VH-BGP (1)  Supermarine VS236 Seagull V           
   
                                

                                      The Bristol Pegasus powered Supermarine Seagull V was designed by R.,J. Mitchell (of Spitfire
                                      fame) specifically for Australian service.   The Seagull V differed from its UK Walrus equivalent
                                      in that it had leading edge slats.  Following their retirement in 1947 Amphibious Airways of Rabaul
                                      acquired four of these craft, of which -BGP (the only true Seagull V), is seen above in this exclusive
                                      shot from the Geoff Goodall collection.   The other three were ex RAF Walruses (-ALB, -BLD and
                                      X9519 which was never civilly registered).    VH-BGP was the former A2-3 and was photographed
                                      above at Eagle Farm, Brisbane in 1951 en route from Camden, NSW to Rabaul.  Eric is in all prob-
                                      ability one of the two crew members in the photo.  Amphibious was one of McIllree's early  post-
                                      war aviation ventures.    It was formed to carry native labour between plantations in New Guinea
                                      and  New Britain.  He also used several Avro Ansons.  The operation was short-lived and, following
                                      the loss of several aircraft, went into liquidation.  VH-BGP was withdrawn from use in June of 1954.                                    
                                      Incidentally, Eric's main business was the formation of Airport U-Drive at Sydney Airport in the late
                                      1940s, and he went on to establish Avis Rent-a-Car and Avis Rent-a-Plane in Australia.