Can you imagine flying off to Australia solo – in a second-hand Gipsy Moth that she called Jason?
Amy Johnson was one of the most influential and inspirational women of the twentieth century. Amy left Croydon Airport on 5th May 1930 and unlike today’s pilots, Amy had no radio link with the ground and no reliable information about the weather. Her maps were basic and, on some stretches of the route, she would be flying over uncharted land. Until her Australia trip, her longest solo flight had been from London to Hull.
Had I been a man I might have explored the Poles or climbed Mount Everest, but as it was my spirit found outlet in the air . . . Amy Johnson
Sadly, Amy’s life ended off the coast at Herne Bay – she died tragically in the Thames Estuary. A statue in her honour stands on Herne Bay seafront, commemorating her life and achievements – this is on the Herne Bay Quiz Trail route.
On 5th January 1941, Amy was flying a wartime mission. She left Blackpool and was on her way to Oxford.
It remains a complete mystery to this day as to why she was so far off course. Her plane was seen plummeting into the water by a convoy of wartime vessels in the area, including the HMS Haslemere. They attempted a rescue, but harsh weather and sea conditions proved unsuccessful. The captain of HMS Haslemere, Lieutenant Commander Walter Fletcher, heroically dived into the icy water to try and save Amy, but he tragically died from exposure and shock.
Her body and the wreckage of her plane were never found, and the exact circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear. Amy Johnson's legacy as a pioneering female aviator continues to inspire all.
Performer, artist and writer Jenny Lockyer toured the UK sharing the inspiring Amy Johnson memory. The show was written by Jenny and was superbly performed by her.
Jenny says “Amy Johnson had her ambitions, and she flew at them. She was born in the year the Wright Brothers made their first flight and into an age where the romantic heights of flying captured her heart. She became only the second woman in the world to train and qualify as a ground engineer and then, in 1930, the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia. She lived her life for adventure and the future of aviation.
In January 1941, at just 37 years old, Amy was killed while serving her country on a routine flight for the Air Transport Auxiliary. In her short time, she achieved so many great things but this 'lone girl flier' achieved them while faced with challenges of all kinds. Amy brought her dreams to reality.”
