Lady Southern Cross Search Expedition II

Now in its fourteenth year, I have just scheduled my thirteenth expedition to Myanmar to recover wreckage and remains from the "Lady Southern Cross". The last expedition I lead in 2016 was supposedly my last, however as history would have it, there is always unfinished business and the ocean does not give up its secrets with ease. Thirteen! I am not superstitious but this one already has that feeling about it, so I can hope this is not my last!

The aircraft known as the "Lady Southern Cross" flown by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and co-pilot John Thompson "Tommy" Pethybridge vanished on November 8, 1935, built by the Lockheed Aircraft Company in Burbank, California to Kingsford Smith's specifications, the Lockheed Altair was the fastest single engine aircraft over distance in the world during the early '30's with a top speed of 225 mph.

The first Joint Myanmar Australian Lady Southern Cross Search Expedition was led by Ted Wixted in 1983, Ted passed away in 2001. In 2004, I continued his life's work. Ted was and still is Australia's greatest aviation historian. His dying words to his son Tom, were a clue, that would lead to the solving of the greatest aviation mystery of all time.

In February 2009, the LSCSE II team located the aircraft. The recovery operation has been, and still is one of the most challenging and difficult underwater recovery operations ever undertaken.

To the members of the Joint Myanmar Australian Lady Southern Cross Search Expedition II team, past and present, the Government of the Union of Myanmar, the people of Myanmar, the families of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, Tommy Pethybridge, Ted Wixted, Jack Hodder, and all those who have supported this project and been a part this history over the past 80 years, thank you.

"Bring 'em home"