What Really Happened to Amelia Earhart?
Amelia Earhart was born on July 24, 1897.
She became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic in 1932.
She and navigator Fred Noonan disappeared in July 1937, while attempting to fly around the world.
Amelia Earhart is one of the most famous women of all time. The aviatrix forged a new path for women, thanks to a series of record-breaking moments throughout her short life.
One of the milestones Amelia hoped to accomplish was to be the first woman to fly around the world. Sadly, she and her Lockheed Electra plane never made it to her final destination. Here’s what to know about the pioneer of the sky, and her mysterious disappearance.
Who was Amelia Earhart?
Amelia was an Atchison, Kansas native, born on July 24, 1897. She was far from traditional, and enjoyed playing sports and taking auto repair classes, before eventually discovering her love for flying.
She took her first flight in 1920, according to History, and started lessons just one month later. In December of the following year, she passed her flight test, and started setting records shortly after that. She was the first woman to fly across the Atlantic as a passenger, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, and the first person ever to fly solo from Hawaii to California.
Amelia received international recognition for her successes, and even released a book about her expeditions with the help of her husband, George P. Putnam. But she still wanted more—so she decided to embark on her most dangerous mission yet. Amelia wanted to circle the globe.
When did Amelia Earhart go missing?
Amelia and Fred Noonan, made their initial attempt around the world in 1937, which was derailed when the plane was damaged, according to Smithsonian Magazine. They took off again in May, and eventually made it to Papua New Guinea. On July 2, 1937, Amelia and Fred headed to Howland Island. But they were never seen again.
How did she disappear?
The “official” answer as to what happened to Amelia and Fred is that the pair crashed and sank after running out of fuel. But because the plane was never found, there are many who believe there’s more to the story.
According to USA Today, some think Amelia and Fred died as castaways on the nearby Nikumaroro Island, as remains have been discovered that certain groups believe to have belonged to Amelia. Others suggest she was secretly a government spy, and was captured by the Japanese when she made an emergency landing in the Marshall Islands. Another popular theory is that Amelia made it out alive and lived under the name Irene Bolam for decades—even though the real Irene denied it and sued the author of the book on the matter for $1.5 million.
It’s unlikely we’ll ever find the answer to Amelia’s disappearance. But despite her unfortunate end, she still remains an inspiration for women everywhere today.
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