AIRMAN'S FEAT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21919, 1 October 1934, Page 9

AIRMAN'S FEAT

SPEEDY FLIGHT DARWIN TO CROYDON AN UNOFFICIAL RECORD EIGHT DAYS, NINE HOURS NEWSPAPER TRIBUTES By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received September 30, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 29 A South Australian airman, Mr. O. •J. Melrose, arrived at Croydon at 7 a.m. yesterday, having flown from Darwin in 8 days 9 hours. Mr. Melrose jumped out of the cockpit of his machine and said, almost casually, " I believe I have unofficially broken the Australia to England record." The Evening News points out that the record cannot be officially recognised, because Mr. Melrose was not attempting a record. The airman will rest for a few days prior to commencing preparations for the Centenary air race, in which hj« will" be the youngest competitor. The official Australia to England record is held by Mr. J.-A. Mollison, at 8 days 22 hours 25 minutes. This time was beaten, however, by Messrs. Rubin and Waller, but, as in the case of Mr., Melrose, the record was an unofficial one. It took them 8 days 12 hours. Mr. Melrose left Lyons on the final stage at 2 a.m. yesterday, after a brief rest, which he sorely needed, but after enjoying a good breakfast at Croydon he was sufficiently refreshed to go up in a new Fokker four-engined air-liner designed for the Amsterdam-Batavia route, which was being used for demonstration flights at Croydon, piloted by Mr. Fokker. The Daily Telegtaph describes Mr. Melrose as the most remarkable natural flier since Lindbergh. It calls attention to his inclination to start at about 3 a.m., fly. for 12 hours, and rest in the afternoon or early part of the evening. The paper says his practice, whether based on reasoned consideration or purely instinctive, will stimulate night flying. The Morning Post congratulates Mr. Melrose on his success and his modesty. It says it is a good omen, for the Melbourne Centenary race itself, for if a comparative novice can achieve so much single-handed, • what may bo expected from practised pairs flying in relay day and night? It is perhaps not fantastic to hope that Melbourne will be reached in seven days or less. That would be a worthy symbol of the ascendancy won by man during the century since Melbourne arose from the soil.