Aviatrix. In 1934, on her third attempt, New Zealand-born Jean Batten successfully completed a flight from England to Australia in 14 days and 22 and a half hours, besting fellow aviatrix Amy Johson's time by over 4 days.
Other record making flights would follow, starting with Batten's return flight to England from Austrailia. After acquiring a faster plane, she would become the first woman to fly from England to South America, completing the feat in a time of 61 and a quarter hours. She followed this achievement with another record-breaking flight, this one to her home country of New Zealand, which she completed in 11 days, 45 minutes. After a few months of rest, she set a record time of 5 days, 18 hours, for her return flight to England.
Because of her glamorous good looks, Batten earned the nickname "The Garbo of the Skies," and became known for bringing evening dresses on her flights, and also for her white flying suits.
A three time winner of the Harmon Trophy, some of her other awards include the French Legion of Honour, Brazil's Order of the Southern Cross, the medal of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, in addition, she was also created a Commander of the British Empire (CBE).
World War II brought an end to her flying days, and she gradually retired from public life. In her last days, she became so reclusive, that it would take five years for the news and details of her death in 1982 (due to an untreated dog bite) to become public.
The international terminal at the Auckland, New Zealand, Airport bears her name, and a statue of her graces her hometown airport in Rotorua, New Zealand.
Birth name Jane Gardner Batten. Her parents were Frederick Harold Batten and Nellie Batten, of Wellington.
Other record making flights would follow, starting with Batten's return flight to England from Austrailia. After acquiring a faster plane, she would become the first woman to fly from England to South America, completing the feat in a time of 61 and a quarter hours. She followed this achievement with another record-breaking flight, this one to her home country of New Zealand, which she completed in 11 days, 45 minutes. After a few months of rest, she set a record time of 5 days, 18 hours, for her return flight to England.
Because of her glamorous good looks, Batten earned the nickname "The Garbo of the Skies," and became known for bringing evening dresses on her flights, and also for her white flying suits.
A three time winner of the Harmon Trophy, some of her other awards include the French Legion of Honour, Brazil's Order of the Southern Cross, the medal of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, in addition, she was also created a Commander of the British Empire (CBE).
World War II brought an end to her flying days, and she gradually retired from public life. In her last days, she became so reclusive, that it would take five years for the news and details of her death in 1982 (due to an untreated dog bite) to become public.
The international terminal at the Auckland, New Zealand, Airport bears her name, and a statue of her graces her hometown airport in Rotorua, New Zealand.
Birth name Jane Gardner Batten. Her parents were Frederick Harold Batten and Nellie Batten, of Wellington.
Aviatrix. In 1934, on her third attempt, New Zealand-born Jean Batten successfully completed a flight from England to Australia in 14 days and 22 and a half hours, besting fellow aviatrix Amy Johson's time by over 4 days.
Other record making flights would follow, starting with Batten's return flight to England from Austrailia. After acquiring a faster plane, she would become the first woman to fly from England to South America, completing the feat in a time of 61 and a quarter hours. She followed this achievement with another record-breaking flight, this one to her home country of New Zealand, which she completed in 11 days, 45 minutes. After a few months of rest, she set a record time of 5 days, 18 hours, for her return flight to England.
Because of her glamorous good looks, Batten earned the nickname "The Garbo of the Skies," and became known for bringing evening dresses on her flights, and also for her white flying suits.
A three time winner of the Harmon Trophy, some of her other awards include the French Legion of Honour, Brazil's Order of the Southern Cross, the medal of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, in addition, she was also created a Commander of the British Empire (CBE).
World War II brought an end to her flying days, and she gradually retired from public life. In her last days, she became so reclusive, that it would take five years for the news and details of her death in 1982 (due to an untreated dog bite) to become public.
The international terminal at the Auckland, New Zealand, Airport bears her name, and a statue of her graces her hometown airport in Rotorua, New Zealand.
Birth name Jane Gardner Batten. Her parents were Frederick Harold Batten and Nellie Batten, of Wellington.
Other record making flights would follow, starting with Batten's return flight to England from Austrailia. After acquiring a faster plane, she would become the first woman to fly from England to South America, completing the feat in a time of 61 and a quarter hours. She followed this achievement with another record-breaking flight, this one to her home country of New Zealand, which she completed in 11 days, 45 minutes. After a few months of rest, she set a record time of 5 days, 18 hours, for her return flight to England.
Because of her glamorous good looks, Batten earned the nickname "The Garbo of the Skies," and became known for bringing evening dresses on her flights, and also for her white flying suits.
A three time winner of the Harmon Trophy, some of her other awards include the French Legion of Honour, Brazil's Order of the Southern Cross, the medal of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, in addition, she was also created a Commander of the British Empire (CBE).
World War II brought an end to her flying days, and she gradually retired from public life. In her last days, she became so reclusive, that it would take five years for the news and details of her death in 1982 (due to an untreated dog bite) to become public.
The international terminal at the Auckland, New Zealand, Airport bears her name, and a statue of her graces her hometown airport in Rotorua, New Zealand.
Birth name Jane Gardner Batten. Her parents were Frederick Harold Batten and Nellie Batten, of Wellington.
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