Jean took off on May 8th 1934 again: destination Australia. With 16 stops in 14 days and 22 hours, Batten reached Darwin. Again she battled the elements. Her stated goal had been 14 days. She went over that by almost a day but smashed Amy Johnson's time by five days.

Charles Kingsford-Smith now had cause to remember Batten's fateful declaration of six years earlier, and would wryly regret the two pieces of advice he offered Batten on her departure: "Don't attempt to break men's records - and don't fly at night." Of course, as Batten was often to repeat, "I made a point of ignoring both of them."

Jean being welcomed in Sydney

She received a heroes welcome in Australia, and although she travelled by sea to New Zealand (the Gipsy Moth would not have made it across the vast Tasman Sea) the welcome at home was rapturous. Batten made a six week aerial tour of New Zealand. She gave speeches, attended civic functions. She was the most famous person in New Zealand at the time. She flew back to England from Australia. The first woman to make the return flight. Again she gave talks and attended receptions in her honour.

Go Back || Read More || Exit