GIRL'S TRIUMPH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21808, 24 May 1934, Page 13

GIRL'S TRIUMPH

NEW ZEALAND SHARES TENACITY OF PURPOSE TYPICAL CHARACTERISTICS " WOULD NEVER GIVE IN" Miss Jean Batten is the first New Zealand girl to acquire international fame in aviation. Her triumph in making the flight from England to Australia, solo, in a light machine is regarded by' her friends as typical of the things she will do once she makes up her mind that the task is worth the effort. She is the daughter of Mr. F. H. Batten, dentist, of Auckland, was born at Rotorua, educated in Auckland, and had her first flight with Sir Charles Kingsford Smith at Sydney. Miss Batten was the first New Zealand girl to obtain the Air Ministry's A licence. Miss Amy Johnson, now Mrs. J. A. Mollison, is the only other woman to have made the flight from England to Australia. She did the trip in 19 days in May, 1930. Miss Batten's time was about 14$ days. A Little Piece of Camouflage

"Jean certainly has tenacity of purpose, if nothing else, and sho will deny herself in all ways to achieve her purpose," said Mr. Batten last evening. "Of course, I am very pleased she has reached her objective. I have always had every confidence in her. The only things I was afraid of were the weather and whether the machine would stand up to the trials put upon it. "I think it was rather plucky of her to go back to England and make a fresh start after she crashed in Italy. I have an idea, it may be unfounded, that the suggestion that the machine had to be returned to England for repairs was a little piece of camouflage to cover up the fact that she wanted to start off the scratch mark again. That seems to me to be plucky." "It is certainly a very fine performance," said the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, last evening when informed of Miss Batten's safe arrival at Darwin. "Her feat will be applauded, not only by those to whom she is known personally, but bv the people of Auckland generally, who can well be proud of the fact that a local girl has won fame in this way." Congratulations from Auckland The Auckland branch of the National Council of Women was one of the first to send congratulations to Miss Batten on her great achievement. Last evening they despatched to her at Darwin the following cablegram:—" Hearty congratulations to an Auckland girl from the Auckland branch of the National Council of Women."

" Although we as a branch have sent the message, I think it conveys the sentiments of all Auckland women," said Miss Ellen Melville, president, "we feel very proud that an Auckland girl should have put up such a wonderful record. We all admire her pluck." "It appeared to us who knew her at Mangere aerodrome that when once Jean Batten wanted to do a thing she went at it heart and soul until she had fully realised her objective," said Miss Ina* Wight yesterday, in discussing the young Auckland "flier. "Her flight from England to Australia is one instance of this trait of hers. In spite of her several unlucky starts I was convinced she would never give in. Tenacity is one of her most outstanding features." To those at the Mangere aerodrome Miss Batten appealed as a very vivacious and ambitious girl. She was intensely alivo and very quick, both mentally and physically, while all other interests were swamped by her ambition to become an efficient aviatrix.

Exceedingly Happy Disposition

At the Ladies' College, Remuera, at which school Miss Batten completed her education, she is remembered as a girl of an intensely vivid and striking personality. Possessing an exceedingly happy disposition, she was most popular among her schoolfellows and was their acknowledged leader. She was a brilliant scholar, having a mind which absorbed knowledge rapidly and easily, and was intensely fond of music. Her interest in aviation had hardly shown itself during her schooldays, but her teachers were always impressed by her vivacity and alertness of mind. She had a creative mind and was always thinking of something new. Miss Batten's music teacher, Miss Mice Law, also has very pleasant recol lections of an apt and intelligent pianoforte pupil who, she considers, has sacrificed what could have been a brilliant musical career for aviation. Miss Batten passed her final examination of the R.A.M., London, before leaving for England, and it was her intention to return to New Zealand and take her diploma. While in England, however, the "flying fever" gripped her and her music was abandoned in its favour. "Difficulties of bard work never daunted Jean Batten," Miss Law said. "Under a very pretty and vivacious exterior lies plenty of grit and determination and I am convinced she will win through in whatever she undertakes." Brief Story of the Flight Miss Batten left Lympne, Kent, at 7 а.m. on May 8 for Australia. Her departure was unexpected and only three people saw her start from Brooklands at 5.30 a.m. She reached Lympne at б.20 a.m. and found that she had forgotten to pack sandwiches, coffee and her electric torch. Thesfe were provided while the machine was being refuelled The following day Miss Batten reached Rome, via Marseilles, and on May 10 left Athens for Cyprus. She actually achieved the record of the first direct flight from England to Cyprus, the time being 2 days 7 hours. She flew 1670 miles over the sea. Miss Batten arrived safely at Bagdad on May 11. She left the same day for Basra, hut she was forced to land at Shaibah, between Bagdad and Basra, owing to storms. On May 14 Miss Batten was reported at Karachi, and she made good progress across India, landing at Calcutta on May 16. She fle\y over India at the hottest period of tho year, the temperature being 110 degrees in the shade. She left Calcutta the next day, May 17, for Rangoon, but was not reported again until she reached Singapore on May 19. She reached Batavia on May 20. Her next stop was Rambang on May 21, and she reached Koepang. Timor Island, last Tuesday. She left there early yesterday morning and landed at Darwin in the afternoon. Mr. Ulm's Congratulations On learning of Miss Batten's safe landing at Darwin Mr. C. T. P. Ulm remarked that it was an extraordinarily courageous effort. Considering the time of the year, and knowing the route, Mr. Ulm said it was an excellent performance, as Miss Batten must have encountered the early monsoonal season over the Malay Peninsula. Every credit was due to her as the second woman to make the flight, and' he was sure that the first person to give her hearty congratulations would be Mrs. Mollison. It was interesting to note, said Mr. Ulm, that both women were very materially supported by Lord Wakefield, and as one who had met him it was a great tribute to his choosing. Mr. Ulin said he hoped to be back in Sydney in a few days to personally congratulate Miss Batten on a truly excellent flight.