START IN THE DAWN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 278, 22 October 1934, Page 7

START IN THE DAWN.

INCIDENTS AT MILDENHALL.

GREAT CROWD PRESENT.

MILDENHALL, Oct. 20

The start of the Centenary air race drew enormous crowds to the Mildenhall aerodrome.

At 2 a.m. the pilots were wishing one another a sleepy good-morning over early breakfasts. The New Zealanders Hewett and Ka.y and McGregor and Walker, with flying kits ready, had their meal together.

The roads were crowded with cars, cyclists and pedestrians converging on the aerodrome. The weather was pleasantly mild, and thousands of watchers with hampers and rugs spent the night near the aerodrome. Shortly after 4 a.m. the mechanics began wheeling the machines out of the hangars. Fuelling was still proceeding at 4.30, while some pilots were still snatching the last real sleep they will get before Melbourne. The steady purring of engines receiving their first warming up gave a reminder of the approach of zero hour. Only the hangars and offices were lighted, the remainder of the huge aerodrome being in darkness.

After a few drops of rain the first streaks of dawn appeared in a patchy sky at 5 a.m., and the first machines were taxied to the starting line at 5.30.

Both the New Zealand entrants were in good spirits. Howett told an Australian Press representative: “We have slept well, breakfasted well, and the machine is in excellent order. A lot depends on luck.” McGregor and Walker spent the last minutes discussing the plans of the route with Mr Ulm. Hundreds of spectators gate-crashed the aerodrome, police, firemen and Air Force officials being powerless to check the rush. The crowd was very orderly and did not interfere with the maclimes. It is officially estimated that 60,000 spectators and 8000 motor cars were present. . . The list of competitors, with their official racing numbers in the order ot starting, is as follows : 63—J. A,' and Mrs Molhson, D.H. Comet. . 5 Turner and Pangborn, Boeing Transport. , 19 —Waller and Jones, D.H. Comet. 6 Asjes and Geysendorffer, Pander S 4. 58—Neville Stack, Airspeed A.S. 34 — Scott and Black, D.H. Comet. 44—Parmentier and Moll, Douglas DC2. 46 Miss Cochran, Granville. 32—John H. Wright, Monocoupe. 15— C. G. Davies, Fairey lIIF. 62 —Gilman and Baines, Fairey Fox. 36—Woods and Bennett, Lockheed Vega. „ 60—Flewett and Kay, D.H. Dragon. 35 Parer and Hemsworth, h a.irey 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—Stodart Bros., Airspeed Courier. 16— C. J. Melrose, Puss Moth. At 6.15 the roar of powerful engines reverberated over the fenlands through the stilly Suffolk dawn. The machines were lined up against a picturesque background and all eyes were strained on Sir Alfred Bower, the actmg-Lord Mayor of London, as ho st°°cl wa red flag in his hand and signal leu the Mollisons off punctuallv at 6.30. Following are the official times at the starting point: Starting Time Mr and Mrs Mollison 6.30 Turner and Pangborn 6.30 j Waller and Jones 6.314 Asjes and Geysendorffer 6.324 Stack and Turner 6.33 Scott and Campbell Black ... 6.33 s Parmentier and Moll 6.34) Miss Cochran 6.30} Wright and Polando 6-36 Davies and Hill 6.361 Gilman and Baines ... 6.37) Woods and Bennett 0.381 Hewett and Kay 6.39 Parer and Hemsworth 6.391 Hansen and Jensen 0.40) Brook and Miss Lay 6.41) McGregor and Walker 6.42 Shaw 6.423 The Stodarts .... 0.43) Melrose 0.44)

Stack (Britain) after taxi-ing some distance, returned for some reason not explained. It was reported he came back to pick up film showing the start of all the machines for delivery at Melbourne, but this has not been confirmed.

Gilman (Britain), who was accompanied by Baines (New Zealand) lost 81 minutes., He was ready to take off before Hansen (Denmark), but could not break in there, and waited until all got away except Stack, who lost 131 minutes. The Mollisons (Britain) had to run a long way before tlie tail of their machine left the ground, but eventually they made a good take-off in about a quarter of a mile. Catlicart Jones (Britain) failed to take off and returned to the starting line, where the schedulo was not delayed. Geysendorffer (Holland) got away magnificently and was followed by Scott (Britain) who made an equally fine start. In a second attempt Cathcart Jones got away well, but the delay cost him a few minutes. Then Miss Cochran (United States) sped across the turf at a great pace, bumping badly until she finally virtually bumped into the air. Ilie spectators thought the undercarriage must break, and fears were expressed that it might collapse during the race. Wright and Davies (United States) both got away uneventfully. Woods (Australia) soared up straight and swift as a swallow in one of the loveliest starts in the race. The sun broke through, illuminating the brilliant scene as Hewett’s (New Zealand) golden Dragon flashed past the post. Rarer (Australia) made a comfortable ascent. The other starts were uneventful. Fifteen minutes sufficed to start the twenty competitors, and at 6.50 not a speck remained in the sky. Every machine got away without requiring to use the full length of the aerodrome, which is nearly a mile in length. The Mollisons took the longest run. Turner and Pangborn (United States) starting forty-five seconds later, _ were almost m the air before tlie Mollisons. The broadcasting arrangements broke down after the departure of a tew starters, resulting in much confusion of identity. _ * Lord Londonderry, Secretary of State for Air, gave each British pilot a message to the people of Australia, and the first arrival will deliver it. Lord Londonderry’s message was addressed to Sir Keith Murdoch, Melbourne. In the meantime its contents are ATfflß FORECAST A special forecast issued at IU-qU p.m. covering the Great Circle route is aS First'section (England and the Channel and north-east France): Mind at surface, south-west 10 to lo m.p.li., at 2000 feet, 25 m.p.li.; completely overcast; visibility, 3 to 4 miles, except where drizzle. , • \ . Second section (Germany, Austria). Conditions somewhat similar; mountains in cloud; visibility fuller, 6 miles, westerly wind, 10 to lo m.p.h. Third section (Vienna Istanbul, Black Sea): Wind variable Rom north-west to north-east, 20» m.p.h. at 2000 ft. increasing in force toward th Black Sea; cloud variable; visibility fnllv 6 to 12 miles. . . . Fourth section (Turkey m Asm): Similar cloud'base generally at 2oooi t. Fifth section (Syria to Bagdad). Wind westerly or variable near the 9mface 20 m.p.h. at 10,000tt, pernaps showers in the northern part of this ireu • visibility at least 10 miles. The general outlook in tlie southern route via checking ports is less satisfactory. There is a possibility of adverse winds south of Italy.