In honor of National Aviation Day, recognized on August 19th, we here at Race for Life Rescue want to honor one of the most influential pilots of all time: Amelia Earhart. From her many record-breaking flights to her mysterious disappearance over the Pacific Ocean, she certainly needs no introduction. However, most people only know about her incredible feats as an aviator, not about how her upbringing was integral to her passion for flying.
Amelia Earhart was born on July 24, 1897, in Atchison, Kansas. She had one sibling, a younger sister named Grace. Both girls had an unconventional childhood. Their mother did not believe in raising them to be prim and proper. Consequently, Earhart and her sister spent most of their childhoods outside climbing trees, collecting critters, and hunting rats with a rifle.
In 1904, with the help of her uncle, Earhart constructed a homemade ramp and attached it to the roof of their tool shed. Using a wooden box as a sled, she ended up with a busted lip and torn dress. However, her injuries did not faze her as she turned to her sister and said: “It’s just like flying!”
This spirit of adventure would serve as an integral part of her character that led her to become such a renowned aviator. But where did this courage come from? Some say it came from her childhood pet. Earhart’s family owned a large black dog named James Ferocious. While he was very affectionate towards the girls, he was not as friendly with strangers, hence his name. As such, he was tethered to the tool shed with a chain when let outside.
One day, when Earhart was six years old, some neighborhood boys walked by the house and began teasing James Ferocious. In response, he broke free from the chain and attacked them. Hearing the ruckus, Earhart ran outside and, in a warm but firm tone, she scolded the dog and led him inside.
Later, when her mother asked what happened and why she ran into the middle of such a dangerous situation, Earhart told her, “There wasn’t any time to be afraid.”
This courage followed her throughout the rest of her life as she accomplished many great aviation feats.
In 1932, she became the first woman to fly nonstop and solo across the country, and in 1935 she became the first woman to fly nonstop and solo from Hawaii to the U.S. Mainland. She beat numerous speed and altitude records. But in 1937, Earhart began her most ambitious flight yet, one that would push her to her limits and eventually take her life. She wanted to become the first woman to fly around the world. Her crew consisted of herself as the pilot, with Harry Manning and Fred Noonan as navigators. On March 17, Earhart and her crew set out on their first attempt at her round-the-world flight. However, they abandoned this attempt after a non-fatal crash that damaged the aircraft. After the crash, Manning left the crew, leaving the less skilled Noonan as the sole navigator.
Their second attempt started much more smoothly. They successfully arrived at Lae Airfield in New Guinea on June 29, 1937. At this stage, Earhart had flown around 22,000 miles out of the 29,000-mile journey. The remaining 7,000 miles would be over the Pacific Ocean.
On July 2, 1937, Earhart departed from Lae Airfield headed for Howland Island. Despite initial communication with the USCGC Itasca for navigational help, they eventually lost all contact. When she failed to arrive at Howland Island, Earhart was declared missing.
After numerous failed searches, she, along with Noonan, were declared dead on January 5, 1939.
There has been much speculation on the nature of their disappearance since then, including several conspiracy theories. Many historians believe that her death was the result of a series of misunderstandings, errors, and mechanical failures on their approach to Howland Island, which caused the plane to crash into the sea. However, what actually happened to Earhart remains largely a mystery to this day. Regardless, Earhart’s accolades are truly a sight to behold, and she has gone on to inspire countless young girls to become pilots.
