Amelia Earhart

Early Life and Family Background (1897-1908)

Amelia Mary Earhart was born on July 24, 1897, in Atchison, Kansas, to parents Samuel "Edwin" Stanton Earhart and Amelia "Amy" Otis Earhart. Her early years were spent in the upper-middle-class household of her maternal grandparents, Alfred and Amelia Harres Otis. The Otis house, a commanding presence on Quality Hill, provided young Amelia with a stable environment despite her father's struggles with alcoholism and career difficulties.

From her earliest days, Amelia displayed an adventurous spirit that defied the conventional expectations for young girls of her era. Along with her younger sister Grace Muriel (nicknamed "Pidge"), she explored the neighborhood, climbed trees, hunted rats with a rifle, and collected insects and toads. These early adventures hinted at the boundary-breaking woman she would become.

Childhood Moves and Educational Foundation (1908-1915)

The family's financial situation necessitated frequent moves during Amelia's childhood. When her father's alcoholism began affecting his career as a railroad claims agent, the family relocated multiple times between Kansas, Iowa, and Minnesota. Despite these disruptions, Amelia maintained excellent academic performance and developed a love for reading and learning.

During this period, she attended multiple schools, including Hyde Park School in Chicago and St. Margaret's School for Girls in Minnesota. These varied educational experiences exposed her to different teaching methods and social environments, contributing to her adaptability and independent thinking.

First Encounter with Aviation (1908)

A pivotal moment in Amelia's life occurred at the Iowa State Fair in 1908 when she saw her first flying machine. Though primitive by today's standards, the rickety aircraft captured her imagination. However, it would be more than a decade before she would have her first experience in an airplane.

Teenage Years and World War I Impact (1915-1918)

The teenage Amelia witnessed significant societal changes during World War I. While attending Central High School in Chicago, she volunteered as a nurse's aide at Spadina Military Hospital in Toronto, caring for wounded soldiers. This experience exposed her to the horrors of war but also to the expanding roles of women in society.

The 1918 Spanish flu epidemic provided another opportunity for service, as Amelia worked tirelessly caring for victims. These experiences with medical care and service would later influence her approach to aviation safety and her view of social responsibility.

Discovery of Aviation and Early Flying Experience (1920-1922)

The defining moment in Amelia's aviation journey came on December 28, 1920, when she took her first airplane ride with pilot Frank Hawks at Daugherty Field in Long Beach, California. The ten-minute flight transformed her life. As she later wrote, "As soon as we left the ground, I knew I had to fly."

Determined to learn to fly, Earhart took odd jobs to save money for lessons. She worked as a photographer, truck driver, and stenographer at the local telephone company. Her first instructor was Anita "Neta" Snook, one of the few female flight instructors of the era, who taught her in a Curtiss JN-4 "Canuck."

Early Aviation Achievements (1922-1927)

On May 15, 1923, Earhart became the 16th woman to receive a pilot's license from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). She immediately began setting records, becoming the first woman to fly solo above 14,000 feet in October 1922.

During this period, Earhart purchased her first airplane, a second-hand Kinner Airster biplane painted bright yellow, which she nicknamed "The Canary." She used this aircraft to set her first women's record by rising to an altitude of 14,000 feet.

Growing Recognition and Business Ventures (1927-1928)

As her reputation grew, Earhart became involved in promoting aviation and women's rights. She joined the National Aeronautic Association and worked to establish separate women's records and promote opportunities for women in aviation.

In 1927, she became the first woman officer in the National Aeronautic Association and worked as a sales representative for Kinner Aircraft in the Boston area. She also wrote newspaper columns promoting aviation and began giving lectures about her flying experiences.

The Trans-Atlantic Flight (1928)

In April 1928, Earhart received a life-changing phone call from Captain Hilton H. Railey, who asked if she would like to be the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. Although she would be a passenger rather than the pilot, the opportunity would launch her to international fame.

On June 17, 1928, Earhart joined pilots Wilmer Stultz and Louis Gordon in a Fokker F.VII named "Friendship" for the trans-Atlantic flight. After twenty hours and forty minutes, they landed in Burry Port, Wales, making history.

Rise to Fame and Marriage (1928-1931)

The successful trans-Atlantic flight catapulted Earhart to international celebrity status. She wrote a book about the experience, "20 Hrs., 40 Min.," and embarked on lecture tours. During this period, she met George Palmer Putnam, who would become her publicist and later her husband.

Putnam, a publisher and publicist, helped shape Earhart's public image and career. They married on February 7, 1931, after Earhart proposed to him, making clear her desire to maintain her independence and career.

Setting Records and Breaking Barriers (1931-1935)

Between 1931 and 1935, Earhart set numerous aviation records. In 1931, she set an autogiro altitude record of 18,415 feet. On May 20-21, 1932, she became the first woman (and second person after Charles Lindbergh) to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

During this period, she also:

• Became the first person to fly solo across the Pacific from Honolulu to Oakland (1935)
• Set speed records for transcontinental flights
• Became the first person to fly solo from Los Angeles to Mexico City
• Set multiple altitude and speed records

Advocacy and Business Ventures

Throughout her career, Earhart used her fame to advocate for women's rights and aviation advancement. She helped establish The Ninety-Nines, an organization of women pilots, and served as its first president.

She designed a line of practical clothing for active women, promoted commercial air travel, and served as a faculty member at Purdue University's Department of Aeronautics.

The Final Flight Preparation (1936-1937)

In 1936, Earhart began planning what would be her final flight: an around-the-world journey following the equator. Purdue University helped finance a new Lockheed Electra 10E specially modified for the long-distance flight.

The first attempt in March 1937 ended in failure when the aircraft was damaged during takeoff in Hawaii. The plane was repaired, and Earhart decided to reverse the direction of the flight, heading east instead of west.

The Last Flight Begins (June 1, 1937)

On June 1, 1937, Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan departed from Miami, Florida, on their second attempt to circumnavigate the globe. The flight proceeded successfully through South America, Africa, India, and Southeast Asia.

By July 2, they had completed nearly 22,000 miles of the 29,000-mile journey, with only the Pacific Ocean remaining.

The Disappearance (July 2, 1937)

On July 2, 1937, Earhart and Noonan departed from Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island, a tiny speck in the Pacific Ocean. This 2,556-mile leg of the journey would prove to be their last.

The last known position report was near the Nukumanu Islands. After that, radio contact became increasingly difficult, with the last confirmed transmission received by the Coast Guard cutter Itasca near Howland Island.

The Search Effort

The disappearance of Earhart and Noonan sparked the largest air and sea search in naval history at that time. President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized a search costing over $4 million and involving 66 aircraft and nine ships.

The search continued officially until July 18, 1937, though George Putnam financed additional searches until October. No confirmed physical evidence of Earhart, Noonan, or their aircraft was ever found.

Theories and Investigations

Numerous theories about Earhart's disappearance have emerged over the decades:

• The crash and sink theory (the most widely accepted)
• The Gardner Island (now Nikumaroro) hypothesis
• The Japanese capture theory
• The Saipan theory
• Various conspiracy theories

Modern investigations continue, with organizations like TIGHAR (The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery) conducting research and expeditions.

Legacy in Aviation

Earhart's impact on aviation was profound and lasting. She helped establish aviation records specifically for women, promoted the safety and reliability of air travel, and inspired countless pilots, particularly women, to pursue careers in aviation.

Her achievements opened doors for women in aviation and contributed to the acceptance of women as capable pilots during World War II, when many served as Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs).