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Capt. Ron Gillies

Ron was another true pioneer in aviation. I was proud to have worked with him and to have called him my good friend. 

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Ron Gillies was born in Victoria, Australia on December 25, 1919.

In 1940, at the age of 20 he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force as an Air Cadet. Upon completion of the standard flight training, followed by a seaplane conversion course he commenced operational duties with the #10 Squadron RAAF in the U.K. In August of 1943, Ron was appointed Commanding Officer of #10 Squadron with the rank of Wing Commander. He remained with the unit until November 1944.

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1919 - 1996
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Noreen Gillies

Noreen Wilson of Wallasey, in the County of Cheshire, England, joined the WAAF (Women's Auxiliary Air Force) in 1940 were she became a aircraft course plotter. She met Ron while working with the aircrew.

After WWI, Noreen relocated to Australia with Ron and continued to be around airplanes while raising a family. When AAB purchased the Ansett Sandringhams in 1974, Noreen and Ron relocated to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Noreen ran the ticket office in Charlotte Amalie.

When American Inter-Island Airlines started, Ron and Noreen relocated to St. Croix to assist with operations under Antilles Air Boats.

Noreen passed away in 1982 in San Juan with Ron by her side.

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1920 - 1982
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Graeme Gillies
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Capt. Ron Gillies in the left, Capt. Blair in the right - Southern Cross - United Kingdom
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Southern Cross's Last Atlantic Crossing
Jim Flanagan's Journal transcript Sept-Oct 1980

Southern Cross in San Juan before its final flight.

Ron Gillies in Ireland after making another North Atlantic crossing on his final flight in the four engine Sandringham.

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Ron and Noreen with AAB staff at the Goose Grill in St. Thomas.

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VP LVE Capt C Blair Hythe  08 September

Capt. Ron Gillies

in "Southern Cross" September 1977 at Southampton, UK

photo credit Barry Friend
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Ron Gillies and the last Atlantic crossing of Southern Cross

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1981
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Ultan Guilfoyle produced the interview of Ron Gillies on the Sandringham, the airplane that was part of Ron's life for many years. 
photo credit Ultan Guilfoyle

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