Day 11 – Thursday, 15 May, 1930. The Shirt Off Their Backs. Insein
Jimmy Martin has cabled me to tell me of the interest of the papers. Word has spread and my flight is big news at home. Who would have thought that a girl born in a simple house down St George’s Road...
View ArticleDay 12 – Friday, 16 May, 1930. Destination Bangkok. Insein to Bangkok
Such a day! We returned to the air, where we belong, my Jason and I. I will not keep it from you, diary, I have been left exhausted by today’s efforts and have a blinding headache. I will expand this...
View ArticleDay 13 – Saturday, 17 May, 1930. Strongman. Bangkok to Singora
A false start at dawn this morning. The cowling on the engine flew open just minutes after we took to the air so we made an almost immediate return to the ground. I was fearful, as I have never...
View ArticleDay 14 – Sunday, 18 May, 1930. Sunday Best. Singora to Singapore
14 days in and I simply cannot wait to arrive in Australia in order to get a good night’s sleep. However, a late and somewhat sad reminder from father by way of cable that in order to beat Bert...
View ArticleDay 15 – Monday, 19 May, 1930. Volcanic Eruptions. Singapore to Tjomal, Java
Short cuts are not always advisable, nor do they provide a shorter journey time. Thankfully, our guardian angels and God himself are by our side, ensuring that we stay safe. Today I was lost over the...
View ArticleDay 16 – Tuesday, 20 May, 1930. Propelled Onwards. Tjomal to Surabaya
After yesterday’s trauma it was welcome relief to be guided to Surabaya by a pilot from the Dutch air mail service and for the responsibility of routes and navigation to be handed over to someone else...
View ArticleDay 17 – Wednesday, 21 May, 1930. Exhaustion. Surabaya
Exhausted. Totally exhausted. I am so very tired and extremely discouraged because everything seems to be going wrong. I will be so glad when the sea crossing is over as I dread being in the air above...
View ArticleDay 18 – Thursday, 22 May, 1930. Into the Jungle. Surabaya to Atamboea
A terrifying landing of the kind I would never like to repeat and for quite some time I was in the company of the island’s tribesmen. Today was always going to be a test of my reserves, and an effort...
View ArticleDay 19 – Friday, 23 May, 1930. 500 Miles Remain. Atamboea
I fell into a deep sleep on those steps I wrote of yesterday. I was woken by a bearded white man, the pastor no doubt, who beckoned me inside the building, where he provided a more lavish meal lacking...
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Day 20 – Saturday, 24 May, 1930. In Darwin. Atamboea to Darwin
We are here! We have made it! We have flown from England to Australia. Jason and I have triumphed! And on Empire Day, of all days. We landed at 3.30pm, after 20 days of hard work and endeavour. Despite...
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