Aviation
p. 93 · Read in the full issue
Heroes Of Early
On November 12, 1919,
a Vickers Vimy took off from London and 28 days later landed in Australia, winning the All-Australian crew a $lO,OOO prize with two days to spare.
It was this achievement more than any other, which brought attention to Keith and Ross Smith, although they were connected with many other important milestones in the early days of Australian aviation. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of this event Sir Grenfell Price has written the life story of the Smith brothers, The Skies Remember.
As a lifelong friend of the brothers and having access to all their private papers, made available for the first time, he traces the story from their youth, through their World War T experiences, on to the Great Race and after. Ross Smith died in an air crash in 1922.
Their flight from England to Aus tralia is a story of adventure and frustration. But for the courage of the crew, the journey could have terminated at any one of half-a-dozen places alone the route. An interesting and well-illustrated account of a long-neglected period of Australian aviation.—WT.
(The Skies Remember. Angus And
Robertson, $4.35).