Johnnie's Welcome Home

Incredible scenes as an estimated one million people descend on the airport at Croydon to witness the return of pioneering pilot Amy Johnson from Australia.

In 1930, Amy Johnson became the first woman to fly solo from London to Australia, leaving from Croydon Airport in her Gypsy Moth. Upon her return, a crowd of around one million flocked to Croydon to catch a glimpse of this ‘aviatrix’. Here Johnson’s plane is seen flying over fields while crowds gather. She then lands – the footage becomes rather grainy – and gives a speech to the watching crowd. Johnson’s plane is now in the Science Museum and Croydon Airport is a housing estate.