INDOMITABLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 128, 1 June 1934, Page 7

INDOMITABLE.

JEAN BATTEN'S SPIRIT.

Fellow Pilot's Story of How She

Gained License.

HARD FLYING IN ENGLAND

Indomitable—that 'is the way in which Flying-Officer F. L. Truman, of Sandringham, would describe Mtes Jean Batten's spirit. Mr. Truman knows Miss Batten well, having studied for his "B" license in England with her, and having had the opportunity to watch her flying. "It is easy to speak well of people when they have achieved fame," he added, "but I knew Miss Batten before she was famous, when she was just an ordinary flyer trying to give herself qualifications. Once she makes up her mind on a thing, well, that is that."

Mr. Truman first met Miss Batten when he was coming on r.he Marania to Auckland from India to spend his furlough here. Miss Batten was returning from England. In 1!)32 she was again in London, working for her "B" license, while he happened to be there, spending his final leave before being 'transferred to the reserve of the Royal Air Force. She persuaded him to take his "B" license at the same time, eo they worked together.

To take that examination, it was necessary to know meteorology, the rules of the air, and international legislation, among other things. The license had to be taken in three months after making the application.

When Mr. Truman arrived in London, Miss Batten had just passed her meteorology and medical tests, and she had only a short time to pass the rest before the expiry of the three months. "She got the air pilotage and international legislation without difficulty," he added, "but then it got down to two or three days before the end of the term, and she had still her crosscountry and night flying tests to do. And she had to do it in the time, otherwise she would have to start all over again. These last two tests had been held up on account of -the weather, which made flying impossible. However, she got her cross-country test off. The first two tests had been of 50 miles and 100 miles, and the last was one of 150 miles over a triangular course. The usual course is from Northolt, the Air Force aerodrome in Middlesex, to Beading, up to Halton and then back to Northolt.

"I remember the day of the final test. The weather was bad. I know, because I flew as her passenger from Stag Lane to Northolt. (Stag Lane is in London, where she was a member of the London Aero Club.) It was windy and squally, and bitterly cold—it was in December. Night-flying Test. "Anyway, she got through; and that left only tho final test, that of night flying. The night turned out to be far worse than many she had let pass in the hope of better weather. It was foggy, with a maximum visibility. I would say, of 200 yards. It was so bad that it took me two hours to drive from the Strand in London to Croydon, perhaps 12 miles, where I was going to meet her up after her flight.

"The test was from Lym-ne to Croydon, about 75 mile®. She wae advised not to attempt it; but she simply said, 'I will.' There was no stopping her, and that is typical of everything she sets out to do. Two other men, from other aero clubs, were in the same plight as she, having only that one night to complete. They both had to make forced landings—lost in the fog. But Miss Batten came through, and in the amazingly good time of about 30 minutes. The watchman at Croydon was astonished that anyone, let alone a woman, should have been able to do it on euch a night. And her landing was perfect. She 'put down' as good a one as anybody could have, even in day time.

"Of course ehe was thrilled with it. She was about the sixth woman to obtain the British Air Ministry's B. or commercial, license, and the- iirst New Zealand woman. As far as qualifications went, she was on the same footing as Amy Mollison. Forced Landing at Aldershot. "She is a born flyer," Mr. Truman added. "She has those first essentials — air sense and air touch, particularly the latter, which I think is exceptional. I recall one incident which shows how well she can fly. I remember asking her if she had had any forced landings. She told me how once she had been making a cross-country flight from London to Bristol, and had engine trouble. She could see nowhere to land. And then there appeared below a green patch in front of a building. Down she went, to find it surrounded by high trees. Nevertheless, she landed, and almost hit the trees, at the far end. It

' nrned out to be the officers' mess at Aldershot. Anyone knowing that spot will realise how difficult it must have been. One of the officers helped her to tinker with her engine. The carburettor wae at fault. But, not content with landing without damaging anything, she took off again in a space that was not more than 200 yards loner, with, as I say, high trees all round. Only a good, pilot could have done it. Honestly, I would not have liked to trv."

Mr. Truman referred again to Miss Batten's fixity of purpose. She never divulged any of her nianw, even to her intimate friomls. She just made up her mind, and then went on with it. Though lie had known her so well in London, she hud told him nothing of her proposed attc pt to fly to Australia; and he had left in January, 1032, only three months before she took off. She never mentioned her own prowess. though she was' grateful for anything her. Though she had made two previous unsuccessful attempts, she, was not to l>o beaten. She had remarkable faith in her luck.

Knowing of Miss Batten's interests. Mr. Truman said lie would not be surprised if, when slio came back to Xow Zealand, she took Tip commercial aviation, in which she was always interested.