PIONEER WOMEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21987, 23 June 1933, Page 15

PIONEER WOMEN

HEROINES OF THE AIR. An enthusiastic tribute to the achievements of women in the air is paid by a London writer and in particular to that of Mrs Mollison—or Amy Johnson as she will always be called by the public that has' been so thrilled by her exploits. The conquest of the air has been man’s boldest enterprise. Strangely enough, it has served—as nothing before has served—to reveal the adventurous spirit of woman—her bravery —her dogged determination.

Amy Johnson has many gallant sisters of the air. They are a splendid company, but, save for Amelia Earhart, she stands alone. No one pays her higher tribute than airmen and airwomen in all parts of the world. For they realise what she has done. They know. In her latest achevcment —the flight to Capetown —is to be found yet another example of the tenacity and heroic endeavour that animates airwomen to-day. In these rich years of the development of civil aviation and long-distance flying since the war women have played a notable part. Their names leap to the mind —Winifred Browne, Lady Bailey, the Duchess of Bedford, Peggy Salaman, Lady Heath, Mrs Victor Bruce —and many more in this country alone. All over the world women have shown themselves fearless in the air in the same way.

Perhaps no woman has excelled the courage shown by Amelia Earharr, the slim young American woman with the boyish face and curly hair. Having once in company with men pilots faced the desperate venture of a flight across the Atlantic," she set out to make the flight alone, and succeeded. Some of the most precious services by women to aviation have been rendered by one who was not essentially a pilot. This is the Duchess of Bedford, who at the age of 64 flew from England to Capetown! and back in 194 days, beating the record.

Winifred Brdwne, of Manchester, two years ago proved women’s fitness for the air in another way. She won the King’s Cup Air Race of 750 miles round England against 72 men and six other women. She was accompanied by a man, Mr ,E. J. Adams, who was not a certified pilot, but assisted her in the navigation. She maintained an average speed of 102.7 miles an hour. On that historic occasion, the fourth in the race was also a women, Mrs A. S. Butler. Another airwoman to whom the writer paid tribute was Winifred Spooner, whose death from influenza was recently announced. In air races against men competitors Miss Spooner had a fine record. She had been flying continuously for many years, although at the time of her death she was years of age. Two years ago she was fourth in a round-Europe race, and shortly afterwards was fourth in a 2300miles race round Italy, where slm excited the admiration of her men rivals by her extreme skill. In 1931 she was put in charge of a private aerodrome at Ratcliffe, in Leicestershire. Nor should we forget the courageous flight made by Peggy Salaman, a 19-year-old London debutante, who flew with Mr Gordon Store from England to Capetown in six and a-half days a little over a year ago, beating the late Glen Kidston’s record by more than an day. Another brave - woman who felt the call of the Cape and flew there alone in a light aeroplane is Lady Bailey, who made the journey in 1928 by short stages, 'Later in the year she flew back aloae from Capetown to London and was given a great welcome on her return, her feat being regarded.-as a very remarkable one in a machine of only 30-80 h.p.

Five years ago she and Mrs EliottLynn—who later became Lady Heath — beat the world’s height record for a light aeroplane by ascending to an altitude of 16,000 ft over Southampton. The Hon. Mrs Victor Bruce is another woman of frail build who has shown the finest courage and pertinacity in a number of fine flights. She made the first solo flight from England to Japan in 1930, on the first stage of her famous 20,000 miles journey round the world. Instances of the enterprise of women in the air could be prolonged indefinitely. All countries have their heroines of the clouds. France, with her fine air traditions, has been honoured by brave daughters. One of them, Maryse Bastie, broke the world’s‘long-distance non-stop flight record by a journey from Paris to Nijni-Novgorod —a distance of 1793 miles. , , , And while many women have found fame from their courage there have been not a few who have sacrificed their lives. The Atlantic has engulfed brave women who have undertaken its perilous crossing. Elsie Mackay, the daughter of the late Lord Inchcape, set out with Captain Hinchliffe from Cranwell aerodrome_ toward the west —and sank with the sinking sun. Another woman of a noble family, Princess Lowenstciu-Wertheim, attempted the dangerous journey and, with her pilots, Colonel Minchin and Captain Hamilton, disappeared for ever into the unknown. Two American women, Mrs Grayson and Mrs Beryl Hart; have also given their lives in trying to bridge that vast unfriendly barrier between the eastern and western hemispheres.