One of the greatest mysteries of the pioneering era of aviation is coming to Croydon Airport.

Missing and missed: Amelia Earhart vanished on a flight in July 1937

Historian and researcher Chris Denchfield will be giving an illustrated talk exploring the life and mysterious disappearance of Amelia Earhart, the event being held at Historic Croydon Airport on Wednesday September 30 at 7pm.

Amelia Earhart: 20 Minutes and 40 Miles offers audiences a fresh look at one of history’s greatest unsolved aviation mysteries through years of dedicated research, rare artefacts and a unique recreation of Earhart’s final flight.

Best known as the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, Earhart inspired generations through her courage, determination and pioneering spirit.

Yet despite decades of investigation, the circumstances surrounding her disappearance over the Pacific Ocean in July 1937 remain one of aviation’s greatest enigmas.

During the evening, Denchfield will examine Earhart’s remarkable achievements before exploring the events leading up to her final flight. As part of his research, Denchfield recreated Earhart’s final journey using a state-of-the-art flight simulator, flying her intended navigation route in real time to better understand the challenges she faced.

Visitors will also have the rare opportunity to see a genuine piece of Amelia Earhart’s Lockheed Vega – the aircraft she flew during her pioneering solo transatlantic flight – alongside fascinating insights gathered from Denchfield’s years of research alongside aviation historians and organisations investigating the disappearance.

Although Earhart has no confirmed connection with Croydon Airport itself, she was no stranger to Britain’s aviation community. During her 1928 visit to Britain, American newspapers reported that she had flown from “Croydon Field”, although later research suggests this almost certainly referred to nearby Stag Lane Aerodrome, which many American journalists confused with Britain’s best-known airport.

Earhart also maintained friendships with several leading British aviators, including Amy Johnson, whose own remarkable career and tragic death have become an important part of Croydon Airport’s story.

Croydon Airport visitor centre manager, Micha Nestor, said: “Chris Denchfield’s talk combines his meticulous research, rare artefacts and engaging storytelling to bring Earhart’s extraordinary achievements to life. We’re delighted to welcome him to Historic Croydon Airport for what promises to be a revealing evening.”

Tickets are £5 for Friends of Historic Croydon Airport and £7.50 for non-members, with proceeds supporting the work of the Historic Croydon Airport Trust and London Air Ambulance.

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