England-Australia. 1920.—Lt R Parer and Lt. J. Mclntosh on a D.H.9 biplane.

Left Hounslow January 9. Arrived Port Darwin August 2. 

Ray Parer and John Cowie Macintosh persuaded Scottish millionaire distiller Peter Dawson to give them the money for an aeroplane, but only dared ask enough for an F.E.2b (although they would have preferred a DH.9). When Mr Dawson heard this, he scolded them and gave them another cheque. Battling their way through delays, innumerable forced landings and hair-raising exploits, they finally arrived nearly 8 months later, skint and with empty fuel tanks, only the second crew ever to make the journey. They missed out on the £10,000 prize for the first flight in under 30 days, but were given £1,000 as a consolation.