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

Oct. 10, 1953 - Duke Of Gloucester Starts The Air Race: The Duke of Glpucester 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 Ar Force Hastings, took off first. On board the K.L.M. plane the first one off were 25 Dutch girls, some going to New Zealand to marry and others, already married, to set up home there. Photo Shows Crowds wave as the B.E.A. Viscount (in the transport section), started off in the race at London Airport today.