1934 AIR RACE RECALLED

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27169, 13 October 1953, Page 6

1934 AIR RACE RECALLED

COMPETITORS VISIT CHRISTCHURCH

CHANGE IN CHARACTER OF EVENT Memories of the London to Melbourne air race which began at Mildenhall aerodrome on October 20, 1934, were revived in Christchurch yesterday when Captain H. C. Walker, operations manager for the National Airways Corporation, Mr J. D. Hewett, a farmer from the Bay of Islands, Mr Frank Stewart, who is living in retirement in Auckland, and Mr Norman Ellison, editor of the Australian aviation magazine “Flying,” met in an hotel lounge. The New Zealand members of the party all flew in the 1934 race and Mr Ellison was a radio commentator in Melbourne for the race.

Captain Walker flew with the late Mr M. C. MacGregor in by far the smallest plane in the race—a Miles Hawk powered by a 130 horsepower Gipsy Major engine. The tiny aircraft reached Melbourne seven days out from London. Actual flying time was 106 hours. It was the fifth plane to complete the course and was placed fourth in the handicap section--“but there was no fourth prize then,” commented Captain Walker. The English aviation journal “Aeroplane” subsequently said of the flight: “Without detracting from C. W. A. Scott’s splendid feat (with T. Campbell Black he won the race in 71J hours) Squadron Leader MacGregor’s flight for sheer pluck, perseverance, endurance and skilful piloting is unsurpassed in the history of British aviation. MacGregor and Walker deserve to be regarded as the heroes of the race.” Mr Hewett, then a squadron leader, flew with Flying Officer C. E. Kay and Mr Stewart, who was wireless operator, in the de Havilland Dragon Rapide Tainui. They finished sixth in the handicap section, but their flying time was 106 hours. They subsequently flew the Tasman—the first New Zealand airmen to do that.

The three veteran airmen were in Christchurch at the week-end to see the finish of another air race, but air races have changed in character since their day. “Everyone entered in our race had just as much chance,” said Captain Walker. “In most cases competitors had no opportunity to try out their aircraft satisfactorily and very few had been over the route. The result was that each stopping place presented its own particular problems. With no radio aids it was often a problem finding an airfield at night. In the race we have just seen* competitors would regard it as more or less a routine flight. They had been over the route and tested out every piece of equipment. It then becomes more a matter of having every detail properly organised.” “It is no solo effort now,” said Mr Stewart, “and it doesn’t prove anything, still I should imagine that they have probably learnt a good deal about how their aircraft stand up to such a testing.” Mr Stewart said he believed that the London to Christchurch race would be “definitely the last.” Making an entry in an air race was now too costly. Noone would ever be able to provide the prize money to make it worth while. Comparative Costs Captain Walker said that the Miles Hawk in which he had flown to Melbourne had cost £B4O and the total cost of taking part in the race had been about £3500.

Mr Hewitt said that their plane had cost about £4OOO to £5OOO and the “whole show’’ would have been between £7OOO and £BOOO. “Our backers sold the aircraft to Western Australian Airways,” said Mr Hewett. “They probably came out with a profit,” added Mr Stewart. “If you take the cost of the aircraft into account you wouldn’t be able to get away with an entry today at £500,000,” said Captain Walker. The veteran airmen recalled how the King and Queen and the Prince of Wales had come to see the aeroplanes assembling for the race in 1934. Captain Walker said that the American, John Polando. had asked the Prince of Wales: “Say. Prince, what about autographing my machine.” The Prince had replied that if he autographed one he would have to autograph all the machines. Back came the American's reply: “Never mind, Prince, just spit on it for luck.” Mr Hewett. He also offered Queer Mary a flight. Captain Walker said that Polando and J. H. Wright, flying a Monocoupe, subsequently landed at the wrong airfield sbout Persia and were thrown into gaol for a week. The 1934 race was a trial of physical endurance. “We had a lot of trouble with cowlings.” said Captain Walker. “They were too light for the job, so tnat when we stopped and should have been snatching some sleep we had to take them off and beat them up. “In those days it was more a question of physical endurance. Scott and Campbell Black had to stay awake for 72 hours. We got about two or three hours a night when we were on the ground. We tried to sleep sitting up in the aircraft, but we found that we could not do it. All the competitors came in in varying stages of exhaustion.”

Landing facilities were primitive even 20 years ago by present day standards. At Narromine Captain Walker said that they noticed as they came into land that the flare path disappeared from view. The ground personnel had lined it up with two big trees at the end of the field. At Cloncurry Mr Hewett said that the Dragon Rapide was turning round preparing to lining up with two hurricane lanterns marking the strip when the wing scraped an unlighted wire fence and the tail assembly was damaged. The mishap cost the airmen four days on the ground. “They were less skilled on the ground in those days,” said Captain Walker. Recently Captain Walker brought a Heron to New Zealand from the United Kingdom. When he arrived at Paranaraumu Mr Hewett was there to meet him. “You have been back over the old route.” commented Mr Hewett. “And at about the same old speed,” was Captain Walker’s reply.