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Got a call from Brad Edwards last night (Mon)
reporting that Les Squires died Sunday evidently had a heart attack during a
swim near Coffs Harbour.
Les was written up in Allan Ash's book "Gliding in
Australia". In the early days he worked for DeHavilland at
Bankstown as a toolmaker, his boss being Merv Waghorn. Les was almost
permanently on Merv Waghorn "foreign orders" building several gliders and many
repairs as gliders were damaged - all wooden. He also built his own Grunau Baby
which he sold to the Hinkler Club in 1949.
At early retirement Les moved to Coffs Harbour
where he built a Woodstock homebuilt. Later followed a J3 Kitten
ultralight the a Jodel Sky Princess VH-ACK complete with mylar seals and
negative flap. He flew this at Bruce Taylor's property and would let anyone
young or old fly it. Well in to his seventies he got
his Private Licence and then flew the Jodel around Australia several
times. Through this period he refabriced Keepits Pawnee as well as a
Bergfalke and SF26 glider (building a Bergfalke skid was a 48hour job for
Les) and was made a Life Member of Keepit Club. He sold the Jodel
about 6 years ago and then went on to built a working model steam
train. About 2 years ago he got macular degeneration of the
eyes which meant he could no longer use his milling machine and lathe. A
treatment for same was introduced in USA last year and is soon for release in
Australia and only a month ago I was talking to an Eye Specialist friend with
the view of help for Les.
He helped many homebuilders like Geoff Sim and Bob
Charlton with their Lancairs and would think nothing of building a new fin
for an glider so long as I got the plans from Germany and the wood.
Another specialty was making main pins etc for many gliders. When Les did
the job they were difficult to rig the first few times but never ever did play
or slop develop - the job was done once and was done right and I think all
present remember his method.
Les was brilliant with using his hands and tools as
well as wood working, and could probably claim to have done more ply splices in
aircraft than anybody else in Australia with the exception of probably Harry
Schneider. Only yesterday I was working with Todd Clark in King Island Airlines
workshop in Melbourne and the name of Les Squires came up about his wonderful
skills. It now reminds me that when Todd was in his early 20's and airline
job hunting he gave him the Jodel to fly to Melbourne in - Todd could fly that's
all that counts for Les.
Other exploits were sailing a boat he built to USA
and then working there for years without a green card till he got sent back to
Australia by US immigration!!
I gather Les has not been to a doctor for years
so so funeral is delayed till Thursday week (March 2). I think
Les was 83 - I do know Brad and I shared a birthday with "Old Les"
Les only had a sister as family and was
never married. A few people suggested I write this and you are welcome to
add to it if you know more or things I have forgotton.
Ian McPhee (skype macca304)
Box 657 Byron Bay NSW 2481 Australia Tel +61(0)2 66847642 mob +61(0)428847642 [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.mrsoaring.com |
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