The Disappearance Of Amelia Earhart And Air Travel

Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart once said, “Aviation, this young modern giant, exemplifies the possible relationship of women and the creations of science. Although women have not taken full advantage of its use and benefits, air travel is as available to them as to men.” In the 1900s, Amelia Earhart was known to be one of the first females to fly an airplane. It was an enormous achievement for her personally and worldwide. The reason for it being an accomplishment worldwide is because it opened many doors for many females. She was well known during this time, however her disappearance became a famous mystery. In the 20th century, Amelia Earhart was recognized by her milestone and her disappearance.

Amelia Earhart was born on July 24, 1897 in Atchison, Kansas. Ever since she was a child, her childhood experiences always reflected her future personality traits. According to the source Amelia Earhart museum, “her childhood activities suggested she would lead an active adulthood… young Amelia was interested in adventure. She recalled being fascinated by mechanical things… As the daughter of a railroad employee, she

traveled often and thus ‘discovered the fascination of new people and new places.’ She also realized early that boys were under fewer constraints than girls and questioned why.” (ameliaearhartmuseum). Based on the social standards at that time, Earhart had a unique personality because of her interests. Amelia Earhart spend her childhood in Kansas and noticed the different standards that society set for males and females.
During Earhart childhood years, she always had working parents and spend most of her young years with her grandparents. Once she grow up in her late teens, she dedicated herself in helping the family out and getting a better education. According to the source PBS, “Amelia… excels in her studies and becomes Vice President of her class. She does not graduate, however, choosing instead to volunteer at Toronto's Spadina Military Hospital as a nurse for wounded World War I soldiers.” (PBS). After this experience, Earhart started her medical education. However, Amelia Earhart knew that she would enjoy learning about another subject based on her personal interests.
In middle of the year 1920, Amelia Earhart dropped out of the pre-medical program at Colombia University. Around this time, Earhart is still discovering herself and wants to peruse an interest of hers. According to the same source, PBS, “On December 28, 1920, Amelia attends an air show...With pilot Frank Hawk, she takes her first ride in an airplane. ‘By the time I had got two or three hundred feet off the ground, I knew I had to fly,’ she later recalled…on January 3, 1921, Amelia has her first flying lesson with pilot Neta Snook.”(PBS). Learning about flying and having these experiences were really important to her. Amelia Earhart had finally chose a subject that she truly was interested in and wanted to continue to expand that knowledge.
Over the years, Amelia Earhart had some practice for this profession that she was passionate about. On May 16, 1923, she became the sixteenth women to receive a pilot’s license (One Life: Amelia Earhart ). With so much knowledge, Amelia Earhart was ready to fly on her own. According to the source Americas library, “In 1928, Amelia Earhart received a phone call that would change her life. She was invited to become the first woman passenger to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a plane.” (Americas library ). It was not just another flying experience, but also a life changing experience because it had an enormous impact to her and worldwide. She received multiple recognitions in her lifetime. Some of the recognitions are first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, numerous aviation records, first woman to receive a National Geographic society gold medal, first woman to receive a Distinguished Flying Cross, charter member and first president of the 99s (Amelia Earhart) and many more. This was a remarkable moment in Amelia Earhart life.
After 1928, Amelia Earhart became well known by many of her achievements throughout her life. However, she continued to pursue her goals in the career that she was interested in. Being known for these goals that she would accomplish, she was also known for her disappearance. A disappearance that occurred when Earhart was doing what she loved. Amelia Earhart departure became a famous unsolved mystery.
It all started when Amelia Earhart was ordered to fly overseas the year of 1937. She was headed to Howland Island from Lae, New Guinea. According to the document, The Itasca, it states that, “On 1 July verification was received from San Francisco that Amelia Earhart Putnam had departed ... On 2 July the cutter was in contact with the Earhart plane at 2:45 a.m. and intermittently thereafter. The early radio reception was poor. At 6:14 a.m., 2 July, the plane reported its position as 200 miles out of Howland.” (Itasca, 1930). This was information that was given to the cutter, who was listening how the flight was progressing. Amelia Earhart was just taking another flight that would again change her life forever.
This life changing flight for Amelia Earhart continued to go for it destination. Everything was going normal, however the cutter noticed that something was wrong by the information it was receiving. According to the same source, The Itasca, it states that, “At 7:42 a.m., it reported apparently over the island with gas running low, but as yet not sighting land... At 8:00 a.m. the plane reported reception of the cutter's signals…The reception was excellent. At 9:00 a.m., there being no sign of the plane, the shore party returned to the ship, and at 10:40 a.m., it was assumed the plane was down and the cutter got under way at full speed to search the area.” (Itasca, 1930). It was an emergency to find that plane and Amelia Earhart.
On July 2, 1937, it was declared that Amelia Earhart and her plane had disappeared this day. There was a long investigation to find Earhart or any evidence for the cause of this incident. According to the source document, FBI, it states, “Although I would like to be of assistance in connection with your letter received on October 12th, the FBI does not have any material for distribution concerning Amelia Earhart.” (Amelia Mary Earhart Part 01 of 01 ). These documents represented all of the evident that the FBI gathered of this mysterious incident. Although the investigation of Amelia Earhart was not solved, her disappearance had an incredible impact to history.
Since the investigation of Amelia Earhart disappearance was not completed, many people made several theories.

Some of the theories ranged from that she drowned when the plane crash happened or she was kidnapped. According to the source Interesting Documentary, it states that, “This has opened the door to a raft of other theories. Ric Gillespie’s theory is that Amelia became a castaway… The final most controversial part of the theory lies with the fate of Amelia Earhart. Reineck is convinced she survived the war and returned to the United States under the cover of a New Jersey housewife, using the name Irene Bolam.” (Amelia Earhart- The Disapperance Conspiracy). This represent examples of how extreme these theories are because of the unfinished investigation. Amelia Earhart disappearance caused many theories that have always been questioned by many

people.
The theories mentioned earlier, created upon the disappearance of Amelia Earhart, are some of the many theories created. There are several people who create each theory because of the little evident there is, historical events that happened in a coincidence, and more reasons. According to the source Aerospace web, it states that “The fate of Amelia Earhart… became popular during World War II instead speculate … were taken prisoner by Japan. The Japanese government has steadfastly denied any involvement in the Earhart disappearance, but several variations of the rumors continue to persist… purposefully spying on Japan at the request of the Roosevelt administration.” (Amelia Earhart Disappearance). This theory is the more well-known than others. Weather it was believed that Earhart became a spy in Japan or was kidnapped by the Japanese, it all falls under the same category because of the historical event that was happening at that time.
In 2016, another theory was created about the disappearance of Amelia Earhart. However, this one is a different type of theory because it is believed that another evident is found. According to the source, Telegraph, “American researchers believe a skeleton of a castaway on a remote Pacific island may be the remains of Amelia Earhart, adding to speculation that the famous aviator did not crash in the ocean but landed safely on an atoll.” This theory created about her disappearance based on the bones the people found. Amelia Earhart most recent theory can also prove how this mystery is trying to be solved.
Amelia Earhart had a one of a kind lifetime, through her accomplishments to the disappearance. During the 1920s, Amelia Earhart achievements opened many doors for women at that time to accomplish a goal. Her disappearance became worldwide unsolved mystery that is still remembered til this day. In the 20th century, Amelia Earhart was recognized by her milestone and her disappearance.