Cirrus@Austlit

Aviator, soldier, and businessman.

A co-founder of the Australian airline company Qantas, Fysh served with the Australian Light Horse and fought in both the Gallipoli and Palestine campaigns as a lieutenant. He later became an observer and gunner to Paul McGinness in the AFC and was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross during the aftermath of the war for his services to aerial warfare.

Fysh, McGinness and Fergus McMaster started Qantas in 1920 and despite government ownership Fysh became the company's managing director and chairman. A committee member of the International Air Transport Association, he was appointed president of the organisation in 1960. He was also one of the founders of the Australian National Travel Association (now the Australian Tourist Commission), a member of the Royal Aeronautical and British Interplanetary society, the Institute of Transport and the Australasian Pioneers Club. Acknowledged for his work as an aviation historian, Fysh also wrote books a trilogy of memoirs dealing with the impact of Qantas in history.