Women asked their hairdressers for an “Amy Johnson wave”. She affectionately described Jason: – “But the engine was wonderful” – which became a catchphrase.
Read her daily diary here about the 20 days she spent in the air between London and Darwin.
http://amyjohnsonartstrust.co.uk/twenty-days/
At least ten songs were written about her, the most famous, “Amy, Wonderful Amy” performed by Jack Hylton. Fan mail poured in and such was her fame that an envelope addressed to “Amy wat flies in England” reached its destination.
Max Bygraves singing “Amy, Wonderful Amy”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWhems3UkBE
After a short courtship, Amy married Scottish pilot Jim Mollison in 1932, and they became known as the “flying sweethearts”. Later that year Amy set a solo record from London to Cape Town and in 1933 she and her husband crossed the Atlantic where they received a ticker tape parade in New York and were entertained by President Roosevelt. She continued to break flying records but as this became harder she turned to journalism, fashion and business ventures; modelling clothes for Elsa Schiaparelli and creating her own travelling bag, until the outbreak of the war in 1939
In 1940 Amy joined the Air Transport Auxiliary to ferry planes around the country for the Royal Air Force. On Sunday 5 January 1941 she left Blackpool in an Airspeed Oxford, which she was to deliver to RAF Kidlington, near Oxford. At about 3.30pm a convoy of ships was approaching Knock John Buoy on Tizard Bank, off Herne Bay when a seaman spotted an aeroplane and then a parachute floating down through the snow. Amy’s body was not recovered, but parts of her plane and some of her possessions, including a travelling bag, a cheque book and her logbook, later washed up nearby.
The mystery surrounding Amy’s final hours has only added to the mystique attached to her life. However, while the exact details of her death may never be known Amy’s bravery and pluck continue to inspire.
Midge Gillies is the author of the 2003 biography, ‘Amy Johnson, Queen of the Air’.
http://amyjohnsonartstrust.co.uk/her-life/
A tribute to Amy Johnson is displayed on the Platform 1 wall at Cricklewood Station. This is the legacy typographic mural by artist Lakwena who used Amy’s ‘Queen of the Air’ nickname, given to her by the British press, recreating it in bright colours. Lakwena’s aim was to capture the mythical nature of the aviator’s life and entice Londoners to explore Amy’s story further.
Govia Thameslink Railway provided the site on Platform 1 at the station and the Cricklewood Town Team were pleased to work in partnership with GTR on this project.
Have a look:
Queen of the Air lands in Cricklewood
20 murals were created by the GLA across London, curated by Tate Collective, to celebrate 100 years from the time some women were able to vote; The trail celebrates women who have achieved great things across London.
https://www.london.gov.uk/about-us/mayor-london/behindeverygreatcity/visit-ldn-wmn-series-free-public-artworks-0