Page 128 - Bulletin 13 2009
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clear from looking at her album that she had many men friends and there are lots of pictures
of various servicemen out and about with Cato. Even when interviewed in old age she told
the reporter, with a twinkle in her eye, that she still loved to flirt!
John Ross-Castle ‘Billie’ Williamson was one of South Africa’s flying pioneers, and had
served with the Royal Flying Corps in East Africa. (Fig. 3.15). Demobbed by 1919, he was
working as a rigger for the fledgling Aviation Ltd. which flew from a small strip on the east
bank of Zandvlei. He was a friend of a naval doctor to whom Dinks was engaged. It seems
Cato took one look at these ‘daring young men in their flying machines’ and was hooked. It
was all so new, so exciting, so dangerous! Wherever you went you were the centre of an
awed crowd. Billie, “a funny little flying man”, only a few inches taller than her 5 ft., swept
her off her feet and they were married in 1921 by special licence. She only told her father
after the event and he was naturally furious. Her father didn’t share her enthusiasm for
Billie but after some tears and rows this Engelsman was accepted into the family.
By 1927 Billie Williamson had opened a garage in Windsor Road – on the site of present
day Bay Motors and he and Cato were living in Windsor Road, near the garage. He also
had Williamson Motors on the Main Road, and it was from these premises that his plane,
engine roaring, shot out of the door, across the Main Road and into the Railway Station
fence. This may well have been the aeroplane that Billie built himself in Windsor Road. As
was done at the time, the wings and fuselage were moved to an airfield, reassembled, and
Dinks took off and flew over Kalk Bay before landing at the Strand. (Fig. 3.16).
By 1931 the couple had traveled all over South Africa and had been to Europe at least once.
Billie and partners formed Air Taxis Ltd. – a charter company – and one which employed
young Eddie Ladan before the Second World War. It was now that Cato and Billie flew all
over Southern Africa, giving shows (Billie bombing Cato in a car with flour bombs), (Figs.
3.17 - 3.19), picking up charters and post. Landing where they could, sleeping under the
