AustLit

'The story is based on the true story of the 1919 England-to-Australia contest to celebrate who could be the first to make the long-distance flight. The flight was significant in finding use for aircraft technology for activities outside of war efforts, as well as pushing the limits of aircraft design for the time. The main character, Wally, is one of the crew who makes this journey. Much of Wally's story seems to occur because of happenstance. At the outset of the story, he finds the love of his life, Helena, after witnessing the egging of her house during a walk. He meets Helena and her family after offering to help clean up the mess. After Wally falls in love with Helena and impulsively asks her to marry him, his plans are altered after being persuaded to enlist in the war efforts and sent abroad. His acumen with mechanics translates well to working on the latest technology of aircraft during the war, a skill needed after the war as well. Much as when he is persuaded to enlist in the war, he becomes caught up in his friends' enthusiasm and chooses to enter a contest to fly with them from England to Australia.' (Introduction)

'At 2:06 pm on 10 December 1919, Keith and Ross Smith, along with the air mechanics James Bennett and Wally Shiers, spied the coast of Australia, the end point of a long flight from England that had begun almost 28 days prior. A common experience for many a weary traveller today, the first sight of the coastline solidifying into view on the horizon was for these 4 men both a triumph and a relief. Landing their Vickers Vimy twin-engine bomber in Darwin less than an hour later, they were met by the administrator of the Northern Territory and the mayor of Darwin, and swarmed by an enthusiastic crowd, excited to meet the men who had just completed the first-ever flight from England to Australia. When they had left England, not quite a month ago, they had been one crew among 6 to enter the ‘great air race’ sponsored by the government of the Commonwealth of Australia; today they were the winners of the £10,000 prize, and had ensured their place in history as the first men to fly from England to Australia. Of their competitors, only one other team would arrive safely in Darwin, and 4 men were killed, 2 only moments after taking off from Hounslow to begin their journey.' (Introduction)