The famous American aviator Amelia Earhart became famous for becoming the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean by air. She died tragically, setting a new record: to fly an airplane around the entire globe.
Amelia Earhart was born on July 24, 1897 in Atchison, Kansas. Her father served as a railroad lawyer. Relations in the family were strained due to the fact that the grandfather considered his son-in-law, Amelia's father, to be a failure, since he could not provide his wife and children with the standard of living to which Amelia's mother was accustomed to living in her parents' house.
Amelia and her sister were forced to live with their grandparents for several months. It wasn't until 1908, when Amelia was 11 years old, that she and her sister eventually moved to her parents' house. In the same year, at the fair, she first saw an airplane, which, however, did not make any impression on her.
She was more worried about the relationship between her parents, which became more complicated every year. The father began to drink, and the mother took her daughters and moved to Chicago. There the girls graduated from school, after which they entered the medical faculty of the university.
1920 - her parents started living together again. The father, who had rarely seen his daughters before, began to pay more attention to them. So, one day he took them to California for an air show, where Amelia made her first flight in an open biplane, of course as a passenger.
But from that day on, the girl fell ill with the sky. She bought a small airplane, named it "Canary" and began taking lessons from the pilot Anita Snook. Earhart experienced several accidents early on, leading Snook to claim that Earhart was a rather inept pilot. However, despite this, already in 1922 the girl set her first record: she managed to rise to an altitude of 14,000 feet.
Until some time, Amelia considered aviation a hobby and continued to study at the university. True, despite this, she was very actively involved in the propaganda of female aviation, due to which her name appeared several times in newspapers. It was her fame that played a role in her being chosen as the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean.
Many women dreamed of this honor. The men have already set records: they crossed the Atlantic by plane from east to west (this route was easier thanks to a favorable wind), and then from west to east. The first attempt to fly over the ocean was made by Princess Anna Ludwig Levenshtein-Verkhtheim, known in aviation circles as Anna Savel. She was an experienced pilot and became famous for flying single-handedly across the Mediterranean from Egypt to France. But Anna and her satellites were unable to set a record in the Atlantic: their Fokker Saint Raphael flew out of Europe, but could not reach the Canadian shores.
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The next attempt was made by the American Miss Frances Grayson on the plane "Wright", which was dubbed "Dawn". Despite bad omens, not very good weather and the delayed start several times, the Dawn was still able to take off, but it did not reach its goal. Communication with the plane was interrupted, and the last messages received from the plane were “Something is wrong …” and “… Where are we? Can you identify where we are?"
Then, again on "heaven", the daughter of Lord Inchcape, Elsie, flew across the ocean. Thus, she wanted not only to become famous, but also to prove to her family that she had become independent. Like her predecessors, she was also a fan of aviation and was a good airplane pilot. She prepared for the flight across the Atlantic rather seriously, studied the route, calmly, without haste, chose the most suitable time of the year for this. She called her plane "Attempt." But alas, the attempt was unsuccessful, and Elsie and her companions disappeared forever into the ocean.
And only in 1928 the woman was able to cross the ocean. It happened in this way. The wife of a prominent British official, Mr. Gets, who loves to make extravagant purchases, once bought a 3-engine Fokker A VII-3m. She told her husband that she intends to set a new record and cross the Atlantic Ocean by plane. But unexpectedly for her, Mr. Gets showed firmness and categorically forbade his wife to fly. Mrs. Getts was forced to abandon her venture.
However, in return, she set the condition that it was her plane with an American on board (Mrs. Getts was an American herself) to cross the ocean, well, for example, let it be driven by a young, but already experienced pilot Amelia Earhart. The husband agreed to this.
It just so happened that Earhart got a call and asked if she wanted to fly across the Atlantic Ocean and set a new record. Without hesitation, the girl agreed. Also, without hesitation, she soon signed all the contracts that publisher George Putman offered her.
Putman had long followed Earhart's flights in newspaper articles. And it was he who prompted Mrs. Gets this name, calling her "a girl with a suitable image." Thus, he believed, and not without reason, that it was he who discovered the Earhart star and was entitled to the royalties. He was going to write articles and publish a book about her flight, and Amelia, not experienced in this, agreed to everything. True, she was still the "crew commander", but only on paper.
Before the very start, Earhart learned that she was not a pilot, but just a passenger. The plane will be driven by pilot Schultz and mechanic Gordon. Putman, apparently, still did not believe in the skill of Amelia and decided to play it safe. She began to argue, but what to do: she herself signed, without reading, all the contracts.
1928 June 18 - The Druzhba aircraft took off from Newfoundland, successfully completed a transatlantic flight and landed at Berry Port, Wales. In Europe, the plane was greeted with great fanfare, and despite the fact that Amelia complained that she was “… transported like a sack of potatoes,” her fame as the first woman to eventually conquer the ocean eclipsed that of a pilot and mechanic.
Already a few days after the successful landing, Putman took up Amelia. He organized a lecture tour for her in the United States, published her book entitled "20 hours 40 minutes", which sold out superbly. He constantly accompanied Amelia and even settled her in his own house. Earhart dedicated her book to Putman's wife, which he really did not like: he had completely different plans. He hastily divorced his wife and offered his hand and heart to Amelia. The girl did not feel any feelings for her patron, except for friendly ones, to which, moreover, was mingled with a slight suspicion that Putman's concern was by no means disinterested. She was probably beginning to understand that he simply wanted to cash in on the fame of a pilot.
Amelia was also upset that the fame went to her alone, despite the fact that she practically did nothing. As for the pilot and mechanic, thanks to whom they flew to the coast of Europe, the press preferred to ignore them. Meanwhile, the girl began to receive personalized greetings from people from different parts of the country.
Even the American President Calvin Coolidge sent her a birthday card. Amelia made several attempts to change this situation: she tried to invite Schultz and Gordon to give lectures as well, persuaded to accompany her to banquets, where she was invited alone. But Putman assured Amelia that it was useless, that she alone would be more successful and much larger fees.
Meanwhile, George Putman continued to look after Amelia, invited her to theaters, took her to restaurants, entertained, surrounded her with care and did not give her the opportunity to meet other men. In the end, in 1931, Earhart agreed to marry him.
After the wedding, the young husband launched an even bigger advertising campaign: his wife became an advertising star. She was forced to advertise sportswear, sunscreen, her photographs were on cigarette packs. We released ultra-light suitcases for air passengers with the label "Amelia Earhart".
But the girl did not like this life at all. She is a pilot and wants to fly, not take part in endless shootings for magazines and lecture tours! And in 1932, Amelia insisted on a new flight: she will again fly across the Atlantic, but this time - as a pilot and absolutely alone, without a co-pilot and mechanic.
Earhart left Newfoundland in Lockheed Vega and headed for Great Britain. The flight was successful: she landed in Ireland and went to London, where her husband met her. And again endless celebrations, lectures, banquets began.
Amelia Earhart was named "Outstanding Woman of the Year" by the President of America Herbert Hoover presented her with a special gold medal of the National Geographic Society. But Amelia was tired of all this. She made this flight in order to prove to herself that she is still a real pilot. But what should she do next? Endless banquets tired her, she barely had time to change toilets. She felt that such a life was not for her, but for the time being she was inferior to Putman, who assured her that this invitation could not be rejected so as not to offend Mrs. …, one could not refuse to participate in promotions, otherwise they would stop inviting her, etc. etc.
Putman finally believed in the skill of his wife and began to let her go into the sky without fear. Moreover, he even pushed her to new records. Earhart made a non-stop flight from Los Angeles to New York. Then she crossed part of the Pacific Ocean, starting from one of the Hawaiian Islands and landing in California. And every time she was expected to be a great success.
Finally convinced of the navigational abilities of his talented wife, Putman conceived a new grand show - a round-the-world flight. However, upon hearing about this, Amelia doubted for the first time. It is too long and difficult, she will not withstand such a load, or she will not have enough fuel, and her plane will inevitably fall into the sea.
But George did not cease to gently convince her that this flight is absolutely safe, like any other: after all, it is already the mid-1930s, technology is constantly improving, airplanes are now much safer than when she learned to fly, and accidents happen. Less and less. After all, she easily managed to fly across the Atlantic, where many people died before her, she will be able to fly around the entire globe.
After that, her husband started talking about money: realizing that Amelia was not interested in entertainment and new outfits, he began to convince her that with the fees from this flight she could purchase a new, most modern aircraft. But Amelia continued to doubt. Why this unnecessary risk? Yes, she is a pilot, she really likes to fly, she loves the sky, but she is already well-known and rich enough, she does not need anything, so why risk her life?
In addition, she was sure that this flight would be the last for her, which she did not stop talking to her husband. The flight will last for several weeks, she will get tired, will not be able to withstand such intense stress, and sooner or later she will lose her course. In addition, during this time you should expect anything: the plane can also break down. After all, flying is not driving a car.
For a while Putman calmed down, but then again began to convince his wife. This time he took a different tactic: once he proposed to develop a route for a round-the-world flight. When Amelia began to habitually say that there was nothing to watch, she would never agree to fly, her husband calmly replied: why does she think that he is inviting her to fly? He knows her opinion and respects it. If you don't want to fly, don't. He asks her only to develop her own route. As for the flight, there was another woman who happily agreed to it. She is an experienced pilot, moreover, she is a little younger than Earhart, and it will be easier for her to withstand such strong G-forces. And Amelia will stay at home with her George. In fact, why should she fly? Maybe she's right, and she's not getting any younger. He would no longer force her to fly, let Amelia not worry.
Earhart considered. She did not even check her husband's words that he had found another pilot, while Putman was actually bluffing: he had no one in mind who would dare to take such a desperate journey. He understood that over time, Amelia's success would fade away, they would stop talking about her and end up such an easy source of income for him, and after such a flight, if everything was organized correctly, he would not need money until his death.
A few days later, Putman noticed that Amelia was studying a large atlas of the world. And after some time, I heard from my wife the first uncertain suggestion that he might be right, this flight is probably not so dangerous as she thought at first … and that it might be possible to make it … of course, not alone … But Putman didn’t show it. He stated that "his avatar" is going to fly alone, but if Amelia insists that it is dangerous to fly alone … who would she, as an experienced person, recommend this brave woman as a co-pilot?
A few days later, Earhart tried to say that she agreed to fly around the globe. However, she suddenly ran into Putman's stubbornness: now he did not want to let her go. He said that she had flown too much lately, was tired, said that only out of politeness he offered her a flight, in reality he did not believe that she would be able to fly. In conclusion, George said that someone younger was needed for such a dangerous flight.
Earhart got angry at this. That is, how is it younger? She is only 38 and an experienced pilot. If it comes to that, then no one but her will be able to make this flight. She alone was able to make several flights and did not hear something about another pilot who flew more than she did. It was decided she would fly the plane herself. Certainly not alone. No one can make such a flight alone. She will select a young and experienced male pilot.
Earhart studied the maps very carefully and worked out the route. It will start from the United States and fly east. She will overcome the Atlantic, then Africa and Asia are on her way. But then the most difficult stage of the journey begins - the Pacific Ocean. It is extremely wide and impossible to fly over. Earhart planned to land on the small island of Howland, where she hoped to rest and refuel. True, the island is very small, it is not so easy to find it in the endless ocean. It is necessary to accurately maintain the course: even an error of 1 ° for her can be fatal. If the plane passes 50 km from the island, it will get lost in the endless ocean.
Earhart was most in doubt about this stage of the journey. Will she be able to find this tiny island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean? Will he go off course? Her doubts were so great that she was ready to give up the flight. But there was no turning back. Putman has already begun preparing a promotional campaign for her round-the-world flight. I had to fly. In addition, by this, she will eventually be able to prove to the whole world that she is in fact an experienced pilot. Some began to doubt this: articles began to appear in the newspapers in which doubts were expressed about her ability to fly an airplane. And this is after all her records!
Earhart made her first attempt to fly around the world in March 1935. However, it ended in failure, Amelia could not even take off: at the very start, her Lockheed-Electra plane suddenly lost control, the landing gear broke. The car slid along the runway on its belly. The plane was sent for repairs, and Earhart abandoned the risky flight for a while.
1937 Lockheed Electra was finally refurbished and meticulously tested several times. Everything was in order, there was no more reason to postpone the flight. The start was scheduled for May 21. Earhart selected the young but experienced aviator Fred Noonan as co-pilot.
Lockheed Electra took off from Los Angeles and headed east. He reached Florida without any problems, where he successfully landed. Earhart then made a short stop on the island of Puerto Rico, where she refueled and rested for a while, and then headed further east.
Amelia successfully crossed the Atlantic Ocean at the shortest distance and landed on the coast of Africa, then crossed the Red Sea. Then there were stops in Karachi, Kolkata, Rangoon, Bangkok, Bandung.
… The flight had lasted for a month and Earhart was given a rather hard time. Due to the loads, Amelia has lost a lot of weight, in recent days she had difficulty following the readings of the devices. As soon as she got off the plane, she immediately asked to be taken to a hotel, where she fell asleep dead. And in the morning they woke her with difficulty and again took her to the airfield. On June 27, the plane landed in Port Darwin. Two days later, he landed in New Guinea. Amelia flew most of the way, and the Pacific Ocean stretched out in front of her. Here she wrote another (as it turned out over time, the last) letter to her husband. She ended it with the words: "All the space of the world is left behind us, except for this boundary - the ocean …"
Earhart's plane was supposed to land in the American city of Auckland on July 4, US Independence Day. Two days earlier, the Lockheed Electra had taken off and headed for Howland Island, where it was to refuel for the last time. The skies were clear and preliminary reports promised excellent weather along the entire route. The island was 4,730 km away.
The tanks were full. On board there were 3,028 liters of gasoline, 265 liters of oil - the maximum that the plane can lift. In order to take on board more fuel, almost everything was left on the ground. They took with them only the most necessary things: parachutes, a rubber boat, a rocket launcher. Some water and food. And a gun. Despite the fact that the plane was overloaded, Earhart managed to take off and she headed for a small island. Now, just not to miss it.
Subsequently, many recalled that during the landings, Noonen asked to adjust the onboard chronometer, which was inaccurate. Without him it was impossible to keep the course. The chronometer seemed to be put in order, but there was no time to check it.
The start took place at 10 am. Seven hours later, the Coast Guard cutter Itasca, waiting for Lockheed Electra at Howland, received radio confirmation from San Francisco that Earhart and Noonan had taken off. The captain of the boat went on the air and said: “Earhart, we listen to you every 15th and 45th minutes of the hour. We transmit the weather and course every half hour and hour."
At 1:12 a.m. the Itaski radio operator sent a message to San Francisco that no messages had been received from the Lockheed Electra. At 2:45 a.m. Earhart first got in touch. She said: "Cloudy … The weather is bad … Head wind." She didn't say another word. The boat's radio operator asked her to give the details in Morse code, but Earhart fell silent. Only an hour later, she again was able to briefly contact the shore: “I call“Itasca”, I call“Itasca,”listen to me in an hour and a half …”, and again there was silence. She tried to convey something else, but they could not decipher the message.
At 7:42 a.m. (the plane had been in the air for about a day) Earhart again got in touch: "I am calling Itasca. We are somewhere nearby, but we do not see you. Fuel only for 30 minutes. We will try to reach you by radio, altitude 300 meters.”16 minutes later, the signals from the board again:“I call “Itasca”, we are above you, but we do not see you …”, to which the boat's radio operator responded with a series of long radiograms. The answer was: " Itasca ", we hear you, but not enough to establish …".
Perhaps something that Earhart feared happened: the plane went off course, and the pilots could not correctly determine the direction. It was estimated that the fuel remained on board for only a few minutes. At 8:45 a.m. Earhart got in touch for the last time. In a broken voice, she shouted: "Our course is 157–337, I repeat … I repeat … It is drifting north … south." After that, there was silence on the air.
As soon as it became clear that the plane had not reached the island, the order was immediately given to start a rescue operation. The boat commander hoped that the empty tanks of the plane would work like floats and the plane would stay afloat for about an hour. A seaplane was urgently dispatched to the site of the proposed landing of the Lockheed-Electra. But the rescuers were unable to find the slightest trace of the plane.
Despite this, the search continued. American President Roosevelt, having learned about the tragedy, ordered to send ships and planes to the Pacific Ocean. Rescue work continued; 9 ships and 66 aircraft took part in them. $ 4 million was spent. Rescuers surveyed over a hundred thousand square miles of the ocean. The search continued until July 18, when an order was received to stop rescue operations. After that, it became clear that the Lockheed-Electra aircraft and its crew had disappeared forever in the waters of the Pacific Ocean.
The tragic event shocked the whole world. For a whole month, not only in the United States, but also in other countries of the world, they closely followed the flight of the heroic woman, who was not afraid to decide on such a difficult trip around the world. And now, when there were only two days left to the victory, she could not stand it. In many newspapers and magazines around the world, sad reports were published that the plane and its crew were missing.
For example, Flight magazine wrote: “It is impossible to imagine that pilots who have crashed in the tropics are doomed to a slow death. Better to hope that from the moment the Elektra's tanks were empty, the end came very quickly and their torment was not long.”They recalled that, among other things, Amelia took a pistol on board the plane …
The real reasons for the deaths of Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan have never been clarified. But after a quarter of a century, interest in their round-the-world flight increased again. An unofficial investigation of their deaths began, and a variety of assumptions were put forward.
For example, a version appeared according to which Earhart and Noonan were recruited by American military intelligence and, under the guise of a round-the-world flight, were carrying out another task. After the plane crashed, the pilots fell into the hands of the Japanese. In favor of this fact, according to the supporters of this theory, it is also said that during the exhumation of the graves of American prisoners of war on the island of Saipan, two corpses were found - a man and a woman - in flight overalls.
Many did not want to believe in the death of Earhart. They assured that she was an excellent pilot and could not suffer an accident. According to their version, Earhart agreed to "get lost" in the Pacific Ocean so that the US Navy had an excuse, under the guise of rescue operations, to send ships and aircraft to the Pacific Ocean in order to survey the area. Amelia herself allegedly lives under a false name in America. One of the American military said that he saw Amelia Earhart, and even pointed to a woman, but she denied everything.
Some assured that Earhart had only the initial experience of flying an airplane, others that the co-pilot Noonan got very drunk during each landing, got on the plane in the morning, not having time to sober up. In hindsight, the position of Howland Island was mapped with an error of 5.8 nautical miles.
Itasca's radio operators allegedly claimed that Captain Thompson had forged a radio log and poorly organized rescue efforts in the first hours after the fall of Lockheed Electra.
But all these assumptions remain assumptions. Much time has passed since the day of the tragedy, and the wreckage of the plane was never found. Most likely, they rest at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.
K. Lyakhova