YOUNG AVIATOR’S PLUCK.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 284, 29 October 1934, Page 7

YOUNG AVIATOR’S PLUCK.

LANDED WITH DRY TANKS.

MELROSE’S CLOSE CALL;

Received October 29, 9.40 a.m. DARWIN, Oct. 29. Lost for four hours, C. J. Melrose landed at Darwin aerodrome at 5.30 p.in. with all his petrol tanks dry. Melrose sighted land about 2 p.m. and then ran into a thick dust storm. He was flying around for hours, “I did not see the Australian coastline until I was right over it. Then, thinking I had drifted north-east, 1 altered the course and flew about 100 miles,” lie said. “Suddenly I saw Point Pearce, near the West Australian border, then I knew where I was and made for Darwin 200 1 miles away. “When I discovered the petrol was failing I fought hard to gam altitude and a mile from the Darwin aerodrome the engine stopped. I glided down to the aerodrome in a wide swoop. I had a parachute and a rubber canoe. I was going to use the parachute if I cleared the harbour and in case 1 did not I had the canoe inflated and ready. However, the wind kicked me in and saved my life.” Melrose was very excited when he landed. He said he was the luckiest' man in the world to reach the aerodrome. i “I thought it was the end,’ he said. Melrose’s actual flying time to Darwin is 94 hours. He had left Koepang at 7.13 a.m.

STODARTS IN AUSTRALIA

ONE BROTHER INJURED

Received October 29, 8.5 a.m. DARWIN, Oct. 29. The Stodart Bros reached here at 7.50 last night and left at 10.20. They continued on to Newcastle Waters, where they are staying the night. Squadron-Leader Stodart severely injured his right hand only a few minutes after his arrival at Darwin. He was swinging the propeller to taxi to the refuelling depot when the engine kicked back on compression and the blade struck his hand, inflicting a wound which bled profusely. Sergeant Stodart piloted the machine when it departed. Squadron-Leader Stodart, who was born in Victoria, left Australia before the war. This is the first time he lias revisited the country. He said that when crossing the Timor Sea they passed through _ the worst thunderstorm in his experience.

They ascended to 13,000 feet and could not rise above it. They were thrown about like a peanut shell in the wind. The rain was torrential.

SHAW RETIRES EROM RACE. MELBOURNE, Oct. 28. A Bushire message states that Shaw has retired from the race. A new piston is being sent by air mail for the Mollisons.