This Day in History: 1934-10-30

Fourth place in the Handicap category of the MacRobertson International Air Races was won by Squadron Leader David Edmund Stodart, D.S.O., D.F.C. and Sergeant Ken G. Stodart flying the Airspeed Courier G-ACJL, race number 14, when they crossed the finish line over Flemington Racecourse at 12:55am on 30 October 1934. Their actual flying time was 100 hours 24 mins 6 seconds which, less their Handicap allowance of 20 hours 51 mins 26 secs, gave them a handicap time of 79 hours, 32 mins 30 seconds, only a few minutes slower than Melrose who took third place. It was reported in “Aircraft” that “During the race the Stodarts met more than their share of bad weather which smashed a window and left much of the fabric surface in a soggy condition. On arrival in Melbourne the Courier was flown across to the civil aerodrome (Essendon) and new fabric was fitted on each wing extending from the wing roots to the inner edge of the ailerons.” Jimmy Melrose also arrived in Melbourne on 30 October, taking third place in the Handicap category. Although he arrived after the Stodarts, he placed higher due to the higher handicap of his slower aircraft, a de Havilland DH.80A Puss Moth VH-UQO. He was awarded the prize money for second place, since Scott and Black had entered both categories, but chose to take the prize money for the Speed category. Melrose was one of two solo pilots in the race (the other was Donald Campbell Shaw) and was the only Australian to win a prize. Source: Aviation Heritage Vol 24 Nos 1 & 2, 1984