AHSA NEWSLETTER SEPT 2017 – Aviation Historical Society of Australia

1934 The MacRobertson International Air Races, celebrating the centenary of the State of Victoria, from Mildenhall airfield (near London) to Melbourne, commenced just after dawn on 20 October 1934 (London time). The race was divided into two divisions – speed and handicap – with no limits to aircraft size, power or crew. The sponsor, Australian confectionary mogul, Sir Macpherson Robertson, provided a prize pool of £15, 000. Initially, there were 64 entrants from 13 countries, but when the race started on 20 October 1934, the field had been reduced to 20 planes from seven countries. Mildenhall was a newly-constructed RAF airfield, but it had not been fully completed and was thus not in use by the RAF at the time. King George V and Queen Mary visited the airfield the day before the race to wish the contestents well. It was estimated that there were up to 60,000 people around the Mildenhall boundaries before dawn on a rather cool and damp Saturday morning to see the start of the race. Of these, about 15,000 actually poured onto the aerodrome and runways and caused chaos for the authorities and competitors alike who were moving out to their starting positions. Only 11 aircraft finished the gruelling 18,000 kilometre trip. The competitor's start times were as follows (s = Speed section; h = handicap section): 6:31 - Mr J.A. Mollison and Mrs. A. Mollison (nee Johnson), Britain (D.H. Comet), s. and h. 6:31 - Colonel Roscoe Turner and Mr. Clyde Pangborn, USA (Boeing 247), s. and h. 6:33 - Flight-Lieut. D.L. Asjes and Mr. G.J. Geysendorfer, Holland (Pander S.4) s. 6:35 - Mr. C.W.A. Scott and Captain T. Cambpell Black, Britain (D.H. Comet), s. and h. 6:35 - Miss Jacqueline Cochran and Mr. Wesley Smith, U.S.A. (Granville Monoplane), h. 6:36 - Mr. K.D. Parmentier and Mr. J.J. Moll, Holland (Douglas D.C. 2), s. and h 6:37 - Flight-Lieut. O. Cathcart-Jones and Mr. Ken Waller, Britain (D.H. Comet), s.and h. 6:37 - Mr. John H. Wright and Mr. John Pplando, U.S.A. (Lambert Monocoupe), h. 6:39 - Flight-Officer H. D. Gilman and Mr. J. K. C. Baines, Britain (Fairey Fox), s. 6:40 - Mr. James Woods and Flying-Officer D. C. Bennett, Australia (Lockhead.Vega), s. and h. 6:40 - Squadron-Leader J. D. Hewitt and Flying-Officer C. E .Kay, and Mr. Stewart, New. Zealand -D.H. Rapide Dradgon), s. and h. 6:41 - Lieutenant Michael Kansen and Mr. Jensen, Denmark (Desoutter Mark II.), h. 6:41 - Mr. Ray Parer and Mr: G.E. Hemsworth, Australia (Fairey Fox), s. and h. 6:42 - Mr. H. L. Brook, with. Miss E. Lay as passenger, Britain (Miles Falcon), h. 6:43 - Squadron-Leader M.C. McGregor and Mr. H. C. . Walker, New Zealand (Miles Hawk), h. 6:44 - Flight-Lieut G. Shaw, Britain. (British Klemm Eagle), h. 6:45 - Squadron-Leader D. E. Stodart and Sergeant-Pilot K. G. Stodart, Britain (Airspeed Courier), h. 6:45 - Mr. C. J. Melrose, Australia (D.H. Puss Moth), h. 6:47 - Captain T. Neville Stack, Mr. S. L. Turner, and Mr. J. H. G. McArthur, Britain (Airspeed ' Viceroy), s. and h. 6:47 - Flying-Officer C. G. Davies and Lieut-Commander Hill, Britain (Fairey SP.), s. and h. Sources: Aviation Heritage Vol 24 Nos 1 & 2, 1984; State Library of NSW; The Port Macquarie News and Hastings River Advocate (NSW), Sat 27 Oct 1934, Page 5, ORDER OF START.

1934 While competing in the Handicap section of the MacRobertson International Air Races from London to Melbourne, Miss Jacqueline Cochran and Mr. Wesley Smith, representing the U.S.A. were forced to withdraw when their Granville Brothers R6H Monoplane "QED" NR14307 developed mechanical problems at Bucharest, Romania on 20 October 1934. Source: Aviation Heritage Vol 24 Nos 1 & 2, 1984