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Engineer Biography

Lance Erwin TAA Engineer

Lance Erwin TAA Engineer: a 45-year veteran with modest beginnings who rose through the ranks to become a heavily sought after Engineer and Supervisor.

Lance Erwin TAA Engineer — official portrait.
Lance Erwin TAA Engineer — official portrait.

Early Days at TAA

Lance Erwin TAA Engineer: Starting Out in 1946

Lance joined TAA on 30 September 1946 as a junior clerk in the Head Office at Charterhouse in Little Bourke Street. One of his early duties was operating the lift for J. Coles and L. Bain, both senior management figures at the time.

He later transferred to the booking office in the basement of the Myer Lonsdale Street store, and later again to the IOOF Building in Swanston Street, where he handled a wide range of office duties — including organising the boss's laundry. On one memorable occasion he lost the laundry, and after a whip-around from staff to replace the clothing, discovered the cost was far less than expected.

FROM THE OFFICE TO THE HANGAR

Into the Hangar

Lance later transferred to Essendon Airport and worked in Aircraft Overhaul under Harry Machin and Ernie Thompson as a technical clerk. Thanks to his strong communication skills, he often drafted memos and correspondence for senior staff.

When apprenticeships became available, Lance was selected despite bypassing the standard selection process — initially causing some resistance from Gil Wise. He became TAA's first apprentice, and although he had hoped to become an instrument fitter, he was assigned as an airframe fitter. Within one year of completing his apprenticeship, he obtained his first airframe licence.

Climbing the Ladder

Rising Through the Ranks

Lance progressed through Aircraft Overhaul, eventually becoming Acting Leading Hand, then Senior Leading Hand. During the 1950s Viscount spar replacement program and later operational restructuring, he became Foreman on Crew 3, with Ray Tinker as his senior.

In 1965 he travelled to Douglas Aircraft in Long Beach, California, as resident engineer on the Douglas DC-9 project, remaining there for a year.

A New Home, A Global Rose

Tullamarine and Beyond

Following the move to Tullamarine in 1972 and the retirement of Lloyd Haines, Lance became Dock Maintenance Supervisor. In 1980 he travelled to Toulouse as resident engineer on the Airbus A300 program for six months.

Upon returning to Australia, he moved into Line Maintenance supervision, remaining there for five years.

The End of An Era

A 45-Year Career Concludes

Following complications from gall bladder surgery in 1991, Lance accepted a retirement package, concluding an extraordinary 45-year career with TAA.

Later, through discussions with Doc Brown, Lance helped establish retired TAA staff gatherings which evolved into STAARS — a community that grew to more than 600 retired staff members.

A fitting conclusion to a remarkable aviation career.

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Preserving the legacy of Trans-Australia Airlines — 150,000+ artefacts spanning 1946 to 1992, held by volunteers who refused to let the story disappear.

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