Eighty Years Ago Today (Oct 20)
Eighty years ago today . . . .
On this date and at this time exactly 80 years ago, the country roads surrounding the new and as yet uncommissioned RAF Aerodrome at Mildenhall in Suffolk were thronged with traffic and thousands of visitors, assembling to witness the start of 'The World's Greatest Air Race'. ....Mildenhall to Melbourne....The MacRobertson International Air Races.
All preparations had been made and crews dozed in chairs within the tented facilities arranged by the Royal Aero Club else slept fitfully in accommodation arranged locally or as far away as Cambridge or Bury St Edmunds. Ground crews started engines for test running before dawn which sent reverberations throughout the rural surrounds and encouraged the gathering spectators.
At precisely 0630, the starter, Sir Alfred Bower, would drop his flag and the first crew start their take off run: Jim and Amy Mollison in the DH.88 Comet 'Black Magic'. Next stop Baghdad.....
Eighty years later the concept, organisation and operation must still be regarded as truly remarkable.
Stuart McKay