Hudson Fysh
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sir Wilmot Hudson Fysh (b January 7, 1895, d April 6, 1974) was one of the founders of the Australian airline, QANTAS, together with P. J. McGinness, Sir Fergus McMaster and W Arthur Baird .
Born in Launceston, Tasmania, he joined the Australian defence forces during the First World War, and served at Gallipoli in the 3rd Light Horse Regiment. He then served in both the Australian Flying Corps and the Royal Flying Corps, serving as a gunner and observer, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross before taking training to be a pilot.
His experiences led him to believe in the benefits of aviation to the communities of outback Australia. In 1919, he and Paul McGinness surveyed the Longreach - Darwin leg of the air route to be used in the first England to Australia air race. In 1920, he and McGinness became two of the founders of the Queensland And Northern Territory Aerial Service, now known as QANTAS. His career from that time on was aligned with the fortunes of the airline, even after it was nationalised in 1947.
Sir Hudson Fysh became managing director of QANTAS on January 22, 1934 and held this position until June 30, 1955 where he was both managing director and chairman of the QANTAS board from July 1, 1947 until June 30, 1955 and was then chairman of QANTAS from July 1, 1955 until his retirement on June 30, 1966.
Hudson Fysh was awarded a knighthood in 1953.
