William Downes
William Downes
(1918 - 2015)
William Downes was born at Chatswood in on 9 September 1918. He had an interest in aviation from an early age. His secondary education was at Chatswood Intermediate High and Knox Grammar School, before studying at Sydney University and graduating with honours in aeronautical engineering in 1942. His time at university included six months at the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation at Fishermens Bend in Melbourne, working in the design office.
He joined de Haviland Aircraft Pty Ltd in Sydney, on the day of the Pearl Harbor attack, and worked on on wartime production of Tiger Moth, Dragon and Mosquito aircraft until 1944, in which year he was seconded to a Dominion group to participate in the development of jet propulsion under the UK Ministry of Aircraft Production, gaining experience with the de Haviland Aircraft and Engine Company in England on jet aircraft and turbojet engines, working with Frank Whittle. His younger brother John died while serving with the RAF.
Downes returned to Australia in September 1945 and between 1946 and 1950 was responsible for the concept and engineering aspects of design and development of the three-engined de Haviland Drover used extensively by the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Australia.
He was a part-time lecturer in Aircraft Propulsion at the Sydney Technical College, the NSW Institute of Technology and the University of NSW between 1948 and 1960.
His career with the de Haviland and Hawker de Haviland companies were:
1946 – 1950 Design and Development Engineer – Drover Design
1950 - 1957 Chief Production Engineer
1957 – 1960 Chief Project Engineer
1960 – 1968 Chief Engineer (Aircraft Division)
1969 – 1971 General Manager of Aircraft and Engine Division
1971 – 1974 Company Chief Engineer
1874 – 1977 General Manager – Staff
1977 – 1985 Manager Major Offset Projects
He retired from Hawker de Haviland in 1986.
Downes was the Chairman of the Council of the Macarthur Institute of Higher Education between 1976 and 1988, and Chairman of the Board of Macsearch Limited. He was a Fellow of the University of Western Sydney.
In 1943 he had married Margaret Myles, and they had two daughters.
He died on 23 December 2015, aged 97.
To access an oral history interview with William Downes please use this link:'
