"One of my favorite phobias is that girls, especially those whose tastes aren't routine, often don't get a fair break... It has come down through the generations, an inheritance of age-old customs which produced the corollary that women are bred to timidity."--Amelia Earhart
She disappeared forever, seemingly, after a transmission on July 2, 1937. But Amelia Earhart is back. It’s official now: Plans to add a statue of groundbreaking aviator, Amelia Earhart, to replace the statue of John James Ingalls in the U.S. Capitol became public this week. Earhart will become only the 10th woman to be featured in Statuary Hall, where each state is allotted space for two of its citizens to be honored.
She was born on July 24, 1897 in Kansas, at her grandparent's home in Atchison, Kansas, the daughter of Edwin and Amy Earhart. She and her sister lived with their wealthy grandparents in Atchison and attended a private school until 1908 when the family moved to Des Moines. When Amelia was 11 years old, she went with her dad to the state fair, and it was there that she saw her first airplane. While a teenager during WWI, she served as a volunteer nurse. After the war, Amelia enrolled as a pre-med student at Columbia University, and although she was doing well in school, she moved back to California to be with her parents. One day she accompanied her father to an "aerial meet" and went on a 10 minute flight over Los Angeles. That was the moment that she knew flying was what she wanted to do. For her twenty-fifth birthday on July 24, 1922, she finally had enough money saved and began her flying lessons.
Then in 1928, Earhart received an invitation to become the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean and even though she was not to be flying the plane herself, she accepted. On June 3, 1928, they from Trepassey Harbor, Newfoundland; the pilot waslot Bill Stultz and the mechanic/co-pilot Slim Gordon. Relying entirely on instrumentation readings to navigate, a skill few pilots then possessed, they crossed the Atlantic and touched down some 21 hours later at Burry Port, a small town Wales. All three crew members were instant heroes, and after being received by British royalty, they returned home to a ticker tape parade in New York and a White House reception with President Calvin Coolidge.
Four years later, on May 20, 1932, Amelia flew a single engine plane from Harbor Grace, Newfoundland and, although battling icy winds and mechanical difficulties, she landed in Culmore,
Ireland in a record setting 14 hours and 56 minutes. The first woman to pilot a plane across the Atlantic Ocean, Earhart was also the first person to have crossed the Atlantic twice by air, and only the second person in history to have flown solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She'd also set the record for the fastest Atlantic crossing, and the longest distance flown by a woman.
It was in 1937 that she attempted to become the first person ever to fly around the world at its longest point:the equator, a challenging trip of 29,000 miles. She intended for this feat to be the last record-setting flight of her legendary career. Ironically, it was for on July 2, 1937, she took off from Miami heading east on an around-the-world course. Her plane was specially equipped, and she was accompanied by navigator, Fred Noonan. On July 2 they took off for the most difficult leg of the trip, from New Guinea to the tiny Howland Island in the mid-Pacific. They never arrived, and an extensive land, air and sea search failed to turn up any trace of them. Repeated efforts to contact the fliers were unsuccessful and they were presumed out of fuel and lost at sea. And to this day, the world's most famous female pilot, her navigator, or their plane has ever been found.
Amelia Earhart was never afraid to break down barriers. There weren't many female pilots back then, and her actions inspired other women to follow their dreams. This was especially important because there were few career choices available to women at that time. Amelia Earhart has inspired generations of women to do things that had never been done by women before. Amelia Earhart, we salute you. 
Four years later, on May 20, 1932, Amelia flew a single engine plane from Harbor Grace, Newfoundland and, although battling icy winds and mechanical difficulties, she landed in Culmore,
Ireland in a record setting 14 hours and 56 minutes. The first woman to pilot a plane across the Atlantic Ocean, Earhart was also the first person to have crossed the Atlantic twice by air, and only the second person in history to have flown solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She'd also set the record for the fastest Atlantic crossing, and the longest distance flown by a woman.
It was in 1937 that she attempted to become the first person ever to fly around the world at its longest point:the equator, a challenging trip of 29,000 miles. She intended for this feat to be the last record-setting flight of her legendary career. Ironically, it was for on July 2, 1937, she took off from Miami heading east on an around-the-world course. Her plane was specially equipped, and she was accompanied by navigator, Fred Noonan. On July 2 they took off for the most difficult leg of the trip, from New Guinea to the tiny Howland Island in the mid-Pacific. They never arrived, and an extensive land, air and sea search failed to turn up any trace of them. Repeated efforts to contact the fliers were unsuccessful and they were presumed out of fuel and lost at sea. And to this day, the world's most famous female pilot, her navigator, or their plane has ever been found.
Another Phenominal Woman! I am so amazed to have found yet another blog for the honoring of women and I cannot think of a more Divine Being than You Mary for bringing these issues to the forefront. Thank You for all that you 'Do' Dear Sister/Friend! I've been sitting here reading a good little while now and am very taken in with the depth of your posts...Soooo Many Blessings to You Sweet Light!
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