][9] Adair also founded Queensland Airlines (later part of Ansett-ANA), a freight and passenger airline.[10]

    Personal life

    On 10 February 1919, while still in the military, Adair married Rose Ethel Ellis at the British Consulate in Cairo. They had one son (Isidore Ronald Shafto Adair 1920-1988). Ellis filed for divorced some time later.[11] On 16 January 1937, he married divorcee Bertha Ella, (née Savery, late Kither), at Saint Andrew's Presbyterian Church.

    Death

    On 27 June 1960, Adair died of a coronary occlusion-caused heart attack at Ascot, Queensland.[12] He was cremated with Anglican rites.[13]

    See also

    References

    1. 1 2 "Edgar Johnston & Ron Adair – c.1926". Airways Museum. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
    2. ↑ "Adair Family Crest and History". Houseofnames.com. January 2000. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
    3. ↑ It's an Honour
    4. ↑ Hector Holthouse (1978). Illustrated History of Queensland. Rigby. ISBN 9780727005380.
    5. 1 2 "Maryborough Central Boys' School Role of Honour 1914–1918". The Maryborough Central State School. Archived from the original on 14 January 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
    6. ↑ H. Fysh (1968). Qantas at War. Sydney.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
    7. ↑ F. M. Cutlack (1923). The Australian Flying Corps. Sydney.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
    8. 1 2 Douglas Pike; John Ritchie (1993). Australian dictionary of biography. Vol. 13. Melbourne University Press. p. 7. ISBN 9780522845129.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
    9. ↑ "Aircrafts Pty". The Museum of Australian Commercial Aviation. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
    10. ↑ "Achievers". Our Fraser Coast. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
    11. ↑ "PIlot ordered to pay £70 (Digitised version)". The Courier-Mail. 18 June 1938. p. 10. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
    12. ↑ "none". The Courier-Mail. 28 June 1960.
    13. ↑ Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 9. Melbourne University Press. 1983.
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