Jane Winstone
{{Short description|New Zealand aviator (1912–1944)}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=September 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox aviator|birth_name=Jane Winstone|image=Jane Winstone.jpg|caption=Winstone, {{circa}} 1943|nationality=New Zealander|death_cause=Engine failure|birth_date=24 September 1912|death_date={{death date and age|df=y|1944|02|10|1912|09|24}}|education=Sacred Heart College|birth_place=Whanganui|resting_place=Maidenhead Cemetery, Berkshire, England|license date=1928|air force=Air Transport Auxiliary|rank=Pilot Second Officer}}
Jane Winstone (24 September 1912 – 10 February 1944) was a New Zealand aviator. She was born in Whanganui, New Zealand in 1912{{DNZB|title=Jane Winstone|first= Diana|last= Beaglehole|id=5w42|accessdate=23 April 2017}} and flew in the Second World War as a pilot in the British civilian Air Transport Auxiliary and died in service.
Early life
Jane Winstone was born to Lina Storme (née Clapham) and chemist Arthur Winstone on 24 September 1912 in Whanganui, New Zealand. She had two younger sisters and was raised and educated in Whanganui. She attended the Sacred Heart school there, and learned to fly while still a student."[http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0508/S00030/wanganui-retirement-village-named-after-aviatrix.htm Wanganui retirement village named after aviatrix]". Wellington, New Zealand: Scoop News, 5 August 2005. At one time the youngest female solo pilot in New Zealand, Winstone first obtained her pilot's license at the age of 16.NZDF Personnel Archives & Medals, service file of Jane Winstone.
Flying career
A charter member of the Whanganui Aero Club, she also was one of those aboard the first flight from Whanganui's airport. After flying in Charles Kingsford Smith's Southern Cross, she was one of the four female pilots (alongside Trevor Hunter, June Summerell and Eva Parkinson) to escort New Zealand aviator Jean Batten on 21 July 1934 in her arrival in New Zealand following her record flight from England to Australia.{{Cite web |title=[June Winstone, Trevor Hunter, June Summerell and Eva Parkinson escorting Jean Batten while on her New Zealand tour] |url=https://collection.motat.org.nz/objects/60942/june-winstone-trevor-hunter-june-summerell-and-eva-parkinson-escorting-jean-batten-while-on-her-new-zealand-tour |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=MOTAT Collection Online |language=en}}"Wanganui retirement village named after aviatrix", Scoop News.
Winstone applied to be a pilot for the Air Transport Auxiliary while living in New Zealand and they informed her she would be considered if she was able to be examined in Britain. She paid for her own passage to Britain to be able to sit the examination and flying test and passed with excellence. Her fiancé, Angus Carr MacKenzie, who was a Royal New Zealand Air Force officer, had died on air operations in June 1942. Winston joined the ATA on 19 August 1942.{{Cite web |title=ATA Personnel |url=https://archive.atamuseum.org/personnel.php |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=archive.atamuseum.org}} Once enlisted she was assigned to Ferry Service and flew Hurricanes and Spitfires to deliver them to pilots on bases.{{Cite web|last=Fortune|first=Gabrielle|date=2 September 2021|title='ATA-girl': The Fab Five of New Zealand Aviation|url=https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/features/anzac-2021/attagirls|website=Auckland Museum}}
Winstone was given the rank of Second Pilot Officer and was based at 12 Ferry Pool in Cosford, Shropshire."[http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C21398 Jane Winstone]" (online cenotaph). Auckland, New Zealand: Auckland Museum, retrieved online 1 September 2018. She died in service on 10 February 1944 when her Spitfire LF.1X MK616's Merlin engine failed and the aircraft crashed near Tong Castle, in Shropshire. She had been transporting the plane from the Vickers Aircraft factory at Cosford to the RAF 39 Maintenance Unit at Colerne, Wiltshire. The engine had cut out three times at takeoff.
Jane Winstone's funeral was held at St Joseph's Church, Maidenhead, and she was buried in All Saints Cemetery in Maidenhead.{{Cite web |last=CWGC |title=Second Officer Jane Winstone {{!}} War Casualty Details 2436492 |url=https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2436492/jane-winstone/ |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=CWGC |language=en}}
Honours and legacy
In 2006, a retirement village built on St. John's Hill in Whanganui was named in Winstone's honor; it is called Jane Winstone Retirement Village.Karaurla, Merania. "[https://www.nzherald.co.nz/wanganui-chronicle/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503426&objectid=11178706 Carols Mark Chapel Reopening]". Wanganui, New Zealand: Wanganui Chronicle, 28 December 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/whanganui-chronicle/news/golf-croquet-record-entries-for-annual-jane-winstone-tournament-in-whanganui/DQ5USXVHTGMKMQ3KIY3ZQTFVFY/|title=Record entries for golf croquet tournament|website=NZ Herald|date=30 November 2023 }}
References
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Category:New Zealand aviation pioneers
Category:Air Transport Auxiliary pilots
Category:Military personnel from Whanganui
Category:New Zealand military personnel killed in World War II
Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1944
Category:Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in England