Guide to the Scotty Allan Map Collection
MFC 1
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Collection Summary
- Creator
- Scotty (George Urquhart) Allan
- Title
- Scotty Allan Map Collection
- Date Range
- 1923 - 1949
- Collection Number
- MFC 1
- Extent
- 49 items in 1 map folder + 2 boxes + 1 roll.
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- Special Collections (Maps)
Introduction
Scope and Contents
Scotty Allan was involved in aviation as a pilot, engineer, flight instructor and airline manager for over 45 years. The map collection reflects his involvement in the early period of aviation when the great names of Australian aviation ( Charles Kingsford-Smith, Charles Ulm, P.G. Taylor and others) were pushing the limits of long-haul flights from the isolated continent of Australia. Of special interest is the collection of Allan's maps from the record-breaking journey in the "Faith in Australia", an Avro 10 aircraft, from England to Australia in 1933, which Allan flew with Ulm and Taylor. These maps include hand annotations of calculations, routes, and timing of the flights. The collection also reflects Allan's extensive career as an Australian airline pilot, and also his time in the RAAF in a role ferrying American-made Catalina flying boats from the United States to Australia, with a collections of maps relating to North America, and special edition topographical mapping of Australia.
The collection includes aeronautical strip maps of Britain and Europe, topographic maps of Australia, and hydrographic and aeronautical charts of North America and the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. It also includes a small number of manuscript maps of aerodromes. Comprises items 1-49.
Conditions Governing Access
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/7466499).
Conditions Governing Use
Some of the items within this collection, including some that have been made available as digitised images, are still in copyright. Readers wishing to publish or reproduce documents should seek permission, in the first instance, from the owner of the original material.
Preferred Citation
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of map item], Scotty Allan Map Collection, National Library of Australia, [item number]'.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated to the National Library of Australia by Captain George Allan and Mrs Barbara Allan, 1994.
Related Materials
View the catalogue record for Charles Ulm national aviation collection at http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn3044798.
View the catalogue record for E.A Crome collection of photographs on aviation at http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn3044465.
View the catalogue record for Fairfax archive of glass plate negatives at http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn6184583.
View the catalogue record for Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and his co-pilot Scotty Allan after landing at Eagle Farm, Queensland, approximately 1932 at http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn7581275.
View the catalogue record for Charles Ulm, Scotty Allen and P.J. Taylor standing beside Faith in Australia, VH-UXX, an Avro 618 Ten Modified, Australia, ca. 1933 at http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn4653993.
View the catalogue record for Avro Ten monoplane, Faith in Australia (VH-UXX) crashed at Baldonnell Beach, Ireland, 1930s at http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn3723411
View the catalogue record for Scotty Allan's house at Palm Beach, New South Wales, approximately 1935 at http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn6806768.
View the catalogue record for George Allan interviewed by Fred Morton for the Fred Morton collection at http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2958143.
View the catalogue record for George (Scotty) Allan interviewed by Dr Amy McGrath at http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1438481.
Separated Materials
The maps were donated with Allan's papers at MS 4911 and photographs at PIC P1006/1-500/R LOC Album 891.
Biographical Note
George Urquhart "Scotty" Allan was born in Bellshill, Scotland on 2 February, 1900. He commenced pilot training with the Royal Air Force (RAF, then the Royal Flying Corps) in 1917, and was posted to the Western Front, at age 17 and with 35 hours of flying behind him. Allan was discovered to be underage for overseas service and was called back to England, where he served ferrying various aircraft types between England and France. At the end of the war, the RAF scrapped or sold much of its fleet, and Allan pursued an education in engineering, and held positions with Ford and then Rolls-Royce. In 1923, Allan re-joined the RAF as an engineer, but later applied to be a pilot, and served as a pilot and flight instructor in the Middle East. He continued his flying career in Australia, working for Australian National Airways, 1929-1931. Allan flew with Charles Ulm and P.G. Taylor in the record-breaking "Faith in Australia" flight from England to Australia in 1933. Commencing in June 1933, they departed Australia for an around the world journey, but the aircraft sustained damage at a makeshift runway at Baldonnell Beach, Ireland, and the crew aborted this attempt. In October 1933, the trio departed to establish the record from England to Australia, and were successful in making the journey in a record time of six days, seventeen hours and fifty-six minutes (Shearman, p.87). In 1934 Allan joined Qantas to fly DH86 aircraft on the Brisbane to Singapore route. In 1938 he went to England to study flying-boat techniques and returned to Sydney in the flying boat Coolangatta. In 1941 Allan was a member of the Qantas crew which brought flying boats from San Diego to Sydney for the RAAF. During 1941 Allan was seconded to the RAAF as Wing-Commander and was C.O. of various stations including Rathmines on Lake Macquarie, where he trained Catalina crews, and No. 1 Flying Boat Repair Depot at Lake Boga. After the war, Allan rejoined Qantas as London Manager, then as Controller of Technical Developments, where he was chief adviser on aircraft types. Allan retired from Qantas in 1961 as Deputy Chief Executive and Deputy General Manager. After his retirement he held positions on many boards including Fiji Airways, Air Pacific, Polynesian Airlines and Malayan Airways. Allan married Ailsa Lee Brown in 1935 and Barbara Millbourne in 1944. He was made a Commander of the British Empire for his services to aviation in 1957.
Item Descriptions
Series 1. Maps relating to route of the "Faith in Australia" record-breaking flight, c.1931-1933
This series includes navigational charts and maps used for or relating to the record-breaking flight attempt of the "Faith in Australia" between England and Australia in October 1933, which was completed in the record time of six days, seventeen hours and fifty-six minutes (Shearman, p.87). Many of the maps include hand written annotations relating to the journey. The series includes aeronautical navigational strip charts, sketch maps of aerodromes, and small scale topographical maps. Comprises items 1-16.
Budapest - London, 5032, 1:1,000,000, 1931 - 1932 (Item 1) - Box 2
Strip map made from topographic maps mounted on linen, for aeronautical navigation. Shows a course plotted in pen between Budapest and London. Also shows military and civil aerodromes and landing grounds. Handwritten in pencil on front cover "Allan", "Sydney". On sheet 206 x 25 cm, folded to 25 x 13 cm.
Creator / Publisher
[London]: Automobile Association Aviation Department
Budapest - Stamboul, 5033, 1:1,000,000, 1931 - 1932 (Item 2) - Box 2
Strip map made from topographic maps mounted on linen, for aeronautical navigation. Shows a course plotted in pen between Budapest and Istambul. Also shows military and civil aerodromes and landing grounds. Additional annotations in pencil mark an alternative course. Handwritten in pencil on front cover "Allan", "Sydney". On sheet 155 x 26 cm, folded to 26 x 14 cm.
Creator / Publisher
[London]: Automobile Association Aviation Department
Aleppo - Stamboul, 5034, 1:1,000,000, 1931 - 1932 (Item 3) - Box 3
Strip map made from topographic maps mounted on linen, for aeronautical navigation. Shows a course plotted in pen between Istambul and Haleb ( Aleppo). Also shows military and civil aerodromes and landing grounds. Additional annotations in pencil mark an alternative course. Handwritten in pencil on front cover "Allan", "Sydney". On sheet 129 x 26 cm, folded to 26 x 13 cm.
Creator / Publisher
[London]: Automobile Association Aviation Department
Aerodrome at Dijon, scales differ, [c.1933] (Item 6) - Folder 1
Blueline locality chart for for aerodrome at Dijon, France, scale 1 inch:2 miles (approx.), and detail plan of aerodrome, scale 1 inch:600 yards (approx.). On sheet 20 x 13 cm.
Creator / Publisher
Prepared by the Shell Co. of Australia Ltd.
Aerodrome at Lyons, scales differ, [c.1933] (Item 7) - Folder 1
Blueline locality chart for for aerodrome at Lyons, France, scale 1 inch:3 miles (approx.), and detail plan of aerodrome, scale 1 inch:350 yards (approx.). On sheet 21 x 13 cm.
Creator / Publisher
Prepared by the Shell Co. of Australia Ltd.
Aerodrome at Lympne, scales differ, [c.1933] (Item 8) - Folder 1
Blueline locality chart for for aerodrome at Lympne, Great Britain, scale 1 1/2 inches:1 mile (approx.), and detail plan of aerodrome, scale 1 inch:300 yards (approx.). On sheet 21 x 13 cm.
Creator / Publisher
Prepared by the Shell Co. of Australia Ltd.
Aerodrome at Marseille, scales differ, [c.1933] (Item 9) - Folder 1
Blueline locality chart for for aerodrome at Marseille, France, scale 1 inch:3 miles (approx.), and detail plan of aerodrome, scale 1 inch:600 yards (approx.). On sheet 20 x 13 cm.
Creator / Publisher
Prepared by the Shell Co. of Australia Ltd.
[ Athens to Rome strip map], 1:1,000,000, [c.1933] (Item 10) - Box 4
Strip map made from topographic maps mounted on linen, for aeronautical navigation. Shows a course plotted in pen between Athenai (Athens) and Roma (Rome). Also shows military and civil aerodromes and landing grounds marked in pen. Additional annotations in pen of points of interest. On sheet 133 x 24 cm.
Creator / Publisher
London: Stanford's (of Charing Cross).
[ Athens to Baghdad strip map], 1:1,000,000 (Item 11) - Box 4
Strip map made from topographic maps mounted on linen, for aeronautical navigation. Shows a course plotted in pen between Athens and Baghdad. Also shows military and civil aerodromes and landing grounds marked in pen. Additional annotations in pencil of points of interest. On sheet 238 x 24 cm.
Creator / Publisher
London: Stanford's (of Charing Cross).
Ireland, Sheet 13, four miles to an inch, 1931 - 1932 (Item 12) - Box 3
Sheet 13 of topographical map of Ireland, mounted in pieces on linen. Shows central region from east to west coast including Dublin. Compass guides drawn in pen around Dublin. On sheet 36 x 157 cm, folded to 26 x 13 cm.
Creator / Publisher
[London]: Automobile Association Aviation Department
Calcutta, NF-45, 1:1,000,000, 1927 (Item 13) - Folder 1
Topographic map of Calcutta, India, showing Bay of Bengal, and Bengal, Bihar and Orissa regions. Hand annotations in pencil on front of map show flight routes and landmarks. Rear of map show handwritten calculations in pencil. On sheet 65 x 75 cm.
Series Information
Sheet NF-45, 2nd Edition, of series International Map of the World, 1:1,000,000.
The International Map of the World Series is held at MAP G3200 s1000
Creator / Publisher
Calcutta: Compiled, engraved and printed at the Survey of India Offices.
Baghdad, NI-38, 1:1,000,000, 1928 (Item 14) - Folder 1
Topographic maps of Baghdad showing surrounding regions. Hand annotations in pencil show flight route. On sheet 68 x 81 cm.
Series Information
Sheet NI-38, Provisional Edition, of International Map of the World Series, 1:1,000,000.
The International Map of the World Series is held at MAP G3200 s1000
Creator / Publisher
London: Geographical Section, War Office.
Lyon, NL-31, 1:1,000,000, c.1923-c.1930 (Item 15) - Folder 1
Topographic map of Lyon, France, and surrounding region. Hand written annotations in pencli show flight routes, and annotation "International Polyconic Projection". On sheet 68 x 59 cm.
Series Information
Sheet NL-31 (Europe Nord L. 31), of International Map of the World (Carte Internationale Du Monde Au) series, 1:1,000,000.
The International Map of the World Series is held at MAP G3200 s1000
Creator / Publisher
Paris: Service Geographique De L'Armee.
Paris, NM-31, 1:1,000,000, 1923 (Item 16) - Folder 1
Topographic map of Paris, France, showing surrounding region and part of Great Britain. Hand written annotations show flight routes and calculations. On sheet 74 x 58 cm.
Series Information
Sheet NM-31 of International Map of the World (Carte Internationale Du Monde Au) series, 1:1,000,000.
The International Map of the World Series is held at MAP G3200 s1000
Creator / Publisher
Paris: Service Geographique de l'Armee.
Series 2. Maps of Australia
The series includes topographic mapping of Australia from the 1930s-1940s. It includes maps from a Special Defence Edition of the 1:1,000,000 series produced during the Second World War, and a Special Air Board Edition of the International Map of the World series. Comprises items 17-38.
Bathurst, 1:253,440, 1942 (Item 17) - Folder 1
Topographic map of Bathurst. Annotated in pencil with landmarks, possibly to aid in air navigation: "Chattam Park", "Irish Corner", "Chattam Valley", "Mt Arnold". Other annotations in pen. A list of regional place names is written on verso in pencil. On sheet 59 x 63 cm.
Series Information
Sheet I 55/8 Zone 8 of the series Australia 1:253,440. Second Edition.
Creator / Publisher
Printed by A.H.Q. [Army Headquarters] Cartographic Company.
Subseries. [ Australia 1:1,000,000 topographic series], Special Defence Edition
Creator / Publisher
Compiled and drawn by the Property and Survey Branch, Dept. of the Interior, Commonwealth of Australia.
Subseries. International Map of the World, 1:1,000,000, Special Air Board Edition
Related Materials
The International Map of the World Series is held at MAP G3200 s1000 Some Australian maps in this series are catalogued separately. Use series index to determine sheet numbers.
Series 3. Maps relating to North America and other overseas maps
This series includes navigational and topographical mapping of parts of North America, Spain, and several world maps showing global airlines. Comprises items 39-45.
St. John N.B. - Boston Mass., 1:500,000, 1930 (Item 39) - Box 4
Aeronautical strip chart. Rear of chart shows major aerodromes between Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada and Boston, Massachusetts. On sheet 132 x 29 cm.
Series Information
U.S. Navy Aviation Chart, sheet No. V-230, 2nd edition.
Creator / Publisher
Washington D.C., published Jan. 30 at the Hydrographic Office, under the authority of the Secretary of the Navy.
[ Los Angeles], 11M, 1:1,000,000, 1939 (Item 40) - Folder 1
Aeronautical chart of Los Angeles, also showing San Francisco. On sheet 80 x 120 cm.
Series Information
Sheet 11 M of Regional Aeronautical Chart series, 1:1,000,000.
Creator / Publisher
Compiled and Printed in Washington DC by the US Coast and Geodetic Survey.
Standard map of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island (the maritime provinces of Canada), 1:1,153,000 (Item 44) - Folder 1
Map of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, Canada, showing main railroads and regional boundaries. Margin includes key to principal cities. On sheet 53 x 71 cm.
Creator / Publisher
Chicago: Rand McNally & Company.
North America, Newfoundland (Southern part), No. 2440b, 1924 (Item 45) - Folder 1
Hydrographic chart of Newfoundland, Canada. On sheet 75 x 101 cm.
Series Information
Sheet 2440b of United States Naval Hydrographic series. Edition: 1st Feb 1924.
Creator / Publisher
Washington D.C.: Hydrographic Office under the Secretary of the Navy.
Series 4. Weather charts
This series comprises ocean weather charts. Comprises items 46-49.
Pilot Chart of the South Pacific Ocean, No.2601, scales differ, 1933 (Item 46) - Folder 1
Weather chart for shipmasters. (Founded upon the researches made in the early part of the nineteenth century by Matthew Fontaine Maury, while serving as a lieutenant in the United States Navy.) March, April and May 1933. On sheet 66 x 96 cm.
Series Information
Sheet No. 2601 of Pilot Chart of the South Pacific Ocean. Issue No. 95.
Creator / Publisher
Washington D.C: Hydrographic Office under the authority of the Secretary of the Navy.
Pilot Chart of the Upper Air – North Pacific Ocean, No.1401a, scales differ, 1931 (Item 47) - Folder 1
Weather chart of the upper air. Rear of chart shows index of aviation maps and charts. On sheet 66 x 97 cm.
Series Information
Sheet No. 1401a of Pilot Chart of the Upper Air series. Issue No. 32.
Creator / Publisher
Washington D.C: Hydrographic Office under the authority of the Secretary of the Navy.
Pilot Chart of the Upper Air – North Atlantic Ocean, No.1400a, scales differ, 1933 (Item 48) - Folder 1
Weather chart of the upper air. Rear of chart shows Air Traffic Rules. On sheet 66 x 97 cm.
Series Information
Sheet No. 1400a of Pilot Chart of the Upper Air series. Issue No. 70.
Creator / Publisher
Washington D.C: Hydrographic Office under the authority of the Secretary of the Navy.
Pilot Chart of the Upper Air – North Atlantic Ocean, No.1400a, scales differ, 1932 (Item 49) - Folder 1
Weather chart of the upper air. Hand written annotations on back include shorthand notes and cartoon drawings, signed by "Allan", "June 1932", "N.Atlantic". On sheet 66 x 97 cm.
Series Information
Sheet No. 1400a of Pilot Chart of the Upper Air series. Issue No. 55.
Creator / Publisher
Washington D.C: Hydrographic Office under the authority of the Secretary of the Navy.