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Amelia Earhart
Courtesy of the Library of Congress
Amelia Earhart wasn't afraid to break down barriers. In 1928, she was the first woman to fly as a passenger across the Atlantic Ocean. Then, in 1932, she became the first woman to pilot a plane across that ocean. 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 Flies Across the Atlantic
In 1928, Amelia Earhart received a phone call that would change her life. She was invited to become the first woman passenger to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a plane. "The idea of just going as 'extra weight' did not appeal to me at all," she said, but she accepted the offer nonetheless. On June 17, after several delays due to bad weather, Amelia Earhart flew in a plane named Friendship with co-pilots Wilmer "Bill" Stultz and Louis "Slim" Gordon. The plane landed at Burry Port, South Wales, with just a small amount of fuel left.
Earhart's first trip across the Atlantic took more than 20 hours! After that flight Earhart became a media sensation. Following the trip, she was given parties and even a ticker tape parade down Broadway in New York City. President Coolidge called to congratulate her on crossing the Atlantic. Because Earhart's record-breaking career and physical appearance were similar to pioneering pilot and American hero Charles Lindbergh, she earned the nickname "Lady Lindy."
Earhart wrote a book about her first flight across the Atlantic, called 20 Hrs., 40 Min. She continued to break records. She also polished her skills as a speaker and writer, always advocating women's achievements, especially in aviation.
Amelia Earhart's Last Flight
After flying across the Atlantic as a passenger in 1928, Amelia Earhart's next goal was to achieve a transatlantic crossing on her own. In 1927, Charles Lindbergh became the first person to make a solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic. In 1932, exactly five years after Lindbergh's flight, Earhart became the first woman to repeat the feat. Her popularity grew even more. She was the undisputed queen of the air! There was no doubt she had accomplished a great deal. Still, she wanted to achieve more. What did Earhart do next?
She decided that her next trip would be to fly around the world. In March 1937, she flew to Hawaii with fellow pilot Paul Mantz to begin this flight. Earhart lost control of the plane on takeoff, however, and the plane had to be sent to the factory for repairs.
In June, she went to Miami to again begin a flight around the world, this time with Fred Noonan as her navigator. No one knows why, but she left behind important communication and navigation instruments. Perhaps it was to make room for additional fuel for the long flight. But without a way to talk to others or to figure out their course, they were taking a big risk. The pair made it to New Guinea in 21 days, even though Earhart was tired and ill. During the next leg of the trip, they departed New Guinea for Howland Island, a tiny island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. July 2, 1937, was the last time Earhart and Noonan communicated with a nearby Coast Guard ship. They were never heard from again.
The U.S. Navy conducted a massive search for Earhart and Noonan that continued for more than two weeks. Unable to accept that Earhart had simply disappeared and perished, some of her admirers believed that she was a spy or was captured by enemies of the United States. The Navy submitted a report following its search, which included maps of search areas. Neither the plane nor Earhart nor Noonan were ever found. No one knows for sure what happened, but many people believe they got lost and simply ran out of fuel and died. Amelia Earhart was less than a month away from her 40th birthday.
Question 1
Part A
What inference can be made about Amelia Earhart?
Responses
She enjoyed trying things that no one else had done.
Although she flew airplanes, she secretly worked for the government.
Her attempt to fly around the world failed because she was sick.
Once a male pilot achieved something, Amelia had to do the same.
Question 2
Part B
Which detail from the text best supports the answer to Part A?
Responses
“…some of her admirers believed that she was a spy or was captured by enemies of the United States.”
“In 1932, exactly five years after Lindbergh's flight, Earhart became the first woman to repeat the feat.”
“Amelia Earhart wasn't afraid to break down barriers.”
“The pair made it to New Guinea in 21 days, even though Earhart was tired and ill.”
