Early Life

Herbert John Louis Hinkler was born on 8 December 1892 in Bundaberg, Queensland, the son of John William Hinkler (a Prussian-born stockman) and Frances Atkins (née Bonney).

He enrolled at North Bundaberg State School in 1898 as pupil No. 685 (“Bertie”). He left school at 14.

Early Fascination with Flight

• Obsessively studied the flight of ibises near the school lake.
• Built two man-carrying gliders (1911–1912), the second incorporating bird-flight observations and even his mother’s ironing board.
• Successfully flew a glider from Mon Repos Beach.
• Worked as photographer’s assistant, in sugar mills and a foundry.
• Self-taught mechanics by correspondence.
• Joined Queensland Aero Club (1910) and Aerial League of Australia.
• Became mechanic to American barnstormer “Wizard” Stone (1912).

In 1913 he worked his passage to England and joined the Sopwith Aviation Company.