Description:

THE ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR SERVICE: Flynn, John [1880-1951] autographed 3 page letter sheet headed "The Australian Inland Mission" and datelined "Assembly Hall, Melbourne 5/7/21" in which he thanks his correspondent for a donation and commenting "I am watching some Western District Squatters just now. They are all in Queer St. at the moment, but they earnestly discussing Sky Doctors..."; accompanied by a large part of the original envelope (2 items).

By 1917, Flynn was considering the possibility of new technology, such as radio and aircraft, to assist in providing a more useful acute medical service to remote communities. Flynn received a letter from an Australian pilot serving in WWI, Clifford Peel, who had heard of his speculations and outlined the capabilities and costs of then-available planes. This material was published in the church's magazine, and became the start of Flynn turning his considerable fund-raising talents to the task of establishing a flying medical service. The first flight of the Aerial Medical Service was in 1928 from Cloncurry, Queensland. A museum commemorating the founding of the Royal Flying Doctor Service is located at John Flynn Place in Cloncurry.