BACK TRIP HARDER

Stratford Evening Post, Volume III, Issue 348, 1 May 1935, Page 5

BACK TRIP HARDER

JEAN BATTEN’S OPINION

SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF LONG FLIGHT

Press Association —Copyright London, April 29.

Miss Jean Batten arrived at Croydon to-day, completing her Australia-England flight in 17 days. Though she did not break her own women’s solo record for the distance, she has achieve the distinction of being the first woman to have flown solo both ways. Miss Batten said that flying from Australia was infinitely harder and colder than flying to it. She frequently promised herself that she would not repeat the flight with such an engine. Sir James Parr, New Zealand High Commissioner, telegraphed Miss Batten; “Heartiest congratulations; New Zealand is proud of you.”

Lord and Lady Bledisloe telegraphed: “Warm and welcome congratulations. We are proud of your achievement, even though through bad luck it is less than your aspirations.” Newspapers pay tribute to the airwoman.

The record for a solo flight from Australia to England stands at 7 days 19 hours 50 minutes, and as established when H. L. Brook arrived at Lympne at 3.55 p.m. on March 31. Brook beat C. J. Melrose's unofficial record by 13 hours 10 minutes, and J. A. Mollison’s official record by 26 hours 35 minutes. Brook flew according to schedule, and slept from five to six hours every night. His longest hop. was 1700 miles from Jodhpur to Basra. Miss Batten becomes the first woman to fly solo both ways. She used the machine in which she flew to Australia, and travelled the same route. Miss Batten became famous when she arrived at Darwin on May 23, 1934, after a flight of 14 days 221 hours from Lympne. The previous record for a woman’s solo flight over the same journey was held by Mrs. J. A. Mollison (Miss Amy Johnson), whose flight in May, 1930, occupied 191 days. On her present flight, Miss Batten left Sydney on the morning of April 8 and Darwin on the morning of April 12.

“WARM CONGRATULATIONS”

Press Association —Copyright

Wellington, April 30

“Warm’ congratulations on your successful flight,” is the text of a message dispatched this evening to Miss Jean Batten by the acting-Prime Minister, Hon. E. A. Ransom.