Jean Gardner Batten was a remarkable aviator from New Zealand
@New Zealand Women, Birthday and Family
Jean Gardner Batten was a remarkable aviator from New Zealand
Jean Batten born at
Her later years saw her leading a life of a recluse. She stayed at different places with her mother, who died on the island of Tenerife, Spain in 1965.
Though Batten had a number of romantic relationships but she never got married.
In 1982, while Batten was living in Majorca, Spain, she got wounded of a dog bite. As she refused to get proper treatment, the infection soon spread leading to complications and ultimately to her death on November 22, 1982.
She was born on September 15, 1909 in Rotorua, New Zealand, to Frederick Batten and Ellen Batten as the only daughter among three children.
Her family moved to Auckland in 1913 and at five Batten started attending ‘Melmerley Ladies School’ in Parnell.
Her father, a dental surgeon, volunteered to join the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in 1917 during the ‘First World War’ and was subsequently posted in the Western Front.
Absence of her father’s earnings disrupted financial condition of the family causing several hardships. They were forced to dwell in several cheap and shabby accommodations and she was also later shifted to a state school.
Though her father came back to Auckland in 1919, her parents' relationship strained and they parted ways in around 1920.
Her career objective however changed dramatically in the late 1920s when she developed a passion for flying. It was the beginning of an era that was marked with highly publicized record-setting and record-breaking flights made by many aviators. She was inspired by the non-stop solo-flight of Charles Lindbergh crossing the Atlantic Ocean.
Her mother, who supported her, took her to Sydney on a holiday in 1929 and made arrangements for her to fly with Charles Kingsford Smith, an Australian pilot, in his tri-motor ‘Southern Cross’.
In 1930 she moved to England with her mother and joined the ‘London Aeroplane Club’.
She required funds to obtain her private and commercial licences and borrowed £500 from a young pilot Fred Truman from New Zealand, who was serving the ‘Royal Air Force’ and who wanted to marry her. She gained both her licences by 1932 but thereafter never looked back at Truman. She also took up courses in aircraft maintenance and mechanics.
She became close to Victor Dorée and the association saw Dorée borrowing £400 from his mother so that Batten would have a Gipsy Moth biplane originally owned by the Prince of Wales that changed hands many times thereafter. NZ History Online mentioned, "Raising money by taking advantage of her relationships with men was a theme that continued throughout her flying career.”
Jean Gardner Batten, who was given the title ‘Hine-o-te-Rangi’ – ‘Daughter of the Skies’, was a remarkable aviator from New Zealand. She became internationally famous for her numerous record-breaking solo flights around the world. She was one of the most celebrated New Zealanders during the 1930s whose heroic and daring aviation trips found place in many newspapers and newsreels worldwide. A new women’s record was set by her in 1934, when she made a solo flight from England to Australia in 14 days, 22 hours, and 30 minutes. She was the first woman who flew solo from Australia to England and from England to Argentina. She made her next world record by flying solo from England to New Zealand in 1936. She had set record times in solo flights from England to Australia, from Australia to England and from England to Brazil. Batten received several honours and awards in her lifetime. In 1936 she was made ‘Commander of the British Empire’ (CBE) and was also bestowed with the ‘Cross of Chevalier’ of the French ‘Legion of Honour’. In 1938, Batten became the first woman aviator to receive the medal of ‘Fédération Aéronautique Internationale’, considered to be the highest honour in aviation, apart from receiving several other awards and recognitions in her career. Her autobiography, ‘My Life’ was published in 1938.
Information | Detail |
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Birthday | September 15, 1909 |
Died on | November 22, 1982 |
Nationality | New Zealander |
Famous | Aviator who Made Record Breaking Trans-world Flights, New Zealand Women, Miscellaneous, Aviators |
Siblings | John Batten |
Birth Place | Rotorua, New Zealand |
Gender | Female |
Father | Frederick Batten |
Mother | Ellen Batten |
Sun Sign | Virgo |
Born in | Rotorua, New Zealand |
Famous as | Aviator Who Made Record Breaking Trans-world Flights |
Died at Age | 73 |