Vanished

Today, soaring over the ocean may not seem like a big deal. But in Earhart’s time, it was extremely dangerous. Flying was still fairly new, and planes had many problems. Engines fell out. Wings tore off. Fuel tanks caught on fire. Over an ocean, these problems meant almost certain death for a pilot.

Earhart knew the risks. But she wasn’t afraid. She kept setting new goals and facing new challenges. In 1937, Earhart planned her biggest adventure yet. She wanted to fly around the world. Only a few pilots had done it before. And they had all been men.

Earhart’s trip around the globe excited people everywhere. Photographers took her picture. Parades were held in her honor. Earhart had become as famous as a movie star!

Today soaring over the ocean may not seem like a big deal. But in Earhart’s time, it was very dangerous. Flying was still fairly new. Planes had many problems. Engines fell out. Wings tore off. Fuel tanks caught on fire. Pilots who had these problems over an ocean usually died.

Earhart knew the risks. But she wasn’t afraid. She kept setting new goals and facing new challenges. In 1937, Earhart planned her biggest adventure yet. She wanted to fly around the world. Only a few pilots had done it before. And they had all been men.

People everywhere were excited for Earhart’s trip around the globe. Photographers took her picture. Parades were held in her honor. Earhart had become as famous as a movie star!

Earhart wanted help figuring out the best way to go around the world. So she brought a navigator with her. His name was Fred Noonan.

Their trip started in California. Earhart flew over Africa, the Middle East, and India. After that, she reached an island in the Pacific Ocean.

The next stop on her trip was a place called Howland Island. The island was small and hard to find.

Luckily, a U.S. Coast Guard ship was nearby. It agreed to puff out smoke and turn its lights on. Earhart could use the lights and smoke to guide her.

But Earhart didn’t make it to Howland Island. The ship searched the skies. But Amelia Earhart was gone.

At the time, pilots had only maps, their eyes, and a few basic tools to help them find their way. Earhart decided to take a navigator named Fred Noonan on the journey to help her.

Their trip started on May 20 in Oakland, California. Over the next month, Earhart flew over the clear waters of the Caribbean Sea. She zoomed over the grasslands of Africa. She crossed over deserts in the Middle East. She soared over mountains in India. Then, on June 29, Earhart reached an island now known as Papua New Guinea, in the Pacific Ocean. 

The next stop on her trip was a place called Howland Island. The island was just a tiny dot in the endless blue of the Pacific Ocean. Even with Noonan’s help, finding the island would be tricky. 

Luckily, there was a U.S. Coast Guard ship near Howland Island that would help. The ship agreed to puff out smoke and turn on its searchlights. If Earhart couldn’t see the island from the sky, she could use the lights and smoke to guide her.

On July 2, 1937, Earhart and Noonan took off from Papua New Guinea. They were finally near the end of their trip! 

At the time, pilots had only maps, their eyes, and a few basic tools to help them figure out which way to go. Earhart decided to bring a navigator to help her during the trip. His name was Fred Noonan.

Their trip started on May 20 in Oakland, California. Earhart flew over the clear waters of the Caribbean Sea. She zoomed over the grasslands of Africa. She crossed over deserts in the Middle East. She soared over mountains in India. On June 29, Earhart reached an island, now known as Papua New Guinea, in the Pacific Ocean.

The next stop on her trip was a place called Howland Island. The island was just a tiny dot in the endless blue of the Pacific Ocean. Earhart had Noonan’s help. But finding the island would still be tricky. 

Luckily, there was a U.S. Coast Guard ship near Howland Island. The ship would help. The crew agreed to puff out smoke and turn on its searchlights. If Earhart couldn’t see the island from the sky, she could use the lights and smoke to guide her.

On July 2, 1937, Earhart and Noonan took off from Papua New Guinea. They were finally near the end of their trip!

For weeks, the U.S. searched for Earhart and Noonan. But no one found them. People were shocked and upset.

There have been many theories about what happened. Most experts believe the plane ran out of gas and then crashed and sank. They think Earhart and Noonan died.

But until someone finds the plane, the mystery remains: What really happened to Amelia Earhart?  

Earhart planned to fly through the night and arrive at Howland Island early the next day. By 7 a.m., she still hadn’t made it. The ship’s crew was starting to worry. The sky was overcast. They feared that Earhart couldn’t find the island. Plus, her radio didn’t seem to be working. The crew could hear her, but she could not hear them.

At 7:42 a.m., her voice crackled over the radio. “We must be on you but cannot see you,” Earhart said. “Gas is running low. Been unable to reach you by radio.”

The crew searched the skies for a silver plane, but it never appeared. They tried to call Earhart again and again. Nothing worked. 

Around 8:45 a.m., her voice broke through the radio once more. That was the last time anyone heard from her. Amelia Earhart was gone.

Earhart planned to fly through the night. She wanted to arrive at Howland Island early the next day. By 7 a.m., she still hadn’t made it. The ship’s crew began to worry. The sky was overcast. They feared that Earhart couldn’t find the island. Plus, her radio didn’t seem to be working. The crew could hear her. But she could not hear them.

At 7:42 a.m., her voice crackled over the radio. “We must be on you but cannot see you,” Earhart said. “Gas is running low. Been unable to reach you by radio.”

The crew looked for a silver plane. Instead, they saw mostly clouds. They tried to call Earhart again and again. Nothing worked. 

Around 8:45 a.m., her voice broke through the radio once more. That was the last time anyone heard from her. Amelia Earhart was gone.

For weeks, the U.S. sent ships and planes to search for Earhart and Noonan. But no one found them. 

People were shocked and upset when they heard about Earhart’s disappearance. How could the world’s most beloved aviator simply vanish?

Today, we are still trying to answer this question. There have been many theories as to what happened. Most experts believe the plane ran out of gas and crashed into the ocean. They think Earhart and Noonan died, and the plane sank. 

But then where is Earhart’s plane? Ocean explorers have searched the Pacific Ocean trying to find it. Some have even used underwater robots and drones. But so far, no one has found the plane. Until someone does, the mystery remains: What really happened to Amelia Earhart?

For weeks, the U.S. sent ships and planes to search for Earhart and Noonan. But no one found them. 

People were shocked and upset about Earhart’s disappearance. How could the world’s favorite pilot simply vanish?

Today, we are still trying to answer this question. There have been many theories about what happened. Most experts believe the plane ran out of gas and crashed into the ocean. They think Earhart and Noonan died. They believe the plane sank. 

But then where is Earhart’s plane? Ocean explorers have searched the Pacific Ocean trying to find it. Some have even used underwater robots and drones. But so far, no one has found the plane. Until someone does, the mystery remains: What really happened to Amelia Earhart?