Syd’s Last Pirate: ‘Chic’ Eather’s biography – Cathay Pacific, Kai Tak, Jamco and Haeco

Captain Charles ‘Chic’ Eather, born 1920, has had a long life.  A great part of his working life was spent in aviation and much of this was connected to Cathay Pacific, Kai Tak airport and aircraft maintenance companies at the airport post WW2 and up to his retirement in 1975.

His biography Syd’s Last Pirate was published as a CD-Rom. It is a detailed and  fascinating account involving many characters, locations and incidents. And at times tales of great excitement, courage and danger.

Chic has very kindly sent me a copy of the CD with the assistance of Ray. I thank them both.

Chic was born on August 2nd 1920 in Sydney, Australia.

In 1940, he became an anti-aircraft gunner and was discharged whilst waiting for his Air Force call-up. In the interim he joined the Merchant Navy and took his anti-aircraft friends to Suez. While on the high seas he missed his RAAF call-up and was removed from the list. With the money he saved as a Merchant Mariner he completed his flying training (that had begun in 1936) becoming a first-officer with Ansett Airways and concurrently commissioned a Flying Officer with the Citizens Air Force Reserve.

In 1946 he joined the fledgling Roy Farrell Export-Import Company, the forerunner of Cathay Pacific Airways.He flew during the Karen Insurgency in Burma for the Union of Burma Airways. In 1953 he returned to Cathay Pacific and stayed with them until his retirement in 1975, amassing 25,000 flying hours.

Chic retired to the Queensland Gold Coast with his Chinese wife Judy.

The following images have been extracted from Syd’s Last Pirate with added comments in square brackets.

Cathay Pacific’s first charter flight HK-UK
SCMP 21st October 1946

Joining the circuit for a landing on Runway 13, Kai Tak. The Green Island Cement Company continues to emit smoke pollution.

The Jamco Installation prior to installation.
[Aircraft maintenance at Kai Tak]

HAEC 1951
[Kai Tak: The HK Aircraft Engineering Company]

Kai Tak Airport 1952 –
looking West from Tate’s Cairn
(Photo: Capt. Dave Smith)

See:

1. Syd’s Last Pirate – information
2. Chic Eather’s website

This article was first posted on 19th October 2014.

Related Indhhk articles:

1. ‘Chic Eather’s’ website – Early balloon/plane flights in HK, Kai Tak and much more!
2. Kai Tak airport – 1925 to 1945, a brief history
3. The Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Lt
4. The Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Ltd – Flight magazine 1952
5. Kai Tak airport – BAAG Reports 1942-1944, plus other HK landing strips
6. World War Two – Kai Tak airport, BAAG maps, sketches and plans
7. Dragages Hong Kong – first HK projects, Kai Tak runway extension and Shek Pik reservoir