Amelia Earhart was an American aviation pioneer and author. She was the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Her mysterious disappearance in 1937 while attempting to circumnavigate the globe in a Lockheed Model 10 Electra spawned many theories and searches for her missing plane and remains.
Amelia Earhart had blue eyes. Many historical photos clearly show her bright blue eyes. In a 1932 interview with the New York Times, she was described as having “calm blue eyes.” Blue eyes were a distinctive part of her appearance.
Amelia Earhart’s Early Life
Amelia Earhart was born on July 24, 1897 in Atchison, Kansas. Her parents were Samuel “Edwin” Stanton Earhart and Amelia “Amy” Otis Earhart. She had a younger sister named Muriel. Her early life was spent in Kansas in the Midwest region of the United States.
Accounts of Earhart’s childhood describe her as an adventurous tomboy who loved the outdoors. She enjoyed activities like horseback riding, hunting, and fishing with her father. Earhart’s grandmother feared the little girl was destined to be a “spinster” because of her unconventional hobbies and disregard for typical feminine pastimes.
As a child, Earhart attended schools in Kansas, Illinois, and Pennsylvania as her family relocated for her father’s employment. She graduated from Hyde Park High School in Chicago in 1916. Amelia Earhart had blue eyes even as a young girl in the early 20th century.
Becoming a Pilot
In 1920, Earhart took her first plane ride at a state fair in California. That experience led her to begin taking flying lessons from pioneer female pilot Anita “Neta” Snook. Earhart bought her first plane in 1921, a secondhand Kinner Airster biplane painted yellow. She nicknamed it “The Canary.”
After the plane was damaged in an accident, Earhart sold it and bought a sleek yellow Kissel Speedster sports car which she dubbed the “Yellow Peril.” Even when flying planes or driving fast cars, Amelia Earhart’s remarkable blue eyes remained a focal point.
In 1923, Earhart became the 16th woman to receive an official pilot’s license from the world governing body for aeronautics, the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. Aviation was still a new and dangerous pursuit, especially for women. But Earhart persevered and excelled with her trademark calm and steady blue-eyed gaze.
Transatlantic Flight Achievements
On June 17, 1928, Earhart became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean as a passenger with pilots Wilmer Stultz and Louis Gordon. The flight began in Newfoundland, Canada and ended at Burry Port in Wales, United Kingdom.
In 1932, Earhart made the daring solo flight across the Atlantic herself in just under 15 hours. She departed from Harbor Grace, Newfoundland and landed in a pasture in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Her calmness during problematic mechanical issues cemented her reputation for grace under pressure.
| Date | Flight Route | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| June 17, 1928 | Newfoundland to Wales | Fokker F7 |
| May 20, 1932 | Newfoundland to Northern Ireland | Lockheed Vega |
Amelia Earhart’s solo transatlantic flight in 1932 made her an international celebrity. Her classic beauty, courage, independence and trademark blue eyes captured the public’s imagination.
Attempted Round-The-World Flight
In 1937, Earhart began an attempt to become the first woman to circumnavigate the globe around the equator. Her only companion on the flight was navigator Fred Noonan. They successfully completed the longest legs across the Pacific Ocean from Hawaii to Australia and across the Atlantic from Africa to South America.
On July 2, 1937, Earhart and Noonan departed from Lae, New Guinea for the small Howland Island. They never reached their destination, disappearing somewhere over the central Pacific Ocean. Extensive sea and air searches failed to find any trace of Earhart, Noonan or their twin-engine Lockheed Model 10 Electra.
| Date | Leg of Flight Route |
|---|---|
| March 17 – March 20, 1937 | Honolulu, Hawaii to Oakland, California |
| March 20 – April 8, 1937 | Oakland to Miami, Florida |
| June 1 – June 29, 1937 | Miami to Dakar, Senegal in Africa |
| June 29 – July 2, 1937 | Dakar to Lae, New Guinea |
| July 2, 1937 | Lae to Howland Island in Pacific Ocean |
Their disappearance somewhere in the vicinity of Howland Island remains one of aviation’s greatest mysteries. Search efforts were called off on July 19, 1937 after no trace could be found.
Theories on Earhart’s Disappearance
Many theories have emerged over the decades about the fate of Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan, including:
- Crash and sinking in the Pacific due to insufficient fuel
- Crash landing and stranding on an uninhabited island
- Capture by the Japanese military after landing on the Marshall Islands
- Spying for the U.S. government and disappearance or capture by the Japanese
Despite extensive search efforts, rescue missions and unverified accounts, the disappearance of Earhart and her Lockheed Electra shortly after takeoff from Lae, New Guinea remains an unsolved mystery clouded by limited radio contact and inaccurate position reporting.
Finding Amelia Earhart
Many expeditions have been undertaken over the decades to locate the wreckage of the Lockheed Electra and recover the remains of Earhart and Noonan. Results have been inconclusive but include:
- Amelia Earhart’s plane is believed to have had at least 1,000 gallons of fuel when it departed Lae.
- The U.S. Navy captured signals in the area but was unable to triangulate Earhart’s position.
- Aircraft parts including a window and aluminum panel have been found but not positively linked to her Electra.
- Possible landing strips were identified and investigated but no wreckage found.
- The photo of Nikumaroro island showing blurry objects was ruled inconclusive.
- A 2018 archaeological study of Nikumaroro discovered fish bones and turtle but no human bones.
Despite the recovery of tantalizing clues, the fate of Amelia Earhart’s doomed flight ending somewhere near Howland Island remains an open question. Her plane has yet to be found and positively identified. Searches continue in hopes of one day finding conclusive evidence and recovering the remains of Earhart and Noonan.
Conclusion
Amelia Earhart’s distinctive blue eyes symbolized her unconventional spirit of adventure and independence. She pushed the boundaries of aviation and culture for women in the early 20th century before her tragic disappearance over the Pacific Ocean in 1937 at the age of 39.
Earhart’s eye color was blue, complementing her short brown hair. Her bright blue eyes conveyed a calm, steady gaze that inspired confidence in the era of early aviation full of danger and unknowns. Amelia Earhart’s brave pursuits and mysterious vanishing created an enduring legacy that continues to captivate the public imagination.
