Jean Batten

A DigitalNZ Story by Sienna Latham

Inspired by Charles Lindbergh and a flight in Charles Kingsford Smith's Southern Cross, Rotorua-born Jean Batten CBE OSC (1909-1982) turned from pianos to aeroplanes as a teenager. Her mother, Ellen, supported her ambition and in 1929 they moved to England, where Jean joined the London Aeroplane Club. She flew solo for the first time in 1930 and, after gaining her commercial and private licenses, became the most widely known New Zealander during the 1930s. In 1936 she became the first person to fly solo from England to New Zealand. Other notable achievements in the air include solo flights between Australia, England and Brazil. For more on Batten, see the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography: http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/4b13/batten-jean-gardner

pilots, aviators, flight, famous new zealanders, new zealand women, gipsy moth

Image: Portrait of Jean Batten

Portrait of Jean Batten

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Jean Batten

Jean Batten

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: Jean Gardner Batten

Jean Gardner Batten

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Jean Batten.

Jean Batten.

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: Jean Gardner Batten

Jean Gardner Batten

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Jean Gardner Batten

Jean Gardner Batten

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Jean Gardner Batten

Jean Gardner Batten

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Miss Jean Batten in Paris

Miss Jean Batten in Paris

Auckland Libraries

Image: Jean Batten standing next to her plane

Jean Batten standing next to her plane

Rotorua Museum of Art & History Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa

Image: Front Cover - My Life

Front Cover - My Life

Victoria University of Wellington