JEAN BATTEN

Two letters written and signed by New Zealand pioneer aviatrix

Jean Batten

dated 17/9/46 and 28/4/56

Considered by many to be New Zealand’s most notable aviator, Jean Batten soared into history with a blend of daring, elegance, and relentless determination. Born in New Zealand in 1909, she became one of the most celebrated aviators of the 1930s, earning the nickname “Garbo of the Skies” for her glamorous image and steely resolve. Batten’s aviation feats were nothing short of extraordinary: in 1934, she flew solo from England to Australia in just 14 days, smashing Amy Johnson’s record. The following year, she became the first woman to fly solo from England to South America, and in 1936, she set a world record for the fastest solo flight from England to New Zealand.

Flying lightweight Percival Gull aircraft across vast oceans and unforgiving deserts, Batten navigated storms, mechanical failures, and isolation with remarkable poise. Her flights weren’t just technical triumphs—they were acts of endurance and courage that captivated the public and earned her international acclaim. Behind the scenes, she was meticulous and fiercely ambitious, often funding and planning her expeditions herself.  Her private life was complicated and after a return to public life in the 1970’s she passed away unnoticed in a hotel room in Mallorca in 1982, being buried in a public mass grave.

Jean Batten’s legacy is etched in aviation history as a pioneer who defied expectations and charted new paths through the skies. She wrote books called ‘Solo Flight’ and ‘My Life’ about her experiences, later republished as ‘Alone in the Sky’. Batten has also been the subject of a number of biographies, films and documentaries.  Her story remains a testament to the power of vision, grit, and the unyielding pursuit of flight.