Richard Archbold

In the 1930s, inspired and encouraged by Ernst Mayr, Archbold financed (and personally led the first three of) a series of major biological expeditions to New Guinea.

The expedition used radio as well as a Fairchild 91 amphibian flying boat; however, the loss of the aircraft at anchor at Port Moresby during a tropical storm limited the amount of work done.

It was through an aerial reconnaissance flight early in the expedition that the discovery was made, on 23 June 1938, of the hitherto unknown, though densely populated, Baliem Valley, home to the Dani people.

Taylor, representing Australian interests which, with war impending, wanted to determine the practicality of an air route from Australia to Europe over the Indian Ocean and via Africa rather than Asia.

As Archbold was amenable to the project, his aircraft was effectively chartered for the crossing by the Australian government (which paid for fuel and other provisions used during the flight) and his flying crew was augmented by Taylor as navigator.

The intended flight path across the Indian Ocean was from Port Hedland, Western Australia to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Diego Garcia, the Seychelles, and Mombasa, Kenya.

In Mombasa, Taylor left the crew to return to Australia and Archbold continued the flight westwards, landing in New York City in July 1939.