This Day in History: 1924-04-30

WGCDR Stanley Goble and FLTLT Ivor McIntyre continued their around-Australia flight in Fairey IIID A10-3 on Wednesday 30 April 1924 (journey day 25, flying day 13). Leaving Port Hedland at 8.42 am on 30 April, they reached Onslow at 11.30 am and beached the Fairey IIID on the sandy shore for refuelling. There were supposed to be no rocks in the area, but as the tide went out it was found that the floats were rubbing on jagged rocks. Refuelling was immediately stopped and the plane was moved half a mile down the beach. With full tanks, they left for Carnarvon at 2:25 pm. They reached Carnarvon at 5:55 pm. The Gascoyne River was very narrow and full of sandbanks due to low tide, so McIntyre had to land on Sharks Bay and taxi up the river. On the way they were met by a launch with members of the local sailing club. The secretary whose first thought was for refreshment, held up a bottle of whisky in one hand and a bottle of beer in the other and yelled “What are you going to have?” However, as they were stuck on a sandbank at this time and still three miles from the beaching place, the seaplane crew decided to wait until they were safely on the beach. Source: The First Round-Australia Flight, 1924 by Neville Parnell, AHSA Journal, vol 6, no 12, December 1965