Amy Johnson’s record-breaking Cape flight

IMPROBABLY attired in black stockinette coat and skirt set off with a khaki pith helmet, British aviation pioneer Amy Johnson emerged from her airplane to an enthusiastic reception at Cape Town in November 1932 after a “record-smashing” solo flight from England.

When her plane, a de Havilland Puss Moth named The Desert Cloud, came to a stop – after what was described as a “rather bumpy landing” – the cheering “crowd surged forward, broke the barriers and surrounded the machine”.

Two years earlier, she had gained international acclaim when she became the first woman pilot to fly solo from England to Australia.

Johnson, who died after bailing out over the Thames Estuary in January 1941 while flying for wartime Britain’s Air Transport Auxiliary, made her last record-breaking flight in 1936, regaining her Britain to South Africa record.

The following is the account of her arrival in Cape Town in 1932. November 18, 1932 Amy Johnson’s thrilling dash to Cape Town

Amy Johnson (Mrs Mollison) completed her great record-breaking England to Cape Town flight at 3.31pm today, thus achieving the feat in 102 hours, 56 minutes and beating her husband’s record by 10 hours, 24 minutes…

She made a forced landing at Benguella yesterday, and, owing to trouble with oil pressure, cabled to her husband that she was giving up the effort. The trouble was rectified, however, and she took off in the afternoon…

Amid scenes of the wildest enthusiasm, Amy Johnson landed at the Cape Town Airport at 3.31pm today… Amy’s machine, “The Desert Cloud”, was sighted by a huge and excited crowd at the aerodrome at 3.29pm. It circled over the aerodrome and made a rather bumpy landing. The cheering crowd surged forward, broke the barriers and surrounded the machine, from which stepped Amy, neatly attired in a black stockinette coat and skirt, with a khaki pith helmet on her curly head.

She smiled cheerfully as she was assisted through the crowd to the office, where she had a radio telephone talk with her husband in London.

Amy’s success was confidently expected when the news was circulated that her machine had passed over Port Nolloth at 12.20pm today.

She still had about 335 miles to fly to reach Cape Town, and smash the Cape flight record held by her husband, James Mollison.

PICTURE: WIKIPEDIA Amy Johnson and James Mollison were married in July 1932, months before her epic flight to South Africa. They later divorced.

PICTURE: WIKIPEDIA Pioneer aviator Amy Johnson.