Amelia Earheart first made history after becoming the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean back in May of 1932.

But, since she mysteriously vanished during a flight in July of 1937, Amelia’s legacy has been dominated by speculation and theories regarding her tragic disappearance.

Amelia’s Ascent

The famed American aviator was born in Atchison, Kansas, on July 24, 1897, to a railroad lawyer father and affluent mother.

But, the Earharts moved around often– especially due to financial struggles amidst Mr. Earhart’s alcoholism.

Nonetheless, Amelia defied the odds and completed high school in 1916 before attending the Ogontz School in Pennsylvania for junior college.

Then, during World War I, she felt a calling to help wounded soldiers and left the Ogontz School to become a nurse’s aide in Canada.

It was not until World War I ended that Amelia eventually returned to higher education and began studying premed at Columbia University.

Harris & Ewing, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; pictured above is Amelia

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By 1920, though, her parents pulled her out of school in New York City and forced her to live with them in California. Still, this unexpected move is what ultimately thrust Amelia into aviation.

After traveling to California, Amelia embarked on her first-ever airplane ride, and a new fire was lit inside her. Then, once in the golden state, she began taking flying lessons to pursue her new passion.

By 1921, Amelia had already purchased her own plane and earned her pilot’s license.

Women In Aviation

In 1928, promoters of emerging air flight began seeking women to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, and Amelia was selected for the mission.

So, on June 17, 1928, she set out from Newfoundland, Canada as a seaplane passenger that had been piloted by Louis Gordon and Wilmer Stultz.

The trip quickly catapulted Amelia to international fame, which prompted her to write 20. Hrs. 40 Min.– a book about her travels.

Then, the young pilot went on a lecture tour throughout the United States to orally share her experiences.

Still, Amelia was not satisfied that her fame was brought by being a passenger. In turn, she decided to embark on a solo flight across the Atlantic on May 20, 1932.

Amelia again departed from Newfoundland, Canada, and arrived in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, in record time.

The entire trip only took fourteen hours and fifty-six minutes.

This incredible feat and the pride that came with it pushed Amelia to publish yet another book entitled The Fun Of It before undertaking countless more flights throughout the United States.

Amelia’s Final Flight

By 1937, Amelia had already accomplished so much. She became the first pilot to fly solo from Hawaii to California, as well as from Los Angeles to Mexico City.

Still, that year, she intended to fly around the world with navigator Fred Noonan. Sadly, no one knew this would be the last time the world ever saw or heard from Amelia again.

On June 1, she and Fred departed from Miami and began the twenty-nine thousand-mile journey headed East across the globe.

Over the next twenty-eight days, the pair made numerous stops to refuel before finally reaching Lae, New Guinea, on June 29.

Then, on July 2, Amelia headed toward Howland Island– which was about two thousand and six hundred miles away. This leg of the journey was expected to be challenging, but the pair set out anyway.

However, toward the tail end of their flight, Amelia contacted the U.S. Coast Guard via radio and reported that her twin-engine Lockheed Electra plane had begun running out of fuel.

Then, about one hour later, she also radioed, “We are running north and south.” That was the last time anyone ever heard from Amelia or Fred again.

The twin-engine was believed to have gone down about one hundred miles from their island destination, and an extensive search was launched to locate the pair.

But, on July 19, 1937, authorities called off the investigation and declared both Amelia and Fred lost at sea.

Theories Behind Amelia’s Disappearance

Amelia and Fred’s tragic and mysterious disappearance has since captivated the public’s attention and sparked numerous theories.

The first is that their twin-engine plane simply crashed into the Pacific Ocean off of Howland Island.

However, since the plane has never been recovered, another theory spawned and suggested more sinister foul play.

Some have speculated that Amelia and Fred were either unable to find Howland Island or never intended to.

Instead, they landed among the Marshall Islands– which were northbound and controlled by the Japanese.

This theory suggests that the pair were taken hostage by the Japanese under the guise of being U.S. spies.

And if they were not eventually killed, they later returned to the United States using aliases.

A retired U.S. Air Force colonel named Rollin C. Reineck penned a book describing this very theory entitled Amelia Earhart Survived in 2003.

Reineck claimed that this plan would have allowed the U.S. government to rescue Amelia and Fred from the Marshall Islands while simultaneously performing prewar surveys on the Japanese.

However, Reineck believes the plan went sideways, and the pair were instead taken hostage.

U.S. officials have continued to deny this theory, though, and instead have stood firm that Amelia and Fred ran out of fuel and subsequently crashed into the Pacific.

Pop Culture’s Fascination

Nonetheless, the conspiracy surrounding Amelia’s disappearance has given way to a media frenzy that has lasted for decades.

Her life and supposed death has since prompted countless movies, television series, books, and cartoons.

But, what truly happened to Amelia that day in 1937 has remained a puzzling mystery to many and will likely continue for years to come.

If true crime defines your free time, this is for you: join Chip Chick’s True Crime Tribe.

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