Goya Henry

Henry Goya Henry (17 June 1901 – 14 July 1974) was an Australian aviator, seaman and snake-catcher. He was reputedly the first pilot to fly a plane under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, despite having earlier lost a leg in a plane crash. Prosecution by aviation authorities led him to sue the federal government, with the High Court ruling in his favour and declaring aviation regulations unconstitutional. His aviation career ended when he was declared bankrupt in 1938. He later moved to the Territory of Papua and New Guinea where he worked as a sea captain around coastal New Guinea.

Early life Henry was born on 17 June 1901 in Grafton, New South Wales. He was the son of Emily (née Stephen) and Thomas James Henry; his mother was related to the Stephen legal family. He attended Grafton High School and went on to study science at the University of Sydney from 1922 to 1923. He initially intended to pursue a medical career but discontinued his studies and found work as a clerk. He and his brothers were known for their swimming prowess, with Ernest an Olympic silver medalist.

After receiving an artificial leg, Henry regained his commercial pilot's licence in 1932 and worked for Air Taxi Ltd for a period flying charter flights. In 1934 he purchased a Genairco Biplane, VH-UOG, which he used for joy-rides.

Legal troubles In September 1934, Henry's pilot's licence was suspended for two weeks for breaching federal air navigation regulations. He continued to fly and consequently had his licence suspended indefinitely. He retained his solicitor brother Alfred Henry as legal counsel and launched action in the High Court in October 1934.

The High Court ruled in Henry's favour in 1936 in the case of R v Burgess; Ex parte Henry, holding that the federal government did not have the power to regulate intrastate civil aviation under the constitution. As a result, the Lyons government held a constitutional referendum in 1937 to extend the government's powers. A majority of voters were in favour of the proposed amendment, but it was defeated after failing the secure the double majority of states and voters required by the constitution.

Seafaring and later life Henry attempted to enlist in the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II but was denied due to his artificial leg. He instead joined the US Army Small Ships Section in 1943, sailing a small boat around New Guinea.

After the war's end Henry worked for the Department of Supply & Shipping, including as chief mate on the vessel Kelanoa sailing between Rabaul and Kavieng and as master of Matoko from 1950 to 1951. The shipping service was subsequently taken over by the administration of the Territory of Papua and New Guinea and Henry became master of Thetis, running a service on the Sepik River.

Henry retired to Sydney in the early 1960s and died of arteriosclerosis on 14 July 1974 in Manly.