Jerrie Mock

Hello, my name is Jerrie Mock, and I want to tell you the story of how a girl from Ohio became the first woman to fly a plane all by herself around the world. My adventure began long before I ever sat in a cockpit. I was born on November 22nd, 1925, in Newark, Ohio. The world was a different place then, but the sky has always been the same, full of wonder and possibility. When I was just 7 years old, I took my very first ride in an airplane. As we lifted off the ground, I looked down at the tiny houses and cars, and I felt a sense of freedom I had never known. In that moment, I knew I belonged in the sky. My fascination wasn't just with flying, but with the mechanics of it all.

As I grew up, my passion for flying only got stronger. I wanted to understand everything about how these magnificent machines worked. In 1943, during a time when our country was focused on the events of World War II, I decided to study aeronautical engineering at The Ohio State University. It was highly unusual for a woman to be in that program, and I was the only one in my class. I didn't let that discourage me. Instead, it fueled my determination to learn everything I could about the science of flight, from the shape of the wings to the power of the engine.

For many years, my life was filled with the happy routines of being a wife and a mother to my three children. I loved my family, but deep down, the dream of adventure was still calling to me. One day, while looking at a globe and tracing the continents with my finger, a thought popped into my head: 'Why don't I fly around it?' The idea sounded crazy at first, but it also sounded like the most exciting thing I could possibly do. My husband, Russell, was very supportive of my dream, and together we began to plan this incredible journey. Getting my pilot's license was the first step, and I spent hundreds of hours practicing to become a skilled and confident pilot.

We bought a used, 11-year-old single-engine plane, a Cessna 180. She wasn't new or fancy, but she was sturdy and reliable. I named her 'The Spirit of Columbus' in honor of my home state, but I fondly called her 'Charlie,' which came from the last letter of her official call sign, N1538C. It's important to know that I didn't set out to break a record or become famous. At the time, I was a homemaker who felt bored and wanted to see the world in a way no one else had. This trip was something I needed to do just for me.

On March 19th, 1964, I waved goodbye to my family in Columbus, Ohio, and took off on the biggest adventure of my life. I was flying east, all alone, with only my maps, my instruments, and my courage. The journey was filled with incredible sights and serious challenges that tested my limits as a pilot and a person. I flew over the vast, blue Atlantic Ocean, crossed the hot sands of Saudi Arabia where I had to make a tricky landing in a sandstorm, and navigated the seemingly endless expanse of the Pacific. At times, the flight was dangerous. My radio failed while I was over the ocean, leaving me completely alone, and ice formed on my wings, making the plane heavy and difficult to control.

I wasn't just battling the weather and mechanical issues; I was also in an unofficial 'race.' Another brave woman, Joan Merriam Smith, had started her own flight around the world from a different direction just before I did. The newspapers loved the story of two women racing across the globe, but I tried not to think about it. I just focused on my own flight plan, taking it one stop at a time. After 29 days of perseverance, on April 17th, 1964, I saw the familiar landscape of Columbus, Ohio, below me. A huge crowd was waiting, and as I landed 'Charlie,' I realized I had actually done it. I was the first woman to fly solo around the globe.

Suddenly, everyone knew my name. The newspapers and magazines called me 'The Flying Housewife,' a nickname that highlighted how unexpected my accomplishment was to many people. I was celebrated everywhere I went, a symbol of what an ordinary person could do. A few weeks after I landed, I was invited to the White House. It was a surreal experience to stand in the Rose Garden as President Lyndon B. Johnson presented me with the Federal Aviation Administration's Gold Medal for Exceptional Service. It was a tremendous honor that recognized the skill and determination my flight required.

People often asked me if I was scared during my journey, and I always told them the truth: of course I was at times. But I also told them that being brave doesn't mean you aren't afraid. It means you feel the fear and you do it anyway. I wanted my story to show people, especially young girls, that you don't have to be a superhero or a famous celebrity to do something amazing. You just need a dream that you believe in, a good plan to follow, and the courage to take that first step.

After my flight, I wanted to share my story with everyone, so I wrote a book about my journey called 'Three-Eight Charlie,' after my plane's call sign. My beloved plane, 'The Spirit of Columbus,' was given a special home at the National Air and Space Museum, where people can still see it today and imagine the journey it took. I lived a full and exciting life, filled with memories of the world from above. I was 88 years old when my journey on Earth came to an end. My story is a reminder that adventure can be found in the most unexpected places and that an ordinary person can achieve extraordinary things. All you have to do is look up at the sky and dare to dream.