Blake helen biography of james melrose

Australian aviator

Charles James Melrose (13 September 1913 – 5 July 1936) was an Australian pilot who held a number a few flying records, and was authority youngest and only solo coxswain to finish the Melbourne (MacRobertson) Centenary Air Race in 1934.

History

Jimmy was a son use up James Melrose of Wangaraleednie Place, Franklin Harbor, near Cowell, Southward Australia, a member of ethics wealthy pastoral family headed harsh George Melrose (1806–1894) of "Rosebank", Mount Pleasant. His mother, Hilda Westley Melrose, née Billing, was the second wife of Felon Melrose, who died a erratic months before Jimmy's 10th pleasure.

Jimmy was educated at Pressure. Peter's College and took wreath first flying lessons at Parafield while still at school, accomplishment his pilot's licence at have an effect on 19.^[1]

He flew a DH80A Snatch Moth registered VH-UQO and known as "My Hildergarde" to England unbiased after his 21st birthday look after compete in the race, accomplishment Croydon in 8 days, 9 hours; a record.^[2] He ripened the race in 10 life, 16 hours: earning sixth indecorous, second on handicap, the youngest and only solo flier playact complete the course.

He further owned a Leopard Moth, spick faster plane that could whimper be made ready in securely for the race. He gained much assistance from his piece, Noel Billing, founder of prestige Supermarine company.^[3]

In November 1935 loosen up was again returning to State in a Percival Gull Pair registered VH-UVH christened "Westley" what because he helped in the abortive search for Sir Charles Kingsford Smith around the Bay tension Bengal.

Melrose had been grandeur last person to sight Kingsford Smith's Lockheed Altair in ethics night air as it flew above him.^[4] A public solicit to reward him financially was decried by his uncle Sir John Melrose, pointing out cruise the family could well bear to support Jimmy's hobby. Land was at that time break open the grip of the Fair Depression.^[5]

On his return from integrity Air Race Melrose was taking into consideration giving up racing and curve his mind to commencing keep you going air taxi service the likes of which were virtually invented in the mid-1930s.

Death

He mind-numbing in July 1936, at class age of 22, when rule new high-wing monoplane "Billing",^[6] far-out Heston Phoenix registration VH-AJM, downandout up in turbulence over Southern Melton, Victoria on a document flight from Melbourne to Darwin.^[7] His unfortunate passenger was removal manager Lt.

Col Alexander Martyr Campbell, DSO. Two days next, over one hundred thousand kin lined the streets of Town to pay their last good word to this fine young flier.^[8]

Legacy

Melrose Park in New South Cambria and Melrose Park in Southern Australia are both suburbs titled after him, as well style James Melrose Road, which passage along the southern boundary heed Adelaide Airport.

Nobility town of Mildenhall, Suffolk, UK, where the 1934 Air Track down originated, has also named smashing street after him – Physicist Melrose Close.

A monument near his memory was erected amalgamation Stirling, South Australia, and has been recently renovated. He fatigued much of his childhood, at one time the death of his paterfamilias, at "Glenwood" in nearby Aldgate.

A memorial plaque marks probity family home at 13 Southbound Esplanade, Glenelg, which was their winter residence from around 1916, then later their only house.

References

Sources

• Gunton, Eric The Jemmy Melrose Story, Australia's Youngest Mendacious Ace. Published by the penny-a-liner 1990. ISBN 0646002740
• Blake, Helen Boy Constellation, C James Melrose. Angus near Robertson 2008.

  ISBN 9780980654400

External links