Jane Winstone

Jane Winstone (1912–1944) was a New Zealand aviator. She was born in Wanganui, New Zealand in 1912.[1]

Life and career

Born in Wanganui, New Zealand on September 24, 1912, Jane Winstone was a daughter of chemist Arthur Winstone. Reared and educated in Wanganui, she attended the Sacred Heart school there, and learned to fly while still a student.[2] At one time the youngest female solo pilot in New Zealand, Winstone first obtained her pilot's license at the age of 16.[3]

A charter member of the Wanganui Aero Club, she also was one of those aboard the first flight from Wanganui's airport. After flying in Charles Kingsford Smith's Southern Cross, she became one of four female pilots to fly with New Zealand aviatrix Jean Batten in 1934.[4]

Achieving the rank of lieutenant with the Royal Air Force, Air Transport Auxiliary, 12 Ferry Pool,[5] she died in service on 10 February 1944 while flying for the Air Transport Auxiliary when her Spitfires's Merlin engine failed.[1] Her fiance, Angus Carr MacKenzie, who was a RNZAF officer, had died two years earlier on air operations.

Honors and legacy

In 2006, a retirement village built on St. John's Hill in Wanganui was named in Winstone's honor.[6]

References
  1. Beaglehole, Diana. "Jane Winstone". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  2. "Wanganui retirement village named after aviatrix". Wellington, New Zealand: Scoop News, August 5, 2005.
  3. NZDF Personnel Archives & Medals, service file of Jane Winstone.
  4. "Wanganui retirement village named after aviatrix", Scoop News.
  5. "Jane Winstone" (online cenotaph). Auckland, New Zealand: Auckland Museum, retrieved online September 1, 2018.
  6. Karaurla, Merania. "Carols Mark Chapel Reopening". Wanganui, New Zealand: Wanganui Chronicle, December 28, 2013.
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