Amelia Earhart

Born: July 24^th, 1897, Atchison, Kansas, U.S.A

Disappeared: July 2^nd, 1937 (age 39)

Declared Dead: January 5^th, 1939 (around the age of 41)

Spouse(s): George Putnam

Introduction:

Amelia Earhart was born on July 24^th, 1897 in Atchison, Kansas, U.S.A. She was the daughter of Edwin and Amy Earhart, and the sister of Grace Muriel Earhart. Amelia spent her days as a child playing with her sister Grace, climbing trees, and sledding. In 1907 at the age of ten Amelia saw her first plane at a state fair. She was not impressed, “It was a thing of rusty wire and wood, and looked not at all interesting,” Amelia said. (Biograph.com)

Education:

For the first few years of school Amelia was home-schooled with her sister Grace. Amelia was very fond of reading and spent countless hours in the large family library. In 1909 the Earhart children were enrolled in public school for the first time. Amelia was entering seventh grade at the age of twelve.

Influences:

Earhart did not get interested in aviation until a decade after the state fair where saw her first plane. When she did get interested was when she was attending a stunt-flying expedition and became seriously interested in aviation. As she was watching the stunt-flying expedition a plane swooped past her and something inside Amelia awakened and she said, “I did not understand at the time, but I believe that little red airplane said something to me as it swished by”. (Biography.com)

On December 28^th, 1920, Pilot Frank Hawks gave Amelia a plane ride that would forever change her life, “By the time I had got two or three hundred feet of the ground, I knew I had to fly” Amelia said.

After saving up enough money, Earhart signed up for flying lessons. She had her first lesson on January 3^rd, 1921. Six months later, Earhart purchased a second hand bright yellow Kinner Airster Biplane. She nicknamed it “The Canary”. On October 22^nd, 1922, Earhart flew The Canary to an altitude of 14,000 feet (4,300m), setting the world record for female pilots.

Marriage:

Earhart was engaged to Samuel Chapman; a chemical engineer from Boston but stopped it on November 23^rd, 1928.  After, Amelia reunited with the publisher of her autobiography: George Putnam. Putnam proposed to Earhart six times before she agreed to marry him on February 7^th, 1931.

World Flight:

Earhart purchased a Lockheed Electra L-10E plane and pulled together a top rated crew of three men, Captain Harry Manning, Fred Noonan, and Paul Mantz.

The world flight original plan was to take off from Oakland, California, then fly west to Hawaii. From there they would fly across the Pacific Ocean to Australia, and fly across the sub-content of India, then to Africa. Then to Florida and arrive back in California.

On March 17^th, 1937. They took off from Oakland for the first part of their trip. After landing in Hawaii for some repairs, they took off again and something went wrong. Thankfully, know one was seriously hurt, except plane. The flight came to an end.

Earhart and Putnam got additional funding for a new world flight. Unfortunately Captain Harry Manning and Paul Mantz would not be able to join them this time. They set off from Oakland to Miami, Florida and took off to Central and South America on June 1^st   then turning east to Africa. From there the plane crossed the Indian Ocean, and landed in Lae, New Guinea, on June 29^th, 1937. About 22,000 miles of the journey were done, but there was still a remaining 7,000 miles left.

In Lae, Earhart rested, and fixes were made to the plane. The plan was to head to Howland Island, 2,556 miles away. Earhart and Noonan used different techniques locate Howland Island.

Earhart and Noonan set off from Lae on July 2^nd 1937 heading east to Howland Island. On their journey several things may have went wrong. It was later discovered that the pilots were using maps that may have been inaccurate, and the charts used by the flyers placed Howland Island nearly six miles off its actual position.

On the morning of July 3^rd, 1937, at 7:20am, Amelia reported her position. At 7:42am, the Itasca (a ship with U.S.A coast guards on it, stationed off Howland Island) picked up this message from Earhart: “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.” The ship replied but no one knows if Earhart heard this. The Itasca released its oil burners to signal the flyers, but they did not see it. The plane disappeared somewhere near Howland Island in the Pacific Ocean.

The Itasca began a search for the two flyers, but failed in the attempt. The search ended on July 18^th, 1937. George Putnam did additional searches, but in October 1937, he realized there was no chance of his wife surviving. On January 5^th, 1939, Amelia Earhart was declared legally dead by the superior court in Los Angeles.

Conclusion:

Amelia Earhart has been a role-model, not only for me, but for thousand of other young women. She has influenced women’s rights and is an amazing female role-model; this is because of her amazing flying skills. Amelia flew so well, she dominated the men.  I think it’s important to keep Amelia Earhart’s Legacy alive. I hope this biography on her educates people of all ages on her life and legacy.

Work Sited

“Biography”, Biography.com. A&E Television Networks, LLC, accessed on May 31, 2019, http://www.easybib.com/guides/citation-guides/mla-format/how-to-cite-a-website-mla/

 

The impact was hard… Shards of razor-sharp glass caused Ivy excruciating pain. Then there was no more pain… Just sounds of ear-piercing sirens and deafening screams… Lightning cut across the sky like a pair of scissors slicing through paper… The world went a deep inky black…

A two days earlier…

Ivy tied up her cotton candy pink point shoelaces and walked into dance class. The rehearsal room was the same as usual, the gleaming dance mirrors lined against the brick wall. It gave it a rustic type of look. She started her tiresome worm-up. Mrs. Audrey walked into the class her long silky hazel hair tied up into a flawless bun. Her face was featureless as usual, and her lips pursed. “We can begin rehearsing Ivy,” She said.

Ivy was a very talented point dancer, always top of the class. She had recently been given the lead part in the ballet production of ‘The Nutcracker’. Ivy had been preparing for the opening show for months. This was a major performance. She rehearsed for hours on that very long Thursday night, but it would be all worth it in a weeks’ time.

Ivy home drove that night, for she had just gotten her license the week before. The brilliant New-York city lights illuminated the clear, starry night sky.

That night in bed thoughts of stress rushed through her mind, ‘I have to pass my end of the year exams!’ ‘The nutcracker is next week, and I’m the lead part!’ Were some of the thoughts that ran through her head like race cars zooming down the racetrack at top speed.

The next mourning the sun poured into Ivy’s room like melted butterscotch, it took less than five minutes for every inch of the room to be illuminated with warm sunlight. Ivy awoke with the sound of the birds singing cheerful songs. She got dressed and walked downstairs. In the kitchen a bowl of cereal was waiting for her, while her mom got her little sister Lacey ready for school. The kitchen was painted eggshell white and the cabinets were a light sage. An island was in the middle which was the same color as the cabinets. Ivy sat down on one of the three stools by the island and ate her breakfast.

“Bye mom,” she called as she walked out the door to head to school. “See you sweetie,” her mom called after her. The walk to school was very peaceful. It was a splendid summer mourning, it looked as though it was going to be a perfect day. Ivy’s long strawberry blond hair was flowing behind her in the mild wind. She walked up to the huge scarlet brick building and didn’t come out for a long time. It was a challenging day at school and after was going to be a long dance class.

That night after dance class, as Ivy was driving home, she heard the pitter patter of rain hit her windshield. She started to drive slower. The wind was picking up at a rapid speed.

Suddenly Ivy saw a blinding gold light hit her glossy eyes…

The windshield shattered…

The Impact was hard…Shards of razor -sharp glass caused Ivy excruciating pain… Then there was no more pain…Just sounds of ear-piercing sirens and defining screams…Lightning cut across the sky like a giant pair of scissors slicing through paper…The world went a deep inky black…

***

The crowd went wild. Whine red roses flew across the stage. The scarlet curtains closed.

“What an astounding performance!” said a woman in broken English. She had silvery blond hair that went down to her waist, sapphire eyes and was a very skeletal and petite woman. Ivy recognized her at once. Her name was Nadia Tana. She was a very famous Russian ballet dancer. Nadia had been Ivy’s idol since she could remember. “I myself have preformed the Nutcracker and seen it many times before,” Nadia went on. “But I have never seen one quite like this!”

Ivy was bewildered. Was the most famous Russian ballet dancer congratulating her on her performance?  The only words Ivy could let put were “how are you here?” “Oh, I completely forgot to introduce myself. I so very sorry. I’m sure you have heard of me. I am a famous ballet dancer, Nadia Tana. I am a friend of your dance teacher, Mrs. Audrey, she invited me here to watch you perform, and I must say, it was worth the trip!” “Thank you,” Ivy said.

The deep inky black returned and swallowed up the scene…

“Boo!” “Boo!” The audience roared. A tear ran down Ivy’s soft cheek. She wanted the scarlet curtains to close so badly. When they finally did a feeling of relief washed over her. But the relief did not last for long. Everyone backstage was either laughing or imitating the crowd.

Ivy spotted a girl with silvery blond hair that went down to her waist, sapphire eyes, and was very skeletal and petite. She shook her head with disappointment and faded from sight.

Again, the deep ink black retuned and swallowed up the scene…

Ivy was didn’t know where she was. Pitch-black was all she could see. She was very peaceful in this pitch-black place. ‘Why would she ever want to leave?’

A woman came holding a lantern filled with golden light that illuminated only herself and Ivy. The woman had silvery blond hair that went down to her waist, sapphire eyes and was very skeletal and petite. Ivy knew she had seen her a least once before, but where? The woman had a rather distressed look on her face. “Do come back,” she said in a soft concerned voice. ‘But why?’ Ivy thought long and hard about this decision until finally she stood up steadily and walked towards the woman. She held out her hand and ivy took it. Bony, but gentile.

***

“She’s awaked!” She’s awake!” was the first think ivy heard when she awoke. She was lying in a hospital bed. The room was very busy nurses and doctors running around everywhere! There were three people sitting in three blue stools. Their facial expressions were very bright and cheerful.

Two of the three were Ivy’s parents. Her mom had huge bags under her eyes from lack of sleep and stress but looked very comforted. Her dads usually well-kept thick hazel hair was very messy and filthy and was holding a coffee.

The third person looked strangely familiar. She had silvery blond hair that went down to her waist, sapphire eyes, and was very skeletal and petite. “Hello?” Ivy said bewildered. Her mother fell into her arms and started to sob happy tears. Her father gave a soft pleasant smile, and the third person looked reassured. “Oh, darling!” her mother said through tears. “You were in a car accident and broke leg and fractured your wrist.” Who that woman?” Ivy asked. “Oh, I completely forgot! This is Nadia Tana; she is a very famous Russian ballet dancer. Honey I don’t want to overwhelm you since you just woke up but… Nadia is here because she wants to offer you a dance position in her upcoming ballet school! She needs to know as soon as possible.”

That’s when it clicked, of course, Ivy knew who she was! “Of course! I would love to join your ballet school!” Ivy said excitedly. “It settled then!” Nadia said in broken English. “Oh, honey I don’t want to overwhelm you any more than I already have but I just thought you would like to know that you missed the nutcracker. They had to get your understudy to go on for you. I’m so sorry; I know you were looking forward to that performance.” Ivy’s mom said sympathetically. “Its ok mom, I understand.”

After Ivy’s injuries had healed, she joined Mrs. Nadia’s School of ballet. From there she was offered many other ballet opportunities, and soon became one of the most well-known ballerinas in the world! Ivy encourages young ballerinas to keep going even if you hit bumps along the road!