Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart - A Timeline

Image of Photo aepilot
Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others.
Amelia Earhart to George Putnam, 1935


1897

Amelia Mary Earhart is born in Atchison, Kansas
July 24th
1916
Graduates from Hyde Park High School in Chicago, Illinois
1917
Volunteers as a nurse at Spadina Military Convalescent Hospital in Toronto, Canada, for the "walking wounded" of World War One
1919
Enrolls in the pre-med program of Columbia University, New York
 1920

Leaves Columbia University after one semester

Joins her parents in Los Angeles, California

Takes her first flight with Frank Hawks


1921
Completes her flying lessons with Neta Snook and purchases her first aircraft - the Kinner Airster
1922
Sets an unofficial women's flying altitude record of 14,000 feet

 1924

Sells Kinner Airster and buys an automobile

Drives her mother to Massachusetts and settles with her younger sister, Muriel


1926
Works as a social worker with children at the Denison House in Boston, Massachusetts

1927
Writes Ruth Nichols about forming an organization for women who fly
 1928

Image of Photo aetallIs recognized as the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean as a passenger (June)

Buys Avro Avian Airplane

Writes 20 Hrs. 40 Min

Completes the first transcontinental flight by a woman (Sept/October)


1929

Acquires a single engine Lockheed Vega aircraft

Competes in Women's Air Derby (Santa Monica to Cleveland) - finishes in third place

Helps organize The Ninety-Nines (November)


1930

Sets the women's world flying speed record of 181.18 mph (July)

Acquires her air transport license (October)


1931

Becomes the first president of The Ninety-Nines

Marries George Palmer Putnam in Noank, Connecticut (February)

Acquires an autogiro and sets a women's autogiro altitude record of 18,415 feet (April)

Completes her first solo transcontinental flight in an autogiro for the Beechnut Company (May/June)


 1932

Writes The Fun of It (read an excerpt)

Becomes the first woman (and second person) to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in her single engine Lockheed Vega and the first person to cross the Atlantic twice by air

Sets women's record for fastest non-stop transcontinental flight (Los Angeles, California to Newark, New Jersey) in 19 hrs and 5 mins (August)

Is awarded the Army Air Corps Distinguished Flying Cross

Becomes the second non-British pilot to receive Honorary Membership in the British Guild of Airpilots and Navigators

Is awarded the Gold Medal of the National Geographic Society, presented by President Herbert Hoover

Receives honorary membership in the National Aeronautic Association

Wins the Harmon Trophy as America's Outstanding Airwoman


1933

Participates in the National Air Races in Los Angeles, California

Breaks her own North American transcontinental record with a flying time of 17 hours, 7 minutes, 30 seconds

Wins the Harmon Trophy


1934  Wins the Harmon Trophy for the third year in a row
1935

Is the first person to fly solo across the Pacific Ocean from Honolulu, Hawaii to Oakland, California in 17 hours and 7 minutes (January)

Is the first person to fly solo from Los Angeles, California to Mexico City, Mexico by official invitation from the Mexican Government (April)

Is the first woman to compete in the National Air Races in Cleveland, Ohio

Named America's Outstanding Airwoman by Harmon Trophy committee


 1936

Takes delivery of Lockheed twin-engined airplane financed by Purdue University (July)

Starts to plan her round-the-world flight


 1937

Begins her round-the-world flight in Oakland, California and sets a record for east-west (Oakland to Hawaii) travel in 15 hours and 47 minutes (March)

Ground loops plane while taking off from Hawaii for Howland Island and badly damages it (March)

Airplane is repaired and a second round-the-world attempt is started from Miami, Florida (June)

Disappears near Howland Island July 2, 1937

   
  Compiled by Pamela O'Brien
1998
   
  Here are some other sources of information about Amelia Earhart:
  The George Palmer Putnam Collection of Amelia Earhart Papers at Purdue University
Amelia Earhart Snapshots, Oahu, 1935
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