James Melrose was the youngest entrant in the 1934 centenary Air Race sponsored by Sir MacPherson Robertson, a Melbourne confectionery millionaire. Melrose's aircraft was a DH80A Puss Moth VH-U20 and allocated race number 16; the aircraft was named 'My Hildegarde' after Melrose's mother. Melrose commenced the race on 20 October 1934 when he departed Mildenhall flying in the Handicap Section and representing Australia. He landed in Darwin at 0830 hours on 28 October where he refuelled and took a brief rest before departing at 1826 hours that evening. He eventually reached Melbourne two days late at 1400 hours, gaining 3rd place in the Handicap section. Melrose was killed on 5 July 1936 when his aircraft, a Heston Phoenix VH-AJM crashed after breaking up in bad weather.,