Oct. 10, 1953 - Duke of Gloucester starts the Zir race.: The Duke of Gloucester...

Oct. 10, 1953 - Duke of Gloucester starts the Zir race.: The Duke of Gloucester dropped a green flag at London Airport this afternoon, and the 12,000-mile air race to New Zealand began. Altogether eight planes are competing. The five machines in the high-speed sextion are all Canberra jet bombers, three piloted by R.A.F. crews and two flown by members of the Royal Australian Air Force. Buth the three planes in the transport section - a B.E.A. Viscount, a K.L.M. Liftmaster and a Royal New Zealand Air Force - the first to take off - were 23 Dutch girls, some going to New Zealand to marry and others, already married to set up home there. Photo shows the Duke of Gloucester inspecting members of the crew of the K.L.M. Liftmaster plane - the first aircraft away.