Jerrie Mock

Hello! My name is Jerrie Mock, and I want to tell you about my biggest adventure. I was born on November 22nd, 1925, in Newark, Ohio. Ever since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to fly. When I was just seven years old, I got to ride in a real airplane, a big Ford Trimotor. Looking down at the tiny houses and fields from way up high felt like magic! That day, I decided I would be a pilot when I grew up. In 1943, I went to The Ohio State University to study aeronautical engineering, which is the science of building airplanes. I was the only woman in my class, but that didn't stop me from chasing my high-flying dream.

For many years, I was a housewife and a mom, and I loved my family very much. But my dream of flying never went away. One day, my husband, Russell, and I were talking, and I said, 'You know, I'm so bored. I think I'll fly around the world!'. At first, we laughed, but then we thought, why not? I found the perfect plane for the job: a little single-engine Cessna 180 that was already eleven years old. I named her 'The Spirit of Columbus' but I called her 'Charlie' for short. We added extra fuel tanks so I could fly for long distances over the ocean. It was a big, scary idea, but I was ready for the challenge.

On March 19th, 1964, I waved goodbye to my family in Columbus, Ohio, and took off on my big adventure. My little plane, Charlie, and I were on our own. Flying around the world wasn't easy! I flew through powerful storms with lightning flashing all around me. Over the desert, my plane's wings were covered in ice, and over the ocean, my radio antennas froze, so I couldn't talk to anyone on the ground. I had to be brave and figure out how to solve problems all by myself. But I also saw incredible things. I flew over the pyramids in Egypt, landed in bustling cities like Casablanca and Calcutta, and met so many interesting people. Each stop was a new adventure, from fixing my brakes in Saudi Arabia to navigating through unfamiliar skies.

After 29 days, 11 hours, and 59 minutes, I finally saw the familiar sights of my hometown. On April 17th, 1964, I landed Charlie back in Columbus, Ohio. Thousands of people were there cheering for me! I had done it. I had become the first woman to fly solo around the world. It was an amazing feeling. A few weeks later, I flew to Washington, D.C., where President Lyndon B. Johnson gave me a special award, the Federal Aviation Administration's Gold Medal. He said my flight showed that women could do anything they set their minds to. I hoped my journey would inspire other girls and boys to follow their own big dreams.

After my flight, I wrote a book about my adventure called 'Three-Eight Charlie' to share my story with everyone. I continued to fly, but that trip around the world was my greatest journey. My trusty plane, 'The Spirit of Columbus,' is now safe and sound in the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, where people can see the little plane that flew all the way around the globe. I lived a long and happy life filled with adventure. I lived to be 88 years old and passed away in 2014. People remember me as 'the flying housewife,' and I hope my story reminds you that no matter who you are, you have the power to do something incredible.