Aviation History
Captain 'Harry' Butler
Captain 'Harry' Butler's amazing life spanned from growing up in Minlaton, joining the Royal Flying Corps, becoming a fighter pilot in France, an aviation instructor in England to flying the first mail delivery over the sea in South Australia, back to Minlaton.
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Born November 9th, 1889 in Yorketown, Henry John Butler spent his
childhood years on a small farm at Koolywurtie, a few kilometres from
Minlaton. Even as a child Harry was determined to achieve his desire to
fly, he caught and weighed his mother's farm hens, measuring their
wingspan and then released them in his quest to learn more.
As a young man Harry spent all his savings and then borrowed more to go to England and join the Royal Flying Corps. In 1916 Harry enlisted as an Air Mechanic, but his brilliance received immediate recognition and in July 1916, Harry Butler was flying in France. Harry also became a talented instructor passing on his passion for flying to over 2,000 students who passed through the school.
To contribute to the Allied war effort, Harry studied the German Fighter Pilots new tactics first hand; he would join the fighter squadrons in France, work out new strategies of attack then teach them to his pupils back in England. Captain Harry Butler remained in the Royal Flying Corps until the war ended in 1918.
On his return to South Australia, Harry worked hard to capture the general public's enthusiasm for flying. Risking life and limb Harry would perform endless stunts to capture people's imagination and lift the awareness of aviation and its possibilities for the future.
Harry's greatest achievement came on August 6th, 1919 when he finally arrived home to Minlaton on a flight from Adelaide. Harry set off, facing gale force winds blowing at 110km/h, and an 18kg mailbag of letters on board for delivery in Minlaton, 100 km away. The first mailbag ever to be delivered over the sea in South Australia arrived in Minlaton to a crowd of 6,000 people, some who had never seen a plane flying before. After an exciting display to please the crowd Harry set the 'Red Devil' down at 11.45am, just in time for lunch that was planned for 12pm.
Harry continued to thrill many crowds with his aviation displays and was responsible for the first aerial photograph ever taken and published in South Australia over the suburbs of Adelaide.
Captain 'Harry' Butlers 'Red Devil' Bristol Monoplane is on view in a display hanger in Minlaton. Believed to be the only genuine one of its kind left in the world, it attracts visitors from far and wide. A wonderful display of Captain 'Harry' Butler's history and memorabilia can be found in the Minlaton National Trust Museum, Main Street, Minlaton.