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Last Updated on February 26, 2021 by Natalie

As I’ve mentioned, we aren’t able to travel right now. I’ve used that time wisely by googling “the most interesting things about Columbus, Ohio” and I found out the first woman fly around the world solo (and finish) is from Ohio! Who is she and when did it happen?

We All Know Amelia Earhart, But Who is Jerrie Mock?

In my search for interesting things about Columbus, I discovered Geraldine Fredritz Mock (aka Jerrie Mock). Who exactly is she?

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The “Flying Housewife”

While Americans remember Amelia Earhart, Jerrie Mock isn’t at all famous. It’s crazy that she’s unknown even though she is the first woman to fly solo around the world and finish her journey! She isn’t known in Columbus, either. She left from Columbus, Ohio in a Cessna called “Spirit of Columbus.” She began the journey on March 19, 1964. She completed it on April 17, 1964, also in Columbus. The birthplace of aviation delivers again.

Want to read even more about Jerrie Mock? Click here to buy Three-Eight Charlie: 1st Woman to Fly Solo Around the World.

The Flying competition between Jerrie Mock and Joan Merriam Smith

Another woman was attempting to do the same thing at the same time. Her name was Joan Merriam Smith and she left from San Francisco, California two days earlier. Smith was following Earhart’s path. Though the ladies weren’t actually competing with one another, the media developed it into a competition (as the media does). Of course, upon learning about Smith’s quest, Mock did move up her departure date by 2 weeks, so maybe there was a little something to it.

Public domain photo of Jerrie Mock.

Winner, winner, chicken dinner… err. Statue in an Airport

Ultimately, Mock was the “winner.” She returned to Ohio’s capitol city on April 17, 1964. Surprisingly, Mock isn’t much of a celebrity in Columbus, though there is a statue of her at the Columbus airport. Her birthplace, Newark, Ohio, also celebrates her accomplishments with a bronze statue outside The Works museum. (Source and source. ).

More About Jerrie Mock

Jerrie Mock was born in Newark, Ohio on November 22, 1925. At a young age, she realized she loved planes. This prompted her to take an engineering course in high school and determined that flying was her passion. Of course, she was the only female in class. She graduated from Newark High School in 1943 and attended Ohio State University until she wed her husband in 1945.

After completing her flight around the world, she did write a book which is  available on kindle.

Jerrie Mock died on September 30, 2014 in Florida.

Jerrie Mock is virtually unknown, even with such an amazing accomplishment under her belt

Jerri Mock and her accomplishments were an amazing discovery. I don’t know why Jerrie Mock isn’t a household name, given she was the first woman to fly solo around the world and finish. I suppose the reality can’t compete with the mystery of Amelia Earhart’s story.

What are fun facts about your own town? Are there are any underrated people who should be celebrities that hail from your home town?

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