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
Portrait of Jean Batten
Alexander Turnbull Library
Jean Batten
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
Jean Gardner Batten
Alexander Turnbull Library
Jean Batten.
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
Jean Gardner Batten
Alexander Turnbull Library
Jean Gardner Batten
Alexander Turnbull Library
Jean Gardner Batten
Alexander Turnbull Library
Miss Jean Batten in Paris
Auckland Libraries
Jean Batten at Rongotai Airport, Wellington
Alexander Turnbull Library
Jean Gardner Batten, ambulance driver
Alexander Turnbull Library
Jean Gardner Batten, Rongotai Airport, Wellington
Alexander Turnbull Library
Jean Batten standing next to her plane
Rotorua Museum of Art & History Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa
With "Jean Batten" at Madame Tussaud's — Photo Keystone
Victoria University of Wellington
Jean Gardner Batten and Malcolm McGregor
Alexander Turnbull Library
Jean Batten in the cockpit - Photograph by the Sydney Morning Herald
Alexander Turnbull Library
Aviator Jean Batten with Governor General Sir Keith Holyoake
Alexander Turnbull Library
Aviator Jean Batten alongside a display of photographs - Photograph taken by Photo News
Alexander Turnbull Library
Jean Batten with Lord and Lady Bledisloe, at Rongotai Airport, Wellington
Alexander Turnbull Library
Front Cover - My Life
Victoria University of Wellington