Letter from Amelia Earhart to President Roosevelt Regarding her World Flight

AMELIA EARHART -2- gasoline to reach Tokio. As mine is a land plane, the seaplane facilities at Wake, Guam, etc. are useless. This matter has been discussed in detail by Mr. Putnam with Admiral Cook, who was most interested and friendly Subsequently a detailed description of the project, and request for this assistance, was prepared. It is now on the desk of Admiral Standley, by whom it is being considered. Some new seaplanes are being com- pleted at San Diego for the Navy. They will be ferried in January or February to Honolulu. It is my desire to practise actual refueling operations in the air over San Diego with one of these planes. That plane subsequently from Honolulu would be available for the Midway operation. I gather from Admiral Cook that technically there are no extraordinary difficulties. It is primarily a matter of policy and precedent. In the past the Navy has been so progressive in its pioneering, and so broad-minded in what we might call its "public relations", that I think a project such as this (even involving a mere woman!) may appeal to Navy personnel. Its successful attainment might, I think, win for the Service further popular friendship. I should add the matter of inter- national permissions etc. is being handled very helpfully by the State Department. The flight, by the way, has no commercial implications. The operation of my "flying laboratory" is under the auspices of Purdue University. Like previous flights, I am undertaking this one solely because I want to, and because I feel that women now and then have to do things to show what women can do. Forgive the great length of this letter. I am just leaving for the west on a