Batten, Jean Gardner (1909-1982), a New Zealand pilot, made a series of record-breaking solo flights in the 1930’s. She flew solo from the United Kingdom to Australia in 1934 and, in 1935, became the first woman to make the solo return flight to the United Kingdom. Also in 1935, she flew from the United Kingdom to Brazil, becoming the first woman to fly solo across the South Atlantic Ocean. In 1936, Batten made the first direct flight from the United Kingdom to New Zealand. In 1937, on her return flight from Australia to the United Kingdom, she set a world record of 5 days 18 hours 15 minutes.
Batten was born Jane Gardner Batten in Rotorua, New Zealand, on Sept. 15, 1909. In 1930, she became the first woman from New Zealand to earn a private pilot’s license from the British Air Ministry. Batten died Nov. 22, 1982.
