Amelia Earhart was an American aviator who was the first female to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She was also the first woman to receive the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross for this accomplishment. Earhart was known as 'Earhart of the Air' due to her pioneering work in aviation. She was a role model for women and a symbol of courage and determination. Earhart tragically disappeared during an attempt to circumnavigate the globe in 1937.