Why does this unassuming plaque command our attention? It is the Amy Johnson Plaque. It commemorates a woman who soared above expectations.
The Amy Johnson Plaque marks the London residence of an extraordinary aviator. This seemingly simple marker commemorates a life of daring and determination. We are standing at Vernon Court. Here, Amy Johnson, the ‘Queen of the Air’ lived at the height of her fame.
Amy Johnson was born in Hull in 1903. She moved to London in 1927 after studying at Sheffield University. Before her flying career took off, she worked as an assistant in a legal firm.
Johnson joined the London Aeroplane Club. It was within easy reach of Vernon Court. She qualified as a ground engineer by the end of 1929. This was a remarkable feat for a woman at that time.
Her most celebrated achievement began on May 5, 1930. Amy Johnson set off from Croydon in her second-hand De Havilland Gipsy Moth named Jason. She embarked on a solo flight to Australia.
Imagine the courage it took. She was virtually unknown when she started. Nineteen days later, she arrived in Port Darwin. Johnson became the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia.
She aimed to beat Bert Hinkler’s speed record. Poor conditions delayed her. She missed the record by four days. Despite this, she was hailed as an international celebrity.
Throughout the 1930s, Johnson continued to break records. She flew from Britain to Japan in record time in 1931. In 1932, she piloted a Puss Moth from Kent to Cape Town. She beat her husband’s record. He was also an aviator named Jim Mollison.
Amy and Jim married in 1932. This marked the end of Johnson’s time at Vernon Court. They remained in London. They moved nomadically to the Dorchester Hotel and then to the Grosvenor Hotel.
In 1934, they crossed the Atlantic westbound. They were the first husband-and-wife team to achieve this. By 1938, their marriage had ended. Amy divorced Jim on the grounds of his adultery.
During the Second World War, Johnson joined the Air Transport Auxiliary. On a routine flight in January 1941, her plane crashed. It was during poor weather conditions. She is presumed to have died after bailing out over the Thames Estuary. Her body was never found.
The Amy Johnson Plaque was erected in 1987. It ensures that her pioneering spirit is not forgotten. It serves as a reminder of her courage. It stands as a symbol of her groundbreaking achievements in aviation.
So, next time you pass by, take a moment. Remember Amy Johnson. She was a woman who dared to fly solo. She soared into the record books. The Amy Johnson Plaque commemorates a true British icon.