By Sarah Latoza Wed, July 8, 2009, 12:01 am PDT

Amelia Earhart in 1932 (No, it's not Hillary Swank.) One of the most fascinating women in history -- and one of the most elusive mysteries -- is the story of Amelia Earhart. From her early days as a tomboy in Kansas to her daring aviation adventures, Earhart was always someone who stood out. But in addition to being a pilot, she was also a nurse, a writer, a wife, and a sister, as well as a revolutionary whose life was cut short too soon. Earhart first experienced international life as a nurse in Canada during World War I. After the war, she moved to California, where she took her first airplane ride. Mentored by famed aviatrix Neta Snook, Amelia undertook the lengthy and difficult training being a pilot required. By 1923, she had not only received her pilot's license, but had set the record for the highest elevation reached by a female aviator. Charles Lindbergh's 1927 solo transatlantic flight (history's first) led to efforts to find a woman to duplicate the feat, and Earhart was a natural choice. She flew across the Atlantic as part of a team in 1928, becoming an instant celebrity in the U.S., and four years later, flew solo from Newfoundland to Ireland in just under fifteen hours, cementing her place in history. She received numerous international honors, and gained many famous friends, including First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. She later became the first woman to fly solo across the continental United States, as well. Earhart's success on that voyage led her to seek out more exciting opportunities. Her next goal was to fly around the world. After years of planning, Earhart and her co-pilot Fred Noonan set out from Miami in June, 1937. They made numerous stops, eventually arriving in New Guinea in July. But somewhere between there and their next intended stop on Howland Island on Jully 2, 1937, radio contact between the pilots and the ship docked to meet them was lost. Earhart, Noonan, and their plane were never seen or heard from again, despite a massive and expensive search launched by the U.S. government and later financed by her husband, publishing magnate George Putnam. So what happened to Earhart and Noonan? The most likely (and least exciting) explanation is that the plane simply ran out of fuel or experienced mechanical problems and crashed, either into the Pacific Ocean or on a nearby island. But conspiracy theorists and Hollywood have their own ideas. The 1943 film "Flight for Freedom" depicts a fictionalized version of Earhart spying on the Japanese for the U.S. government (which propagated this myth in popular culture). Another theory posits that Earhart and Noonan landed on an island occupied by the Japanese, who then had the two aviators executed. Even more unlikely stories involve faked deaths and secret identities, castaways on a desert island, and (of course), alien abduction -- thanks, "Star Trek." Whatever the truth is, Earhart's life is certainly as fascinating as her disappearance. And now, with the 62nd anniversary of her disappearance, two award-winning actresses are bringing her to life on the big screen. Already this year, we've seen Amy Adams's fanciful and comedic take in "Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian," which earned her rave reviews. And come October, two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank will portray Earhart in "Amelia," which (based on the just-released trailer) looks like more Oscar-bait for Swank and her co-stars. These films will hopefully expose Earhart to a whole new generation, reminding all of us of extraordinary woman who should never be forgotten. Suggested Sites... Museum of Women Pilots - Oklahoma City museum dedicated to the lives of Earhart and other female aviators. In Search of ... Amelia Earhart - 1970s TV program hosted by Leonard Nimoy, focusing on Earhart’s disappearance. Amelia Earhart Papers - large collection of Earhart images and documents at Purdue University. The Earhart Project - organization dedicated to discovering the truth about Earhart's last flight.

Directory categories: Amelia Earhart, Aviation History, Conspiracies, Women's History, Biographic Movies

Archived under: 1930s, Adventure, Amelia Earhart, American History, Anniversaries, Aviation, Biographies, Celebrities, Dead Celebrities, Disappearances, Exploration, Explorers, History, Missing Persons, Movies, Mysteries, Urban Legends, Women

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