“It was a pleasure to have as our guest for a weekend Amelia Earhart,” J.E. Thompson wrote on his deathbed to his son, William Boner Thompson. “She had made her plans to fly around the world and gave us a talk about her flying experiences in the past as well as what she expected to do on her trip. Her story got me all interested in going with her and I would have gone if I had been invited. In answer to my suggestion that she take me as a passenger, she asked me if I was an aviator. My answer was no. Her next question was “Are you a gas engine engineer?” My answer was no. Her next question was “Are you a navigator?” Still my answer was no. She looked at me with a smile and said, “My answer is no.”
Dad
P.S. I have often wished that I could see that smile again.