On a wing and a prayer : the race that stopped the world

Resource Information

The work On a wing and a prayer : the race that stopped the world represents a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in Randwick City Library. This resource is a combination of several types including: Work, Language Material, Books.

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Label

On a wing and a prayer : the race that stopped the world

Title remainder

the race that stopped the world

Statement of responsibility

Di Websdale-Morrissey

Creator

• trueWebsdale-Morrissey, Di

Author

• trueWebsdale-Morrissey, Di

Subject

• Air pilots -- History
• trueAirplane racing
• Airplane racing -- Australia -- History
• Airplane racing -- England -- History
• Airplane racing -- History
• trueAustralia -- History -- 20th century
• trueAustralian
• trueAviation
• trueEngland
• trueFlights
• MacRobertson International Air Race, 1934 -- History
• trueRacing pilots
• Aeronautics -- Flights
• Aeronautics -- Competitions

Language

eng

Summary

In 1934, Melbourne's Lord Mayor announced a London-to-Melbourne air race to celebrate his city's centenary. The audacious plan captured imaginations across the globe: newspapers and magazines everywhere were filled with it; the world's pilots scrambled to get sponsorship; and the organisers scrambled to get the rules straight and permission to fly in foreign air space. Sixty-four entrants from eleven countries signed up, but only twenty planes eventually took off on 20 October 1934. The winner arrived in Melbourne seventy-one hours later - but three planes crashed and two pilots died in the attempt. The world followed the progress and applauded the winners, Britain's Grovsenor House (outright) and The Netherlands' Uiver (on handicap), but the real climax of the story is the astonishing efforts by the town of Albury in saving the Uiver as it battled through a fierce thunderstorm with no navigational aids, guiding the tiny plane to an emergency landing in the middle of the town with the most quick-thinking, imaginative response to its terrifying predicament. This heroic race, considered the greatest single sporting event in the history of aviation, is a tale of eccentric characters, daring deeds and sublime courage. Di Websdale- Morrissey's page-turning account will have readers holding their breaths, just as the world did eighty-five years ago

Writing style

• trueEngaging
• trueRichly detailed

Cataloging source

ANL

Dewey number

797.52

Illustrations

• illustrations
• maps
• portraits
• plates

Index

index present

Literary form

non fiction

Nature of contents

bibliography

Target audience

adult