Q: So, Amelia, how did you disappear?

A: Well, It's a little blurry, you know that area in my memory, but here is how it started. I decided to do something very daring, fly around the world. My navigator (Fred Noonan) and I departed for our journey in 1939. we got most of the way around the world with some stops away. The very last transmitted message that I sent was "KHAQQ calling Itasca. We must be on you but cannot see you...gas is running low...". After that every thing gets blurry and I don't remember a thing.

Q: What is another one of your great childhood stories?

A: Well that one is easy, it was while I was sledding. At the time of my childhood girls were expected to sit up on a sled but I was a tomboy and I didn't do what girls were expected to do, besides if I had been sitting up I would be dead right now. One winters day I was sledding down a steep hill near the edge of town when a junk man's cart suddenly appeared on the road beneath me. The horse pulling the cart was wearing huge blinders blocking him from seeing me. I could not turn or stop and the junk ma did not here my screams! Within seconds I slid between the front and back legs of the horse, it was a close call.

Q: Why did you start flying?

A: Well I decided to start flying the moment I left the ground on my first flight ever. I took lessons from a twenty-four year old women named Neta Snook. I felt that if I took flight lessons from a woman I would be less self conscious than if I took them from a man. The year was 1921 and I was wearing a plain brown suit, my hair was braided and neatly coiled around my head. There was a light scarf around my neck and I carried gloves in my hand.

Q: I heard that your father was an alcoholic, is that true?

A: Yes, sadly he was. It started with a light drink of scotch after work but then it spiraled out of control. His drinking at work got so bad that he was fired. He went to get help and it worked for a while but then the drinking started again. He supposedly stopped, that is at least what he said. Muriel and I found a bottle of scotch in the cupboard and we decided to dump it out. In the process of doing so our father walked into the kitchen and yelled at us. He then apologized of doing so and thanked us for helping him get better.

Q: Did you have any children or a husband?

A: Well no I didn't get a chance to have any children in my busy lifetime but I sure loved them. I worked as a social worker and I loved to work with the children. Yes I had a husband, in fact I almost had two. I was first engaged to Sam Chapman but it just wasn't working and I fell in love with another man who's name was George Putnam. We were married until death did we part. I loved George very much and he supported my flying oh so well. I loved that man.

Q: What was your childhood like and what was one of your childhood memories?

A: Well I was born in Atchison, Kansas, in the middle of a summer heat wave. I was the first born of two of us, my sisters name was Muriel. I lived with my grandparents the first part of my life and then I was rejoined with my real parents, Amy and Edwin. One of my favorite childhood memories was when I built a roller coaster with some of my friends and one of my uncles. It all started with the worlds fair. My father had saved some extra money and decided to take us to the worlds fair. I rode an elephant and saw my very first plane but when I wanted to ride the roller coaster my mother decided it wasn't lady like. When I returned home I decided to build a roller coaster in my backyard. We constructed wooden tracks and nailed them to the roof of a toolshed. We attached buggy wheels to an old cart and greased them with lard. I was the first person on the ride and it worked like a charm but when my mother came out she MADE us take it down.

Intro to Amelia

Amelia Earhart was a great pilot who led a great life. She grew up experiencing many different things including flying, her world wide known talent. I hope you enjoy these conversations with Amelia. I also hope you learn something about her, thanks for reading! Anna