Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Amelia Earhart by Sydnie Cooper

Image result for pic of amelia earhart



Amelia Mary Earhart was an American pilot who went missing on July 2nd, 1937. Being one of the most influential women of her time, she was the first female to fly by herself across the Atlantic Ocean. There are many theories as to why she disappeared:

1.    Her navigator was too drunk to operate heavy machinery causing them to crash on a stranded island.

2.    She was secretly in love with her navigator, Fred Noonan, faked her dead and ran off with him.

3.    The Japanese shot down her plane, capturing her causing her to ended up in prison on the island of Saipan.

Let’s examine all of these options and determine how likely the possibility of Fred Noonan being too intoxicated is the cause of this major scandal.

Who was Amelia Earhart? She was one of the greatest people of her time because she courageously exceeded all of the societal norms placed on a woman. Imagine an outgoing, bold woman's rights activist, with short blonde hair, piercing gray eyes, pearly white skin, who stood "5 feet 8 inches" (Gillespie) tall as the first successful aviator to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. She was scrutinized because she was a female in the United States during the 1930’s.  Her accomplishments could not be denied, and she became known as the "It Girl." Ironically, most men did not like her because she challenged the oppressive cultural standards for women during that time because she just did not fit in. The trials she faced in pursuit of her aviation goals were remarkable, and although she was confronted with the suppressive and misogynistic views of the times, she persevered and hoisted herself as a top aviator, and that is why she is still remembered today.

Why would one of the most prestige aviators just mysteriously have a freak accident and go missing? The pressure of being such a powerful voice was ultimately her internal conflict or downfall. She tried so hard to leave the best impression on the overall look of her occupation, but all it did was tear down her confidence. Every once in a while everyone doubts themselves; it can be hard to know whether your craft is satisfying or rubbing people in the wrong way. Amelia Earhart had a tendency to strive to be perfect: "Perfect is never the same, perfect is the impossible. Perfect is different to everyone, in which: no one can be perfect."(Canada). While being well-known in the public eye, she never got to understand her true self. Not entirely comprehending herself as an individual put herself in question, which is why the terrible incident, when Earhart and her navigator Frederick Noonan attempted to fly around the world, left society in awe. Whether it was her companion's negligence, her secret love or even the Japanese this ended in disaster.

Her external conflict was a case of character versus society. Earhart did not fit into the standard criteria of citizens in the 1930's and was constantly reminded of that. She repeatedly had to prove herself, especially because this was also the time of The Great Depression. The typical lady of her day took care of the household and children while the man of the house took care of the funding. Women were too afraid to rise like she did because the average American family was scarcely making a living. The point Amelia Earhart tried to make, that woman can do anything, was valid but at that time it seemed like a dream too far out of reach.
Image result for pic of amelia earhart

Amelia Earhart may have indicated her disappearance. She would say certain things that could be seen in many different ways. For example, she said "In my life, I had come to realize that, when things were going very well, indeed, it was just the time to anticipate trouble. And, conversely, I learned from pleasant experience that at the most despairing crisis, when all looked sour beyond words, some delightful "break" was apt to lurk just around the corner." (Family of Amelia Earhart). She might have been talking about how internally she felt too pressured to be the perfect role model and that she was going to take advantage of her trip and disappear. Another example of her foreshadowing could have been when she said: "The more one does and sees and feels, the more one is able to do, and the more genuine may be one's appreciation of fundamental things like home, and love, and understanding companionship." (Family of Amelia Earhart). Deep down all she wanted to do was take off in her plane, travel and make anywhere home. Back then, the thought of Amelia Earhart, an incredible individual who was paramount compared to the average woman in society, devising such a controversial escape was preposterous. One of Earhart's fellow colleagues Walter J. Boyne said: "Amelia Earhart came perhaps before her time...the smiling, confident, capable, yet compassionate human being, is one of which we can all be proud."(Family of Amelia Earhart). She was incredibly inspirational, and it doesn't seem in her character to just disappear without there being a hidden meaning.

There are three highlighted conspiracy theories to the missing person’s case of Amelia Earhart. One of them suggests that she was a prisoner of war. However, the other two arguments advocate that Fred Noonan played a vital part. The first conspiracy theory suggests that Amelia Earhart's navigator, Fred Noonan, was too drunk to operate heavy machinery causing them to [G1] [G2] [G3] crash on an uninhabited island. There were even claims that alcoholism caused Pan American Airways to fire him from his job.  It was evident to most of his acquaintances that he was not always in control of all of his actions because of inebriation. There is not any rationalized evidence to validate the claims of Fred Noonan being an intoxicated at the time of the disappearance, but there is clear evidence of his past drunkard behavior. “Others even claimed that, for the final takeoff from New Guinea, he was so hung over that he had to be helped aboard the airplane. However, a film of Earhart and Noonan boarding the airplane that morning show a bright and cheerful Fred Noonan helping Amelia up onto the wing.” (2016)[G4] [G5] 

The next theory seems to be the most realistic because it talks about Amelia Earhart having a secret love. If she were to have a secret love with Fred Noonan and faked her death, it would explain all of the hints she left behind. It does seem a little crazy for her to up and abandon her family for one man. Although there is no validation of this theory, it is the most logical assumption for the disappearance of Amelia Earhart.  A controlled survey of twenty participants revealed that the majority (80%), of the subjects, agreed with the idea that Amelia Earhart had a secret affair with her navigator, Fred Noonan, faked her death and ran off with him. Earhart and Noonan both left behind outstanding careers and very few family members.  The logical conclusion most of the subjects of the survey chose showed the affection between Earhart and Noonan was pivotal in their relationship and a critical factor in them deserting public life.  Fred Noonan worked tirelessly, day and night, with Amelia Earhart to help her achieve her aviation goals.  His wife, at the time, stated “Fred had had several good business offers… It seems I have hardly seen him since we married.” (Hanes, 2012)

The last conspiracy theory focuses on the Japanese and America’s standpoint in World War II.  This conspiracy theory claimed that Japan shot Amelia Earhart’s plane down, capturing her, and forcing her to be a prisoner of war. This assertion goes even further to say that when the war concluded, the Japanese released Amelia and allowed her to go back to the United States where she settled in New Jersey until her demise. The plot of this theory thickens because it alleged that she assumed a new identity and was never recognized again.  “A 1970 book put forth a creative solution to the Earhart mystery. The author claimed the famous pilot survived a Pacific Ocean plane crash and was taken prisoner by the Japanese. At the end of World War II, U.S. forces purportedly found her in Japan and secretly repatriated her to New Jersey. There, Earhart took the name Irene Bolam and became a banker.” (Hanes, 2012)  This idea seemed very realistic and even plausible, but “when the real Bolam got wind of the book’s claims, she vigorously denied being Earhart and sued the author and publisher for $1.5 million. (The lawsuit was later withdrawn, though Bolam may have settled out of court.) Numerous experts who investigated Bolam’s life and compared her photos to Earhart’s agree that Bolam, who died in 1982, was not the missing aviator.” (Hanes, 2012) If Earhart loved her job and being in the public eye as revealed in numerous reports, she most likely would have come back claiming her rightful name.

Most of the theories surrounding Amelia Earhart’s disappearance show a direct connection and lead directly to Fred Noonan. He defiantly played a key role in this random vanishing. The three conspiracies all have very valid points, and all have potential sensibility behind them. Out of all of these arguments, the most popular explanation would be that she planned the whole disappearance to cause a scandal that has become a legend, and is still talked about to this day.



On July 2, 1937, on her voyage around the world, forty-year-old Amelia Mary Earhart’s journey ended in turmoil. The result of this trip led to several conspiracy theories:

1.    Her navigator was too drunk to operate heavy machinery causing them to crash on a stranded island.

2.    She was secretly in love with her navigator, Fred Noonan, faked her dead and ran off with him.

3.    The Japanese shot down her plane, capturing her causing her to end up in prison on the island of Saipan.


Work Cited

History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2016.

Canada, By Trenchquinn St. Catharines. "Society and the Pressure to Be Perfect." Teen Politics Essay. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2016.

"Earhart Project Research Papers." Earhart Project Research Papers. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2016.

"Fred Noonan." Fred Noonan. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2016.

Gillespie, Richard E. "Earhart Biography." Earhart Biography. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2016.

Hanes, Elizabeth. "What Happened to Amelia?: 9 Tantalizing Theories About the Earhart Disappearance." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2012. Web. 27 Nov. 2016.

Heller, Jake. The Daily Beast. Newsweek/Daily Beast, n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2016.

History.com Staff. "Amelia Earhart." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 27 Nov. 2016.

"The Official Website of Amelia Earhart." The Official Website of Amelia Earhart. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2016.








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