Jean Batten
New Zealand’s Most
Valuable Explorer.
All About Me!
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Real Name: Jane Gardener Batten
Full Name: Jean Gardener Batten
Birthday: 15 September 1909, Rotorua, New Zealand
Died: 22 November 1982, Palma, Majorca, Spain
Cause of Death: Infections following dog bite
Nationality: New Zealander
Schools: Ladies College; Parnell, A small village school in Howick.
Jean’s family
members are
unknown, but
information
shows that her
father was a
dentist and she
also had a stayhome mother. It
is unknown if
Jean had siblings
or not. It is
reported that
she had an older
sister, and an
older brother.
Jean Batten is probably the
world’s most famous female pilot
in history. She has many tributes
at national and international
airports and museums, Her
famous plane, The Percival Gull
used to hang from the ceiling of
the duty-free viewing platform at
the Auckland International
Airport, but it now hangs from
the Arrival lounge. Rotorua has a
sculpture of Batten at their
airport and various schools have
houses named after her.
Introduction To Jean:
Other Passions
Jean was an avid Pianist and budding Ballerina in her early
teen and teen years. She attended Melmerly Ladies
School, in our area of Remuera. The private school was
based around music, and many talented girls went there.
Previously, when she lived in Howick, she attended a
small village school that’s name and location is now lost.
Jean loved to learn new things and really enjoyed going
to school each day. Her hero was the famous prima
ballerina Anna Pavlova.
1934: England-Australia: 14 days, 22
hours, 30 minutes
1935: England-Brazil: 61 hours, 15
minutes
1936: England-New Zealand: 11 days,
45 minutes
1937: Australia-England: 5 days, 18
hours, 15 minutes
Her Record-Breaking Flights
1935: Australia-England: 17 days, 15
hours
Even though Jean may have
had many very successful
flights, there was failed
attempt, after attempt,
after attempt. Batten had
even been in a plane
crash whilst trying to
break a previously set
record by another female
aviatrix. Jean was
passionate about flying,
but World War 2 ended
her high flying
adventures. Her
aeroplane still had a valid
licence, but she was still
not permitted to fly it.
Struggles and Challenges
Personal Life
Jean Batten had a personal life like a rollercoaster. In
1934, she broke off her engagement to a London
stockbreaker by the name of Edward Walter. Walter
was furious when Jean ran off with Beverly Shepherd,
and Australian airline pilot, who many believe was her
one and only true love. She went to visit Shepherd one
year in Sydney, and on the day she arrived, he was
killed in a plane crash. Jean sunk into a deep
depression, which resulted in her going into seclusion
with her mother and it took her mother 8 months to
coax Jean to start flying again.
Jean’s exploration showed the
world that, even though she
was female, she could still
become whatever she dreamed
of being and that we can do
so as well, as long as we never
give up. She is obviously New
Zealand’s most valuable
explorer, but I personally
think she could be the
WORLD’S most valuable
explorer!
Remembering
Jean Today:
Even though Batten may have passed on, she is still honoured and remembered widely
throughout the world and especially her homeland of New Zealand. At Auckland
International Airport, her trusty plane that helped her break records; The Percival
Gull, hangs from the ceiling of the arrival lounge. A caption reads, “Why is there a
huge plane hanging on the ceiling? Go upstairs to find out!” Then upstairs, they have
HEAPS of Jean’s flying memorabilia, like her special cap and goggles that she wore
whilst flying. Original autographs, images, more of Jean’s clothing , and of course,
her plane all help add to the atmosphere of flying and being at an amazing airport. A
massive quote said by Batten decorates a large wall also at the Auckland
International Airport . It reads: “ Every flyer who ventures across oceans to distant
lands is a potential explorer; in his or her breast burns the same fire that urged
adventurers of old to set forth in their sailing-ships for foreign lands.” She wrote
this quote in her autobiography, “Alone in the Sky” which was published in 1979 by
the publishing company Airlife.
The Painful end of Jean Batten
Batten died all alone in a hotel in Palma. Which is in the city of Majorca in
Spain. Cause of death was later determined as complications following a dog
bite. As Jean had refused treatment for the bite, it had become infected and
infection later spread from the area bitten, to the rest of her body. She died on
September 15th 1982. Her body was placed in a paupers grave, and her family
back here in New Zealand only discovered she had deceased about 4 years after
the tragic death of who has been called the most famous female pilot of all time
Timeline
1909: Jean is born
1924: Jean enrols at a private Girls’ school.
1929: Jean and her mother move to England
1930: Jean embarks on her first solo flight.
1933: While flying Jean encounters 2 sandstorms.
1934: Jean beats the world record for flying England-Australia in 14 days
22 hours.
1938: Jean is the first ever woman to be awarded a prestigious medal.
1945: WW2 ends Jeans flying expeditions.
1982: Jean passes away of an infected dog bite.
Bibliography
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Batten
http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Explore
rs_Record_Setters_and_Daredevils/batten/EX2
4.htm
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0005245.html
http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/people/jean-batten
http://answers.encyclopedia.com/question/didjean-batten-go-school-234719.html
http://www.motat.org.nz/collections/FACT%20S
HEETS/JeanBattenFactsheet.pdf