Eighty-four years ago, one of America’s most mysterious disappearances occurred in the Pacific Ocean. To this day, the truth of what happened to the famous aviator Amelia Earhart is still unknown.
Amelia Earhart set several flying records and championed the advancement of women in aviation. She became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, and the first person ever to fly solo from Hawaii to the U.S. mainland.
On June 1st, 1937, Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan took off from Oakland, California, on an eastbound flight around the world. This was her second attempt to become the first pilot ever to circumnavigate the globe.
They flew to Miami, then down to South America, across the Atlantic to Africa, then east to India and Southeast Asia.
Tragically, on July 2nd 1937, Earhart’s plane disappeared en route to refuel at Howland Island, a tiny U.S. territory. The aircraft had departed Lae, New Guinea, but lost radio contact with the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Itasca, anchored off the coast of Howland Island.
Many theories abound as to why Earhart’s plane went down. Some historians believe her plane ran out of fuel and crashed into the ocean while searching for Howland Island.
Another research group believes Earhart veered 350 miles southwest of Howland Island, landing around Gardner Island. Since 1988, several expeditions to this island to support a castaway theory have turned up a woman’s shoe and cosmetic jar from the time period, plexiglass that may have come from the aircraft. And, more chilling yet, bones that may have come from a woman’s finger.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt initiated a massive two-week search for Earhart and Noonan a week after the disappearance, but no luck. Sadly, Earhart and Noonan were officially declared lost at sea on July 19th, 1937.
Planning for your retirement and your investments isn’t all that different from mapping out a flight around the globe. Each step must be carefully thought out, and you definitely don’t want to fly solo.
In a sea of financial knowledge, let us be your life raft. Call 513-563-PLAN (7526) or click here to book a 15-minute call.
Regards,
Nikki Earley, CFP®
