MISS JEAN BATTEN

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 129, 3 June 1935, Page 9

MISS JEAN BATTEN

THE TWO-WAY FLIGHT

A LONDON RECEPTION

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

LONDON, May 4.

Sir James Parr invited Miss Jean Batten to morning tea at his office this week, and a number of New Zealanders were asked to meet her. The function was quite informal, but was none the less enthusiastic. '. y

In the unavoidable absence of Sir Philip Sassoon (Under-Secretary of State for Air), Mr. Bertram (Deputy Director of Civil Aviation) arrived with Miss Batten, and made some very appreciatory remarks regarding the prowess ;of the New Zealanden Sir Philip, he 'said, sent his' hearty congratulations to her for her extraordinarily bold and magnificent flight. Mr. Bertram could speak for himself of the journey, for he had recently made it with an official delegation, and so possessed a considerable amount of knowledge, but he had travelled merely as a humble passenger.; It was because of the knowledge; he., possessed of this journey that he, was able to appreciate to the full Miss Batten's immense pluck, grit, and determination in doing this flight alone.' Some tracts of country were extraordinarily unpleasant to fly over; some tracts were very dangerous, Sumatra being especially so on account of the mass of trees; he knew how unpleasant could be the crossing of the Timor Sea. Everyone knew of Miss Batten's extraordiinary brilliant double achievement, and marvelled at her lone flight out and back.

Miss Batten, who is naturally looking rather tired but who otherwise is in good form, made a very gracious little speech of thanks for the very cordial informal reception, and briefly outlined her trip. She attributed the success of her flight definitely to three main things: (1) The kindness and generosity of Lord Wakefleld, who rightly deserved his title as Patron Saint of Aviation, because without his very liberal help it would have been quite impossible for her to achieve her first flight in England; (2) the great part of her success must be attributed to her little machine, 5J years old, and fifth-hand when she bought it It caused her no undue anxiety when travelling, through so many different temperatures; she had faith in her machine and its engine. (3) Certainly, not least to her mother, who had been a wonderful help: she had stood by through many dark hours also when first and second attempts had failed. Her help had been financial and moral and so had strengthened her fletermination to win through in the end.