[1] In 1917 he was apprenticed to become a tool, jig and gauge maker at the Lithgow Small Arms Factory.

[1][2] In 1931, he piloted a Comper Swift from England to Australia in the record time of 9 days, 1 hours and 40 minutes.

[3] In 1934 with the financial help of his wife's uncle, P. S. Garling,[4] he won the tender for the Charleville (Queensland) to Cootamundra (New South Wales) leg of the England-Australia airmail route, servicing the route with DH.84 Dragon aircraft.

[1] Four years later, with the successful completion of the contract, his company, Butler Air Transport Co. continued as a civil airline, serving centres in New South Wales and Queensland.

[5] In 1958 he became an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)[5] Butler Air Transport for the story of the civil airline he founded and managed.