Oct. 10, 1953 - Duke Of Gloucester Starts The Air Race: The Duke of Gloucester...

Oct. 10, 1953 - Duke Of Gloucester Starts The Air Race: The Duke of Gloucester dropped a green flag at London Airport this afternoon, and the 12,000-mile air race to New Zealand began. Altogether eight planes are competing. The five machines in the high-speed section are all Canberra jet bombers, three piloted by R.A.F. crews, and two flown by members of the Royal Australian Air Force. But the three planes in the transport section - a B.E.A. Viscount, a K.L.M. Liftmaster and a Royal New Zealand Air Force Hastings, took off first. On board the K.L.M. plane - the first off - were 23 Dutch girls, some going to New Zealand to marry, and some, already married, to settle there. Photo shows General view at London Airport today, showing the competing planes lined up pri ~ ~ to the start of the race.