Southern Cross, 1928

1928 marked a turning point in the career of Charles Kingsford Smith for it was in that year he achieved the distinction of completing one of the most hazardous long-distance flights; that of crossing the world’s largest expanse of ocean, the Pacific. It gave him, literally, a flying start to a series of legendary flights that would make him one of the finest fliers of the Golden Age of aviation. It also sent a message to the expanding airline world that it was possible to link the prosperous North American continent with the rich communities of the South Pacific.

Marshall's painting shows the crowning moment of that extraordinary flight when his tri-motor Fokker made its Australian landfall over the small fishing town of Ballina in NSW then turning north to land about an hour later in Brisbane.

The flight started in San Francisco and the first stop, Honolulu 27 or so hours away, was completed without incident. On board was Charles Kingsford-Smith as pilot in command with Charles Ulm second pilot, Harry Lyons, the navigator, and Jim Warner, radio operator (Lyon and Warner were Americans). After refuelling, the intrepid crew then departed for Suva in Fiji. This was the longest and most perilous part of the flight because Fiji was a small target and demanded accurate navigation and accurate flying. A 2º error in their heading would miss their goal and lead to a watery grave. After a very long 35 hours, they arrived safely, even though their landing was hazardous on a local sports oval.

The final leg, to Australia, was at least a little easier on the radio operator and the navigator because Australia was a big place to miss. It took the crew of Southern Cross about 21 hours. The total flight of over 12,000 km (7,600 miles) took 21 hours and the total time for the whole trip was just over 83 hours. Throughout the flight, the crew, particularly the pilots in their open-sided cabin, were deafened by the engine noise and often drenched in freezing rain. The only communication between the four crewmen was by writing notes; even between Ulm and Smithy who were sitting just a few inches from each other!

This was not record-breaking flying for its own sake. Smithy and Charles Ulm were keen to promote long-distance flying because it would give the public confidence in the reliability and safety of air travel between continents and over oceans. They themselves had plans to operate long-distance air routes knowing the advantages such flights could bring to an isolated continent such as Australia. Over his short aviation career, Charles Kingsford Smith made many pioneering and record-breaking flights. The first was a record-breaking flight around Australia in 1927. This was followed by the first Pacific Crossing in 1928, then a record flight in 1929 from Australia to England and on to America to make the first truly successful flight across the Atlantic the “wrong” way against prevailing winds. This flight did not end there; Smithy flew to San Francisco to complete a world circumnavigation, making him the first man to circumnavigate the globe in the same aeroplane.

1930 saw him breaking the England to Australia solo record set by the famous Bert Hinkler. In 1933 he established another solo record from England to Australia of just over seven days. On this flight, he flew a Percival Gull. (Designer Edgar Percival was also an Australian.) Finally, in 1934, with PG Taylor as co-pilot and navigator, he made the first single-engined crossing and the first ever east-to-west crossing of the Pacific (from Sydney to San Francisco via Fiji and Hawaii). It was on the return flight from England to Australia that he disappeared in his Lockheed Altair “Lady Southern Cross”, ending a short and remarkable life. He was awarded the Military Cross for his courage as a fighter pilot in the First World War and received a knighthood for his pioneering flights. Undoubtedly Charles Kingsford Smith was one of the world’s most distinguished and courageous flyers.

The crew of the “Southern Cross”, left to righ: Charles Ulm, Harry Lyon, Jim Warner, Charles Kingsford Smith.