Lot No. 728
| Auction No. | 30 |
| Category |
Australian Aviation Heritage Miscellaneous |
| Est. | $3000 |
| Status | SOLD $1800 |
1919 (12th Nov) The England to Australia flight was inspired by the Australian government offering a prize of £10,000 for the first Australians in a British aircraft to fly from Great Britain to Australia. The brothers, along with Sergeant Jim Bennett & Sergeant Wally Shiers departed from Hounslow Heath Aerodrome, England in a Vickers Vimy aeroplane, eventually landing in Darwin, Australia on 10th December 1919. Having taken less than 28 days with an actual flying time of 135 hours, the four men shared the £10,000 prize money. Keith & Ross Smith were immediately knighted while Shiers & Bennett were commissioned with each awarded a Bar to their Air Force Medals. This lot is an Australian red ensign flag for the Merchant Navy which is similar to the Australian flag but with a red field. It has been signed by both aviators boldly in black on the Union Jack section. Worn condition but a valuable memento of this history making flight & apparently presented to the Royal Aero Club of NSW in 1920 upon its establishment. (see plate 14)
Image represents the entire lot.