First aeroplane (De Havilland 6) arriving at the old Feilding racecourse, August 1920, piloted by Captain Richard Russell. Photographed by Bert Hobday - who flew in the aeroplane later that day, taking the first aerial photos of Feilding.
Captain Russell, who was from Invercargill, had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Croix de Guerre during WWI - he spent his time after the war touring around New Zealand in his plane and offering flights to civilians in an effort to popularise flying. Tragically, Captain Russell was killed during one of these tours, when his Avro Avian plane stalled while descending onto the New Plymouth Racecourse in November 1920. Two passengers were also killed; Mayor James Clark, and chemist Kathleen Warnock.
