5 Amelia Earhart Facts You Need to Know as Files on Her Mystery Face Release

President Donald Trump recently called for the declassification and public release of all the government documents centered around Amelia Earhart and her mysterious disappearance, saying that over the years, it “has captivated millions.” It’s unclear what exactly the documents contain or when they will be released, but before they are, it’s important to be caught up on the facts. Below, we have rounded up the five best Amelia Earhart facts to showcase just how brave, strong, independent and ahead of her time she really was. We also found out what the latest update surrounding her disappearance is. Fly on down for more. 

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1. Amelia Earhart never went to college 

Born on July 14, 1897, Earhart grew up fascinated by the workforce, specifically in jobs that were dominated by men. She also loved planes, but never actually flew one until she was in her 20s. Before that, she studied at Ogontz School in Rydal, Pennsylvania, but dropped out. 

Following that, she went on to become a nurse in 1917 and remained in that position until 1919, after World War I had ended. She then tried to attend Columbia University, but dropped out to spend more time with her parents. 

2. She had pneumonia and maxillary sinusitis

While working as a nurse, Earhart was hospitalized for pneumonia and maxillary sinusitis, and even had to have surgery to try to wash out the affected sinus. It was unsuccessful and Earhart spent a year of her life suffering from headaches, as well as other side effects. 

It’s believed that following this, Earhart did suffer from chronic sinusitis for the rest of her life, resulting in her having to sometimes wear a bandage on her face to cover a drainage tube. It’s also believed that this disease did impact her flying from time to time, but it’s unclear how. 

3. Amelia Earhart was married but never had children

In 1931, Earhart married George Palmer Putnam, who worked as an author and publisher. At the beginning, Putnam reportedly was very supportive of Earhart’s flying career, but as time went on, he apparently began seeing her as more of an investment than a wife. In fact, according to Laurie Gwen Shapiro, an author who wrote a book on their relationship entitled The Aviator and the Showman: Amelia Earhart, George Putnam, and the Marriage that Made an American Icon, Putnam was “a gentleman racist” and a “Machiavellian careerist.”  Even so, the pair did remain married up until Earhart disappeared in July of 1937, but didn’t welcome any children during that time.  

Following her infamous flight, Putnam often spoke very openly about his late wife, and even contributed to the conspiracy theories surrounding her disappearance—some of which are still talked about today. Putnam died in 1950 at age 62. 

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4. She broke several aviation records 

Throughout her time on Earth, Earhart broke and set several different aviation records. In 1922, she broke the record for the highest flight altitude set by a woman. Then in 1930, she broke the women’s speed record. In 1932, she became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. Also in that year, she became the first woman to complete a nonstop flight across the United States. Finally, in 1935, she became the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to the mainland. 

5. Amelia Earhart went missing in July 1937 and has yet to be found

In July 1937, Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, disappeared while trying to circumnavigate the globe. It’s believed that they were trying to make it to Howland Island in the Pacific Ocean, but they never made it there. Historians still have no idea what happened or why the communications on their plane suddenly went out.

Since then, people all over the world have spent millions of dollars trying to find her body and plane, but they haven’t had any luck—until now. 

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In July of this year, Purdue University—which helped fund Earhart’s original flight—announced they were sending a research team to Nikumaroro in Kiribati in November. The expedition comes after they discovered a satellite image in 2015 that they believe showed remnants of her plane. 

“We believe we owe it to Amelia and her legacy at Purdue to fulfill her wishes, if possible, to bring the Electra back to Purdue,” Steve Schultz, Purdue’s general counsel, said in a statement. 

If Amelia Earhart’s story fascinated you, we recommend checking out Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead. It’s a historical fiction novel centered around a female pilot in the 1920s who goes missing.