London to Melbourne Air Race – 1934

The MacRobertson Trophy Air Race (also known as the London to Melbourne Air Race) took place in October 1934 as part of the Melbourne Centenary celebrations. The race was devised by the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Sir Harold Gengoult Smith, and the prize money of £15,000 was provided by Sir Macpherson Robertson, a wealthy Australian confectionery manufacturer, on the conditions that the race be named after his MacRobertson confectionery company, and that it was organised to be as safe as possible. A further condition was that a gold medal be awarded to each pilot who completed the course within 16 days.

Significantly, both second and third places were taken by airliners, the KLM Douglas DC-2 PH-AJU Uiver (“Stork”) and Roscoe Turner’s Boeing 247-D. Both completed the course in less than a day more than the winner, DH.88 Grosvenor House, flown by Flight Lt. C. W. A. Scott and Captain Tom Campbell Black.

Source Wikipedia

See also: Flight of De Uiver – 1934