Timeline

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

November 12, 1919

South Australian brothers, Ross and Keith Macpherson Smith, along with James ‘Jim’ Mallett Bennett and Wally

November 12, 1919

The intense cold and 90 mph winds caused the goggles and helmets to frost over which had to be removed for visibility. A

Pisa, Italy

November 15, 1919

They ran into headwind and arrived in Pisa in the evening. Rather than attempting to fly onward to Rome in the dark the

Venturina, Italy

November 17, 1919

After noticing a loss in oil pressure the crew made a minor stop at an Italian aerodrome in Venturina before continuing

Rome, Italy

November 17, 1919

After an intense conflict through heavy head-winds and dense clouds the Vimy arrived in Rome two days behind schedule.

Taranto, Italy

November 17, 1919

They departed Rome at 9 am through the Apennines mountains which created a bumpy experience and the aircraft was tossed

Canea, Crete

November 17, 1919

Rather than taking the flight to Cairo through Athens, the route was altered to Crete which cut the crossing to two shor

Cairo, Egypt

November 18, 1919

The Vimy flew non-stop for seven and a half hours across the Mediterranean totaling 680 miles (250 of which was open sea

Damascus, Syria

November 19, 1919

They made their way over the Nile Delta and the Suez Canal en route to Damascus and flew over the battlefields that all

Image: Black and White photograph showing biplane with clouded sunset. Shadows of men gathered by the right wing

Ramadi, Iraq

November 20, 1919

Leaving during a heavy storm in Damascus to avoid being bogged and having further delays in schedule, the Vimy made its

Image: Biplane on flat desert landscape. Tent off in the distance with armed guards.

Basra, Iraq

November 21, 1919

Despite having a sand clogged engine and strained or broken aileron control wires from the Sandstorm overnight in Ramadi

Bundar Abbas, Persian Gulf

November 23, 1919

There was concern on the approach that the engines may be likely to fail, forcing a landing in the gulf, but the arrival

Karachi, Pakistan

November 24, 1919

In the longest sector of the flight, a 730 mile stretch, there was concern about the conditions and expected response fr

Image: men standing around the tail of a biplane.

Delhi, India

November 25, 1919

After making the flight from Karachi to Delhi, they learnt that Poulet was only a day ahead of them, after undertaking t

Muttra, India

November 27, 1919

After leaving Delhi, the Smith’s would encounter much less support, without assistance from the R.A.F. Landing too

Allahabad, India

November 28, 1919

In Allahabad they encountered a large black bull that challenged them, threatening to charge the aircraft. After a succe

Calcutta, India

November 29, 1919

The Smith’s followed the Jumna River through to Benares in this section of the flight, following the railroad to C

Akyab, Burma Coast

November 29, 1919

After crossing the swamp lands in the Ganges Delta, they made their way to Burma via the coastline. Fortunately in Calcu

Image: Biplane on open field surrounded by onlookers

Rangoon, Burma

November 30, 1919

The race was on to reach Rangoon before Poulet, as no aircraft had previously landed their prior. After following the Ir

Bangkok, Thailand

December 1, 1919

Graciously, during the flight from Burma to Thailand, Poulet agreed to fly side-by-side with the brothers in case of for

Singora, Malaysia

December 2, 1919

Bad weather conditions were encountered during the next part of their journey, with torrential rain making flying challe

Singora, Malaysia

December 4, 1919

After encountering a ‘thrilling take-off’, they passed over Malacca on their way to Singapore. Restricted sp

Image: Close up of Biplane with rags covering wheels and the engines. One of the crew is looking into the cockpit from the wing.

Singapore

December 4, 1919

With only 8 days left to reach Darwin, they decided to remain in Singapore longer than planned in order to repair the ai

Batavia (Jakarta, Java)

December 7, 1919

Across the equator, they found the Southern Hemisphere much calmer, with barely a ripple on the sea. Unable to locate th

Image: Javan locals assisting with a bogged biplane

Surabaya, Java

December 8, 1919

Unfortunately, the first aerodrome they experienced was muddy and caused the Vimy to become bogged. They removed the air

Bima, Sumbawa

December 9, 1919

Their arrival in Bima provided much more pleasant conditions, with a large cross marking their landing. Due to undrinkab

Atamboea, Timor

December 10, 1919

On landing, they refuelled in Timor and prepared for their morning take off to Darwin. Again the take-off was dangerous

Darwin, Australia

December 10, 1919

Their final course was accurately pursued and sighting of the Bathurst Island Lighthouse was made. The landing took plac

Warlock Ponds, Australia

December 13, 1919

They were forced to make a landing at Warlock Ponds in order to adjust the engine.

Anthony’s Lagoon, Australia

December 14, 1919

They were forced to land at Anthony’s Lagoon which was 450 miles from the nearest railway and 150 miles from a tel

Charleville, Australia

December 23, 1919

Upon Landing in Charleville the Vimy was fitted with a new propeller and thoroughly overhauled.

Sydney, Australia

February 14, 1920

Melbourne, Australia

February 25, 1920

Upon arrival in Melbourne they were received by a tumultuous welcome and were presented with their prize cheque by Prime

Image: biplane landing with people watching

Adelaide, South Australia

March 23, 1920

The Smith brothers finally returned home on 23 March, where they were met by enthusiastic crowds once again.