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Click here to read the full story as told by J Macarthur Job

The exhaust manifold from the centre engine
separates and hits the prop of # 3 engine

The Southern Cross loses altitude,
flying on two motors

PG Taylor, Stannage and Smithy
discuss the predicament

#3 engine is brought to idle to stop
vibration resulting from windmilling

#1 engine is running out of oil with
oil pressure falling away

The crew discuss ditching in the Tasman,
with no chance of pick-up

Smithy flies just above the stall - to stop prop
windmilling from causing destructive vibration.
Smithy has no rudder trim and he has 
a shot up left foot from WW1

Stannage reports the crisis live to Sydney
Family members listening on the radio
are fully aware of the crisis,
including Smithy's wife, Mary.

At the latest possible time Smithy obtains
permission from the Post Master
to order the dumping of the mail

As a last resort, PG Taylor tries to recover oil
from the failed #3 engine for transfer
to the failing #1 engine.

PG finally has to let go of the cockpit in 
order to reach out for the strut on #3 engine!

PG grabs hold of #3 engine. Only the 
possibility of ditching keeps him going

Stannage passes a thermos flask to PG Taylor
who uses it as an oil container

PG drains oil from #3 motor 
into the thermos flask

Stannage reaches out for the flask
containing the precious oil

Stannage pours the contents into a brief case,
the only container he could find in the aircraft

PG makes 12 trips out to #3 engine for oil

and 12 trips to replenish #1 motor ~ done while
Smithy reduced its power to idle
to allow the oil to be poured in

On some occasions PG has to hang on to #1
while Smithy guns the engine to regain altitude

At about 4 pm the Southern Cross makes it
back to Mascot, Sydney

Touchdown Mascot, May 15 1935

These photos are in-flight shots of the original Southern Cross, flown in the movie "Smithy" starring Ken G Hall and released in 1946.

Click here to read the full account told by Macarthur Job.
Click here to go to the introduction to the story.

Click here to go to Flying the Line.
Click here to discover the origin and purpose of your life's journey.

References
"The Sky Beyond" by Sir Gordon Taylor, Cassell Australia, page 63.
"Smithy" by Ian Mackersey, Warner Books 1998, page 338.
"Smithy" the movie by Ken G Hall, 1946.