Description
Papua 1934 Port Moresby – Australia signed by Sid Marshall cover. Eustis P69a.
On the first solo landplane flight between Papua and Australia, pilot Sid Marshall carried 102 covers of which he signed about 40. (In 1963 Sid recalled that he had carried some 400 letters, but this does not accord with contemporary records).
The Westland Widgeon was a plywood and fabric monoplane with a 95hp Cirrus III engine. Marshall had been delayed at Port Moresby for three weeks working on engine trouble for the long flight over the water. He landed at Cooktown to refuel, before continuing to Townsville the next day.
