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Amelia Earhart. Written by: Maahum Mehdi. Amelia Earhart was born on July 24, 1897. She was the first woman to ever fly across the Atlantic Ocean and this is her story….
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Amelia Earhart Written by: MaahumMehdi
Amelia Earhart was born on July 24, 1897. She was the first woman to ever fly across the Atlantic Ocean and this is her story….
As a young girl, Amelia began to grow passion for flying and airplanes. Because of the expensive flying lessons, she was unable to learn to her full capacity. On her way to visit her sister in Toronto for Christmas, Amelia tumbled upon a few men who were struggling to walk. From then on, Amelia has been helping the poor, homeless, and penniless. As World War I was emerging, the military was constructing new planes for combat use. Upon looking at the planes soaring through the sky, Amelia’s will to fly became even stronger. Now, she was determined to learn how to fly.
After the war ended, Amelia returned to the United States and tried to decide what to do with her life. Later on, in 1920, Amelia went to an air show near Los Angeles with her father. Gazing at the planes, Amelia exclaimed that she wanted to fly. Surprised, her father took her to ride an airplane. As the plane rose into the sky, Amelia was mesmerized. The view of the ocean was incredible and now, more than ever, Amelia wanted to learn.
On the left is a Yellow KinnerAirster, one of the planes Amelia bought. Finally, Amelia found a female instructor that would teach her how to fly. She learned how to turn, keep the plane leveled, and most importantly, land. After taking flying lessons for a total of two and half hours, Amelia was convinced that she should buy a plane of her own. She bought a bright yellow KinnerAirster. Flying was a risky business, Amelia crashed, more than once. All of these dangerous risks left Amelia wanting for more.
Amelia was working in Boston in April 1928 as a social worker, when she received a phone call. On the other end of the phone, was a publisher, George Putnam, looking for a woman who was willing to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. Filled with excitement, she answered yes. She was suppose to be another passenger, traveling with the pilot, Wilmer “Bill” Stultz and George Putnam. Even though many people who tried before to fly across the Atlantic Ocean died, Amelia was willing to risk her life, flying in the plane, Friendship.
All three passengers, Wilmer, George, and Amelia, waited in Trespassey, Newfoundland for thirteen days so the rain and fog could clear up. When the did leave, they left basically all their possible luggage. All they packed were some sandwiches for the flight. They traveled all through the day and night. However by dawn, the engine was coughing, the radio was dead, and they were supposed to land a long time ago. With only one hour of gas left, all became worried. Suddenly, they spotted a transport streamer ahead, but with no radio, there was no way to communicate. The trio in the Friendship didn’t know what to do. Should they land in the water or hope for land and keep flying?
Fortunately, they spotted a blue shadow growing in the distance. They soon realized it was land! All grew tremendously proud. Even though Amelia didn’t exactly fly the pane, she was still the first woman that flew over the Atlantic Ocean! She and the others became instantly famous. There were interviews, marching bands, medals, and receptions. In New York City, Amelia, Wilmer, and George rode through a parade to City Hall. All cheered for them. Amelia was asked to write articles about her extravagant voyage. By the late 1920’s, airplanes were no longer rare, they were everywhere.
During the speeches Amelia gave, she discussed the topic of women and young girls wanting to become fliers- or anything else they wanted. She became president of the Ninety-Nines, the first organization of licensed women pilots. She also started two commercial airlines, handling passenger complaints and dealing with problems. Then, in 1931, she married George Putnam, who also became her partner in all her projects. Later on, Amelia received her transport pilot’s license – one of the only seven women at the time. Amelia was famous for being a passenger on the Friendship, but now she wanted to fly across the Atlantic Ocean by herself.
Amelia purchased a bright red Lockhead Vega and started her journey on May 20, 1932. Unlike other pilots, Amelia did not drink tea or coffee to keep her awake, she kept awake by smelling salts. Somewhere off-course, Amelia landed in northern Ireland. Now, she had broken several records on this flight. The first woman to fly across the Atlantic solo and the only person to fly over it twice. President Hoover presented Amelia with the Special Gold Medal from the National Geographic Society. She was given all sorts of awards and titles. Amelia was voted Outstanding woman of the year!
In 1934, Amelia announced that her next venture would be a trans-Pacific flight from Hawaii to California, and then on Washington D.C. Ten pilots had already lost their lives attempting this crossing. Also, Amelia’s flight would be the first in which a civilian plane would carry a two-way radio telephone. She left Wheeler Field (Hawaii) on January 11, 1935 and landed in Oakland California to a cheering crowd. President Roosevelt sent his congratulations… “You have scored again… shown even the :doubting Thomases” that aviation is a science which cannot be limited to men only.” Later in 1935, Amelia began to formulate plans for an around-the world- flight. She would be the first woman to travel the longest distance and to circumnavigate the globe.
On June 1st, Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan departed from Miami in the Lockhead Electra 10E and began the 29,000-mile journey. By June 29, when they landed in Lae, New Guinea, all but 7,000 miles had been completed. The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Itasca, Amelia’s radio contact, was stationed just offshore of Howland Island Her radio transmissions were faint or interrupted with static. At 7:42 A.M. the Itasca picked up the message, "We must be on you, but we cannot see you. Fuel is running low. Been unable to reach you by radio. We are flying at 1,000 feet.” Nothing further was heard from Earhart. A rescue attempt began, in search for Amelia and Fred. Commissioned by Roosevelt, 4 million dollars was spent in search for Amelia. On July 19, the United States government reluctantly called off the operation. GMT- Greenwich Mean Time
After the search, there is no real evidence to how Amelia died. We do not know much about the crash and how the plane went down. However, below is a link leading to a story of a young, 15 year old girl, Betty KlenckBrown, who heard Amelia Earhart on the radio calling for help. Unfortunately, since this girl was only 15, no one really believed her. Also check out the interview of the young girl. Story: http://thestory.org/archive/the_story_575_Listening_For_Amelia.mp3/view Interview: http://thestory.org/archive/the_story_889_Betty_Klenck_Brown.mp3
Here is a picture of Amelia Earhart stepping off the plane after her first voyage over the Atlantic Ocean. Here is another picture of Amelia and her husband, George Putnam. To the left is a picture of Amelia Earhart as a young girl. On the left is a picture of Amelia in front of one of her planes. On theleft is a Yellow KinnerAirster, one of the planes Amelia bought. This is a Lockhead Vega, the plane Amelia flew over the Atlantic. Here is a picture of Amelia and her husband, George Putnam. Here is another picture of Amelia. On the left is a picture of Amelia getting ready to fly. This is a Lockhead Electra 10E, the plane Amelia tried to fly around the world. Over on the left is a picture of Amelia in one of her planes.
