ZK-AKK   de Havilland D.H.60G Moth                                           (c/n 1093)

                                

                                    Interesting shot from the Fairfax Collection (via Ian McDonell) of Francis Charles Chichester's
                                    well travelled, although later ill-fated, Moth at Sydney Harbour in 1931.   The aircraft was the
                                    former G-AAKK and had toured Europe in 1929 as a landplane before departing for Australia
                                    in December of that year.   It was shipped from Sydney to New Zealand by steamer in February
                                   1930, and re-registered ZK-AKK, although was to have originally been ZK-ACK. I assume that
                                   Chichester wanted to retain the double-K.   Early in 1931 it was converted to a floatplane and
                                   was then flown back to Australia in March of that year via Norfolk and Howe Islands.  It cap-
                                   sized during a squall at the latter venue in April 1931, then repaired and continued on to Sydney.  
                                   whence the above shot was taken.           In July 1931 (a month before I was born) Chichester
                                   departed Australia on a Round-the-World trip.   It was an exciting expedition.  Stops were
                                   made at Thursday Island, New Guinea, Manilla and Shanghai, before flying to Central Japan
                                   in August 1931.  Unfortunately, while taking off from Katsuura Bay, Wakayama Prefecture,
                                   ZK-AKK struck some overhead wires strung across the river; and was damaged beyond repair.
                                  Chichester was seriously injured, and the wreck was donated to a local school.    Chichester
                                  went on to other adventures and was knighted in 1967 for his 226-day circumnavigation of
                                  the globe in his small sailing ketch aptly named "Gypsy Moth IV"