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Amelia Earhart

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Amelia Earhart
Historical Figure
Nationality: United States
Year of Birth: 1897
Year of Death: 1937(?)
Cause of Death: Unknown
Occupation: Aviator, Explorer, Nurse, Educator, Author of Non-Fiction
Spouse: George Putnam (m. 1931)
Children: Two stepsons
Professional Affiliations: The Ninety-Nines;
Purdue University
Political Party: National Woman's Party
Fictional Appearances:
Or Even Eagle Flew
POD: July 2, 1937
Type of Appearance: Direct POV
Date of Death: 1943
Cause of Death: Shot down in aerial combat
Spouse: George Putnam (div. c.a. 1940)

Amelia Mary Earhart (born July 24, 1897 – disappeared July 2, 1937, declared dead January 5, 1939) was an American aviation pioneer and author. In 1932, Earhart became the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She set many other records, wrote best-selling books about her flying experiences, and was instrumental in the formation of The Ninety-Nines, an organization for female pilots.

During an attempt at becoming the first female to complete a circumnavigational flight of the Earth, Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan disappeared over the central Pacific Ocean near Howland Island. The two were last seen in Lae, New Guinea, on July 2, 1937, on the last land stop before Howland Island and one of their final legs of the flight. Investigations and significant public interest in their disappearance still continue to this day.

Amelia Earhart in Or Even Eagle Flew[]

Amelia "A.E." Earhart was the first female to complete a circumnavigational flight of the Earth, successfully completing her journey in 1937. After enjoying a brief period of celebrity in the United States, Earhart joined Britain's Eagle Squadrons during World War II, becoming the first female to fight combat flight missions.

Journey to France[]

Not long after the war broke out, Earhart divorced her husband, George Putnam. As Germany began to overrun France and the Low Countries in May, 1940, Earhart, who hated Hitler, decided to volunteer for the Allies. She crossed into Montreal, Canada by train. Despite her fame, custom agents did not recognize her, and her passport still had her married name, "Amelia Putnam".[1] She other and American pilots, including Gene "Red" Tobin, Andy Mamedoff, and Vernon "Shorty" Keough, arrived at the Mount Royal Hotel. The three men were astonished that Earhart intended to join the French Air Force, given her gender and her celebrity, but she quickly gained their support.[2]

After a few hours in the hotel bar, the four were approached by the bellboy, who provided them with envelopes sent by their recruiter, Colonel Charles Sweeny. The envelopes contained train tickets to Halifax, where they were to wait for another contact. Once they arrived in Halifax, a Frenchman provided them with traveling documents and money, and directed them to the harbor. Mamedoff and Keough boarded the Guigamp. Earhart and Tobin boarded the Pierre L.D., and soon they were on their way to France.[3]

The Battle of France and Escape to the United Kingdom[]

Two weeks later, the convoy safely arrived in St. Nazaire. However, it was immediately plain the war was going badly for France. After dealing with a snippy functionary who finally let them enter the country based on Earhart's reputation, the four pilots boarded a train for Paris.[4] They arrived safely, and were put up in a fleabag hotel, where they listened to German bombing raids throughout the night. However, as the war was going horribly for Allies, the French government ignored the Americans for a few days.[5] When they were given medical exams, Earhart had to deal with a doctor who tried to pressure her into sexual favors. This doctor was also resigned to the fact that France was "dead". While all four Americans passed their medicals, the French did not give them planes.[6]

On June 10, 1940, the quartet realized that Paris was going to fall. They boarded a train to Tours, which was the home of an airfield, and now the French government. While the French Air Force knew who they were, they were unable to train the four on French planes before France asked for an armistice on June 17.[7] Realizing that they couldn't stay in France, the four resolved to get to the UK. On June 18 they stole a pair of Potez 63 two-seaters (Earhart piloted one with Mamedoff in the passenger seat; Tobin and Keough took the other) and flew across the English Channel, safely landing in a farmer's meadow. The farmer assumed they were German, but then recognized Earhart. British soldiers arrived in short order.[8]

Entry into the RAF[]

While the British press loudly touted the Americans' arrival in London, the RAF was less certain. After a brief period of vacillation, the RAF agreed to train the three men at Croydon, but not Earhart. In response, Earhart met with Air Vice Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory, and, after making some subtle threats of blackmail, convinced him to send her as well.[9] Upon arrival at Croydon, Tobin told Earhart that he'd contacted a British MP named Robbie Robertson, who "specialized" in getting foreigners into the RAF; Earhart assumed that Robertson had pressured Leigh-Mallory.[10] Training began in short order, as German air raids were pounding southern England in anticipation of a possible invasion. She trained on a Miles Master at first, but was moved to a new Spitfire once she demonstrated her skill. Her instructor, a veteran sergeant, was impressed with her flying skill, but worked hard to instruct her in the fine points of combat flying.[11]

609 Squadron and Amy Johnson[]

At the end of July, the four were posted to 609 Squadron at Middle Wallop.[12] During the raucous last night in Croydon, a drunken South African flyer named Piet attempted to kiss and grope Earhart. She responded by headbutting him in the bridge of his nose. Tobin, Keough, and Mamedoff intervened, an act which further cemented the bond among the four.[13] Upon their arrival, the squadron commander, Lt. Darley, initially did not believe Earhart was going to fly missions, and so wanted to billet her with the WAAF. When Earhart pointed out that she wouldn't be able to get to her plane timely in the event of an attack, Darley relented and agreed to put her in a tent.[14]

After all of the Americans did ferry duty for a few weeks, the Germans bombed Middle Wallop. All four Americans survived, but the attack made clear to Earhart the risks of combat. Not long after that, all our were deemed operational, and they began flying as rear-guards, or "tail-end Charlie", for main vics of three. During their first fight, Mammedorf's plane was shot up, but he made it back.[15]

After this engagement, 609 Squadron moved to the forward base at Warmwell. After another lull, the squadron guarded a convoy. Earhart was flying tail-end Charlie when German bombers attacked. During a dog fight, Earhart successfully downed a Me-110. The Germans withdrew without doing damage to the convey or to the British fighters. While some of her fellow fighters congratulated her on downing the German, she was actually quite horrified by the fact that she'd killed two men, and began vomiting. Lt. Darley proved surprisingly sympathetic, offering her some brandy and inviting her to the pub.[16] In early September, 609 Squadron returned to Middle Wallop. On September 9, 1940, two days into the German Blitz, the Squadron scrambled to London. Earhart got her second kill, and discovered that she did not feel a thing. She returned to Middle Wallop to refuel and rearm, and then rejoined the fighting until the Germans withdrew.[17] The next weeks was a series of sorties as the Germans continued to attack London daily.[18]

One night, when most of the squadron went to drink, Earhart stayed on base. Fellow pilot Amy Johnson, who landed at Middle Wallop with an officer. Earhart and Johnson had met years before, after Johnson had completed her trip across the Atlantic Ocean, though she had crashed upon landing. After the officer left to find Darley, Earhart and Johnson went into Earhart's tent. They discussed their respective career trajectories; Johnson was bitter about being relegated to WAAF even as Earhart was proving to be a successful combat pilot. Over a bottle of rotgut liquor, the two shared frustrations about how men behaved. Soon, things became more romantic, and the two had sex and spent the night together.[19] The next morning, the other pilots were impressed to have a pilot of Johnson's stature among them. Earhart saw Johnson off with a tentative plan to try to convince the RAF to let Johnson join.[20]

Daylight sorties continued until September 15. Earhart's plane was shot up, but she made it back to base uninjured. After September 15, the Germans ceased their daylight attacks, and Earhart and Johnson were able schedule time to meet with RAF brass in London at the end of the month. They were shuffled around by several bureaucrats who finally directed them to Air Marshal Sholto Douglas himself. Douglas was unsympathetic: he told Earhart immediately that he didn't care for Americans, and after she'd made the case for Johnson flying combat missions, he dismissed them with a "No. Get Out."[21] The thoroughly English Johnson had expected nothing less. However, Earhart insisted they go to Fleet Street to try to get the press' attention. A few women reporters indicated they'd try to get something into the newspapers. Again, Johnson was dubious, but followed Earhart's lead. After running around Fleet Street, they said their goodbyes, and Earhart went back to Middle Wallop.[22]

The press did indeed get to work, roundly criticizing Douglas for his decision.[23] The next day, after Earhart flew a sortie against a German raid, Darley informed her that Douglas was angry, and that she'd been ordered to London. He also told her that the other three Americans were being assigned to 71 Squadron, the first of the proposed Eagle Squadrons, but she was not.[24]

The next day, she met with Douglas in London. She opted to stand mute. Finally, Douglas angrily explained that, thanks to pressure from the government, including MP Robbie Robertson, Johnson and other women pilots would be assigned to OTU for combat training. He also decided to assign Earhart to 71 Squadron after all, since every other option would make her a martyr and him a villain. It was exactly what Earhart wanted, but she didn't tell that to Douglas.[25]

The Eagle Squadrons[]

When she arrived at RAF Church Fenton, she realized that Douglas may have indeed been punishing her. The base was 150 miles from London, and planes hadn't arrived yet. She quickly met back up with Tobin, Mamedoff, and Keough, and was welcomed by the CO, Flight Lieutenant Walter Churchill (no relation to Winston Churchill). Earhart saw how harried he was immediately, as he had no answer for when the squadron would receive planes.[26] She wasn't happy when the men of the squadron filled their empty hours with too much drinking an carousing. However, when Churchill privately sought out her advice, she she could only emphasize the importance of getting the squadron planes.[27] After a few weeks, Robbie Robertson, the MP who'd helped several foreigners enter the RAF, including Earhart, and who convinced the RAF to allow women to fly combat missions, was assigned as a liaison to 71 Squadron with the rank of flying officer. Unfortunately, he couldn't deliver planes right away, either.[28]

As RAF Church Fenton was in a colder location than prior bases, Earhart decided to stay in the barracks with curtains sequestering her from the men. One night, an unknown man attempted to assault her in the night. She fought him off, hitting him the face. The next morning she looked for a man with a black eye, but didn't see one. She considered reporting it, but knew that this type of incident was one of the reasons the military refused to allow women in combat, so she kept it to herself.[29]

71 Squadron finally received seven Hurricanes on November 1. A few days later, Earhart received a letter from Amy Johnson, who had passed fighter training and was in a squadron posted near Dover. Concurrently, 71 Squadron moved to RAF Kirton Lindsey. As the men were unimpressed with the town of Kirton Lindsey, and spent their downtime in London as much as possible. Earhart usually stayed at the base.[30] As 1940 passed into 1941, 71 Squadron began patrolling the North Sea. It was not combat, but the changing weather patterns of the area made it dangerous work all the same. Earhart missed combat flying, anyway, and was envious when Amy Johnson sent a letter describing raids on German positions in France.[31] She settled into a sort of malaise. Walter Churchill was reassigned. American flyer William Taylor took over, and imposed more discipline on the squadron, much to the annoyance of several pilots.[32]

Some of that malaise was punctured in February, 1941 when Shorty Keough dove into a cloudbank, and likely plunged into the sea.[33] Earhart, Tobin, and Mamedoff were hit the hardest. For once, Earhart got drunk with the rest of the men. During the course of the night, Earhart and Mamedoff wound up making love, despite Mamedoff's new fiancée, Penny Craven. Both knew this would be a one-time event, based on the unique emotional loss of Keough.[34] A few days later, Earhart suffered another tragedy when she was informed that Amy Johnson had been shot down over France, and was presumed dead. Earhart felt a tremendous amount of guilt, as she'd pushed Johnson towards being a fighter pilot.[35]

71 Squadron moved to Martlesham Heath in April, 1941, and began flying combat missions again. They moved to North Weald in July, and were upgraded to Spitfire Vs. Some of the men (including the person Earhart believed attempted to assault her) moved to 121 Squadron, the second Eagle Squadron.[36] Not long after, 71 Squadron began making raids on France, known as "Rhubarb Raids". Hitler's decision to attack the Soviet Union required a shift of airpower from France to the east, which made raids somewhat easier. Nonetheless, Taylor warned his pilots against being "heroes" unless they had no choice.[37] A few days later, Earhart and Tobin completed a successful "Rhubarb".[38]

In August, Mamedoff became the first American promoted to flight officer, and was transferred to the 133 Squadron, the third Eagle Squadron. While he accepted Earhart's congratulations, he acknowledged she should have been the one who received the promotion.[39] A few weeks later, Mamedoff and Penny were married in nearby Epping. Earhart attended, and met Penny in person. Penny was quite effusive in her praise of Earhart, which Earhart accepted in good humor.[40]

Now it was just Earhart and Tobin in 71 Squadron, a fact he commented on in September. Thanks to a mechanical issue with her plane, Earhart was grounded while Tobin flew a Rhubarb. This proved to be a trap: the Germans were able to down several RAF pilots, including Tobin. Earhart mourned as she continued to fly patrols and combat missions.[41] During one patrol, she located a Ju 88, which was flying low enough to avoid radar. She downed it, making her third kill.[42] Tragedy struck again in early October, when Mamedoff was killed when he flew into the side of a hill on a foggy night. Earhart again found herself mourning her friend.[43] At the funeral, the minister read "High Flight" by John Gillespie Magee Jr. Earhart had read the sonnet before, and appreciated its sentiment, if not its artistry.[44]

The USA Enters the War[]

Japan attacked the U.S. base at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The U.S. declared war on Japan on December 8. Germany declared war on the U.S. on December 11. While Earhart was happy the U.S. joined the war to an extent, she also realized that the U.S. military would not allow her to keep flying combat missions, even though she had the experience.[45] On December 13, Earhart saw a newspaper article on the death of John Gillespie Magee Jr. in a mid-air collision, an incident that added to her melancholy.[46] In January, 1942, after leading a Rhubarb on a German base near Calais that destroyed a number of Focke-Wulf 190s, Earhart and returned to base and learned that she'd finally been promoted to flight officer. Lt Taylor acknowledged that if she were a man, she'd have outranked him by now, and that the situation was completely unfair.[47] In summer, 1942, Earhart and other Eagles screened the American film Eagle Squadron, which included Evelyn Venable playing Earhart. None of the actual Eagle pilots liked the movie, Earhart included.[48]

Earhart participated in the Dieppe Raid on August 19, 1942. It was the most action she'd seen since the Battle of Britain. She and the rest of 71 Squadron survived, though she had several close calls before low fuel forced her to return to base. By the end of the day, it was clear that the raid was a failure, and the British withdrew.[49] A few weeks later, Earhart learned that her former CO, Walter Churchill, had been killed over Sicily. While she was saddened by the news, she didn't feel the loss the way she had with her other friends.[50]

As summer wound down, more Americans of the USAAF made their way to London. It was soon clear to Earhart that the U.S. planned to integrated the Eagle Squadrons into the USAAF. However, Earhart had to confront a USAAF major (whose name was either Carruthers or Carmichael) about what the US had planned for her. The major admitted the plan was for Earhart to be promoted to captain, return to the U.S., and tour the country to boost war-bond sales and help recruit women as ferry pilots. The major also made it clear that women were not going to fly combat missions in the USAAF. In response, Earhart announced that she would not be transferring from the RAF.[51] To Earhart's surprise, Air Marshal Sholto Douglas granted her request to stay in the RAF. During their meeting, he admitted that she'd nettled him early on, but she kept her head down and did her job after that, which made her rather unique among the Americans he'd met. He posted her back to 609 Squadron.[52]

Back to 609 Squadron[]

Upon returning to 609 Squadron (now located at RAF Biggin Hill), she met up with David Crook, another pilot, like her, who'd served in the Battle of Britain. She reported to the new CO, Roland Prosper Beamont, who was pleased to have her. He arranged a tent for her, as well as her own Typhoon. In early 1943, she made her fifth kill, an FW-190, and was officially an "ace", to the great delight of the squadron.[53]

Throughout 1943, it looked the war was going the Allies' way. However, the RAF still engaged in cross-channel raids. During one of these raids, Earhart was flying as Crook's wingman. They attacked a German train. However, the train had an anti-aircraft gun. Earhart's plane was hit. She wasn't sure if Crook got away before she hit the ground.[54]

References[]

  1. ↑ Or Even Eagle Flew, pgs. 1-2, loc. 48-53, ebook.
  2. ↑ Ibid., pgs. 4-7, loc. 73-108.
  3. ↑ Ibid., pgs. 7-12, loc. 108-169.
  4. ↑ Ibid, pgs. 14-15, loc. 184-199.
  5. ↑ Ibid., pg. 17, loc. 223.
  6. ↑ Ibid., pgs. 18-20, loc. 242-261.
  7. ↑ Ibid, pgs. 21-24, loc. 267-304.
  8. ↑ Ibid., pgs. 24-32, loc. 304-398.
  9. ↑ Ibid.,pgs. 34-35, loc. 412-428, ebook.
  10. ↑ Ibid., pg. 35, loc. 428.
  11. ↑ Ibid., pg. 37-40, loc. 449-487.
  12. ↑ Ibid., pg. 42, loc. 492.
  13. ↑ Ibid., pgs. 42-45, loc. 492-508.
  14. ↑ Ibid., pg. Ibid., pg. 45, loc. 526.
  15. ↑ Ibid., pgs. 45-48, loc. 526-565.
  16. ↑ Ibid. pgs. 51-54, loc. 586-620.
  17. ↑ Ibid., pg. 55-57, loc. 641-661.
  18. ↑ Ibid., pgs. 60-61, loc. 681-697.
  19. ↑ Ibid., pg. 63-70, loc. 715-793.
  20. ↑ Ibid. pg. 71-72, loc. 796-881.
  21. ↑ Ibid., pgs. 73-77, loc. 830-870.
  22. ↑ Ibid., pgs. 77-79, loc. 870-890.
  23. ↑ Ibid., pg. 81, loc. 912.
  24. ↑ Ibid., pg. 80, loc. 896.
  25. ↑ Ibid., pgs. 81-83, loc. 912-931.
  26. ↑ Ibid., pg. 83-86, loc. 931-970.
  27. ↑ Ibid., pg. 89, loc. 991.
  28. ↑ Ibid., pg. 93-94, loc. 1024-1040.
  29. ↑ Ibid., pg. 90, loc. 1007.
  30. ↑ Ibid, pg. 94, loc. 1040
  31. ↑ Ibid., pg, 96, loc. 1059.
  32. ↑ Ibid. pg. 99, loc. 1084.
  33. ↑ Ibid.
  34. ↑ Ibid. pgs. 99-102, loc. 1084-1118.
  35. ↑ Ibid., pg. 103-106, loc. 1129-1163.
  36. ↑ Ibid., pg. 106, loc. 1163.
  37. ↑ Ibid, pg. 107, loc. 1183.
  38. ↑ Ibid., pg. 109, loc. 1202.
  39. ↑ Ibid., pgs. 110-111, loc. 1202-1223.
  40. ↑ Ibid., pgs. 113-114, loc. 1234-1250.
  41. ↑ Ibid., pgs. 114-118, loc. 1250-1290.
  42. ↑ Ibid., pg. 121, loc. 1323.
  43. ↑ Ibid., pgs. 124-30 loc. 1362-1409.
  44. ↑ Ibid. pg. 130, loc. 1409.
  45. ↑ Ibid., pg. 130- 133, loc. 1409-1444.
  46. ↑ Ibid., pg. 133, loc. 1444.
  47. ↑ Ibid., pgs. 137-139, loc. 1495-1514.
  48. ↑ Ibid., pg. 140-141, loc. 1517-1532.
  49. ↑ Ibid., pgs. 143-146, loc. 1553-1590.
  50. ↑ Ibid., pg. 146, loc. 1590.
  51. ↑ Ibid., pgs. 148-151, loc. 1604-1639.
  52. ↑ Ibid., pg. 153-156, loc. 1660-1698.
  53. ↑ Ibid., pgs. 157-163, loc. 1704-1778.
  54. ↑ Ibid. pgs. 165-168, loc. 1791-1826.
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