EVE OF AIR RACE SCENE AT MILDENHALL

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 96, 20 October 1934, Page 10

EVE OF AIR RACE

SCENE AT MILDENHALL

VISIT BY EOYALTY

KING, QUEEN,, AND PRINCE

WEATHER GOOD FOR START

(British Official Wireless.) (Received October 20, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, October 19. A surprise visit was paid to Mildenhall this afternoon by the King and Queen, who inspected the machines entered for the great air race to Melbourne. The competing pilots, who were at the aerodrome supervising the final adjustments in preparation for their early start tomorrow, were presented, and in conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Mollison the Queen asked them to convey a message to the Duke of Gloucester, who is at present in Melbourne in connection with the Centenary celebrations. Earlier in the afternoon the Prince of Wales flew to the aerodrome, and during an exhaustive inspection of the competing machines met most of the pilots. Another visitor to Mildenhall today was Lord Londonderry, Secretary of State for Air, who also flew to the aerodrome and talked with the competitors. The latest weather reports indicate favourable conditions for the start of the race. Some clouds are forecast, but the competitors are likely to have the assistance of following winds on the first stage both on the great circle course and the southern route along the Mediterranean. The handicapping of machines for the handicap section of the race was completed this morning.. • Following is a list of competitors, with their official racing numbers, in the order of starting:— 63— J. A. and Mrs. Mollison, D.H. Comet. s—Turner5 —Turner and Pangborn, Boeing Transport. 29 —Fitzmaurico and Bonar, Bellanca. 19 —Waller and Jones, D.H. Comet. 6 —Asjes and Geyscndorffcr, Pander . . Si. 58—Neville Stack, Airspeed A.S. 34 —Scott and Black, D.H. Comet. 44 —Parmenticr and Moll, Douglas DC2. 46—Miss Cochran, Granville. . 32—John H. Wright, Monocoupe. 15_0. G. Davics, Fairey lIIF. 62—Gilman and Baines, Fairey Fox. 3(5 —Woods and Bennett, Lochheed Vega. 60 —Hewett and Kay, D.H. Dragon. 35—Paror and Hemsworth, Fairey Fox. . 7 —Hansen and Jensen, Desoutter Gipsy. 31—Brook and Miss Lay, Miles Falcon.

2—McGregor and Walker, Miles Hawk, 47 —G. Shaw, British Klemm Eagle. 14-s-Stodart Bros., Airspeed Courier. 16—C. J. Melrosc, Puss Moth.