Bert Hinkler was born on the 8th of December 1892 in Bundaberg Qld Australia and is known for his record braking attempts and successes in England to Australia air races. He was already famous in Queensland for building and flying gliders at his parents home. In 1914 while Harry Hawker was in Australia, Bert Hinkler at 19 made his way to England and turned up at the Sopwith factory at Kingston on Thames. Tom Sopwith after a week of shooing off the young Australian from the door way of the factory relented and gave him a job as a Mechanic.
On Harry Hawkers and Harry Kaupers return to work at Sopwith, they found three young Australians. Horri Miller, Bob Cousins and Bert Hinkler. They sat around the work shops listening to Harry's stories of his flights at Caufield Racecourse, Randwick, Albury and Ballarat. When war started Hinkler joined the Royal Naval Air Service and would have come across Harry Busteed and Sydney Pickles, by then both commanders of the RNAS.
On Harry Hawkers and Harry Kaupers return to work at Sopwith, they found three young Australians. Horri Miller, Bob Cousins and Bert Hinkler. They sat around the work shops listening to Harry's stories of his flights at Caufield Racecourse, Randwick, Albury and Ballarat. When war started Hinkler joined the Royal Naval Air Service and would have come across Harry Busteed and Sydney Pickles, by then both commanders of the RNAS.