First Chinese woman to qualify as a pilot in Malaya

Miss Wong Chiew Wan at 20 became the first Chinese airwoman in Malaya in May 1934. She is the daughter of Mr. Wong Siew Chong of 1 Hale Road, Kuala Lumpur, an ice manufacturer and a well-known member of the local Chinese community. Miss Wong was also labelled in the newspaper article as the first girl of Asiatic nationality to take up flying in Malaya. At the time, she was also a student at the Methodist Girls' School. She was also labeled in 1934 as the first woman in Malaya to secure an air pilot's "A" license. 

Miss Wong Chiew Wan - first chinese airwoman in Malaya
(source: NewspaperSG)

Ipoh visit

Miss Wong Chiew Wan paid a flying visit to Ipoh on the morning of 3 September 1936 and was received by a large gathering of Chinese when she alighted at the Ipoh landing ground after a solo flight from Kuala Lumpur. She was the guest of honor at a tiffin given by the Perak Hainanese community before returning to Kuala Lumpur. 

Girl Pilot's Force Landing

It was reported on 26 January 1937 that while flying a Kuala Lumpur flying club plane she encountered engine trouble while near Banting, 7 miles from Morib, the Selangor seaside resourt and decided to land in a clearing. The plane came down near a Malay Kampong and while doing so, struck an object which flip it over and damaged the wings and fuselage. Miss Wong was slightly hurt but fortunately survived. 

Epilogue 

In 1955, Wong Chiew Wan was the newest member of the Australian Women's Pilot Association. She had given given up her studies there temporarily to run a guest-house for Asian students in Melbourne. What happened to her subsequently remains a mystery for me at the moment. 

Miss Wong Chiew Wan together with Mrs. Gertrude McKenzie and Mrs. Casey 
(source: NewspaperSG)

 

Miss Wong Chiew Wan baking a birthday cake for her student resident 
(source: National Archives, Australia)

References

Modern Miss China is becoming Air-Minded. (1934, February 11). The Straits Times, page 11

Aviation Evolution. (1936, March 30). Morning Tribune, page 27

Girl Flyer feted. (1936, September 10). The Straits Budget, page 24

Girl Pilot's Forced Landing.(1937, February 4). The Straits Budget, page 22

Chinese Girl Pilot Gets "A" license.First to Do So In Malaya. (1934, June 7). The Straits Budget, page 7

Airminded Malayan. (1955, January 1). Singapore Standard, page 5 

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8939847