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Amy Johnson (1 July 1903 – 5 January 1941), known as Amy Mollison 1932-1938, was a pioneering English pilot who became the first woman to fly solo from London to Australia in 1930.
Flying solo or with her husband, Jim Mollison, she set many long-distance records during the 1930s. She flew in the Second World War as a part of the Air Transport Auxiliary and died during a ferry flight. The cause of her death has been a subject of discussion over many years.
Johnson and her then-husband Jim Mollison successfully crossed the Atlantic Ocean going from the London to New York City in 1933. However, they had to crash land in Connecticut. Nonetheless, they received a tickertape parade in New York City. On this occasion, Johnson met Amelia Earhart.
Amy Johnson in Or Even Eagle Flew[]
By chance, Amy Johnson reestablished her friendship with Amelia Earhart in September 1940. Johnson ferried an officer to Middle Wallop to meet with 609 Squadron's CO Lt. Darley. Earhart was the only pilot on base; everyone else had gone to the pub. After the officer left to find Darley, Earhart and Johnson went into Earhart's tent. They discussed their respective career trajectories; Johnson was bitter about being relegated to WAAF even as Earhart was proving to be a successful combat pilot. Over a bottle of rotgut liquor, the two shared frustrations about how men behaved. Soon, things became more romantic, and the two had sex and spent the night together.[1]
The next morning, the other pilots were impressed to have a pilot of Johnson's stature among them. American pilot Red Tobin observed that Earhart and Johnson had done just about everything a pilot could to between them. Another American Shorty Keough was surprised that Johnson wasn't flying combat missions. After breakfast, Earhart saw Johnson off with a tentative plan to try to convince the RAF to let Johnson join combat missions.[2]
After Germany began daylight attacks on London on September 15, Earhart and Johnson went to RAF headquarters at the end of the month. They were shuffled around by several bureaucrats who finally directed them to Air Marshal Sholto Douglas himself. Douglas was unsympathetic: he told Earhart immediately that he didn't care for Americans, and after she'd made the case for Johnson flying combat missions, he dismissed them with a "No. Get Out."[3] The thoroughly English Johnson had expected nothing less. However, Earhart insisted they go to Fleet Street to try to get the press' attention. A few women reporters indicated they'd try to get something into the newspapers. Again, Johnson was dubious, but followed Earhart's lead. After running around Fleet Street, they said their goodbyes, and Earhart went back to Middle Wallop.[4]
Earhart's efforts worked. Douglas received enough public pressure that he relented, and Johnson and other women pilots were accepted to OTU. (While Douglas chewed Earhart out, he still gave her what she wanted by assigning her to 71 Squadron).[5] Johnson passed OTU in November, and was assigned to a squadron near Dover.[6] As 1940 passed into 1941, Johnson's squadron began raids on German positions in France (which made Earhart, who was flying patrols over the North Sea quietly jealous).[7]
Johnson died in February 1941 while flying over France. When last seen, her plane was on fire, and she did not have a parachute. Earhart received notice of Johnson's death from Johnson's CO.[8]
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