Amelia Earhart, Lost Heroine

Amelia Earhart was born on July 24, 1897 in Atchison, Kansas.  Although her mother came from a wealthy family, her father was an attorney but also an alcoholic with an erratic work history that lead to an unstable childhood for both Amelia and her sister, Muriel.  Amelia would attend six high schools before graduating from Hyde Park High School in Chicago.

Although Amelia dismissed speculation about a global flight, George Putnam began corresponding with Lockheed during the mid thirties about the potential purchase of their latest and most sophisticated aircraft; the Lockheed Electra 10E.

It was suggested by Paul Mantz that because Howland Island, at two miles long and one half mile wide would be a navigational challenge, that Fred Noonan an experienced navigator who had mapped many of Pan American World Airways’ American Clipper routes in the Pacific handle this responsibility.  Noonan had left Pan American and was intent on starting a navigational school as his next commercial venture, an endeavor that would certainly be helped by the publicity generated by Amelia’s flight.

Amelia Earhart 1963 US commemorative stamp.

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