Ken
Richards joined Adastra as a technician on the Prince G-AMLW at
Port Lincoln in 1955. Other members of the crew were: Al Palmer
(Hunting Technician), Steve Halloran (Adastra Technician), Derek
Middleton (Hunting Engineer), Bob Keeling (Hunting Pilot) and Jack
Tierney (Adastra Navigator).
In 1956, Ken and Bob Love took the EM bird from Cambridge to Rosebery
for operations out of Queenstown and Rosebery by the chartered ANA
Sycamore helicopter VH-INO which was flown by Max Holyman and later
Jim Ferguson. Les Snape joined the crew as a Technician.
In August 1956, Ken went to Canada for electronics equipment familiarisation
with the Photo Survey Corporation/Kentings prior to the delivery
of Canso CF-GKI to Australia. While in Canada they operated out
of Toronto and Kapuskasing.
After the Canso arrived in Australia, aerials and equipment were
installed and the aircraft commenced survey work as VH-AGB. Technicians
who served on the aircraft included Bill Kellaway, Ted Roberts and
Maurie Miller.
Ken later did a follow-up ground survey with John Bertles using
harness type EM equipment.
In June 1958 Ken married Imelda Russell from the Adastra office.
Ken left Adastra in late 1959 to join the CSIRO. He was succeeded
as technician on VH-AGB by Maurie Miller.
Biography
supplied by Ken Richards, June 2004
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