Albert

Albert Bresnik holding photograph he took of Amelia Earhart before her last flight

It was a typical day in Oshkosh, Wisconsin except for the fact it was the opening day of the 1992 EAA AirVenture.  That meant lots of airplanes and large crowds of people from all over the world. This was apparent as I entered the Press Headquarters early that morning.

I had just picked up my press schedule for the day when I noticed a gentleman, short in stature and dressed in typical Southwestern attire.  He stood out in his pastel blue jacket and trousers with an ornate silver and turquoise bolo tie. He wore his matching Stetson cowboy hat decorated with an EAA pin and other assorted memorabilia.  He was being jostled around by other members of the Press with their cumbersome photo bags and gear so I felt it best to offer him some support.  I said, "Hi, I am Don Winkler with the Midwest Flyer Magazine.  Can I help you locate someone?"  He said, "Thanks I am waiting for Paul Poberenzy". I started to tell him Paul was a pretty busy guy right now and then as I gazed away up at the walls, I saw several black and white mounted photographs of Amelia Earhart.  I said "Gosh, look at that, Amelia Earhart photos".  And then he said "Yes, those are mine and I have been asked to bring out the negatives I have stored in my safe ever since her disappearance and take them to the Smithsonian Museum.  My name is Albert Bresnik and I was her personal photographer."

Immediately I asked Albert to come with me and I drove him to the flight line and we went upstairs into the airshow headquarters.  We sat down in an office and I closed the door while he spoke to me for over an hour as I recorded every word of his conversation.

Albert proceeded to tell me about himself.  He was born February 3, 1914 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. During the early '30's, Albert was shooting pictures for Columbia Studios in Hollywood, California as a press photographer.  Such notables as Al Jolson, Clarke Gable and others were his subjects.  He became a close friend of Gable and was deeply admired by him for his professional skills.  Albert said he had the ability to make people feel at ease as he photographed them.  This ability was the reason George P. Putnam, a well known publisher and Amelia's husband, asked Albert to be Amelia's personal photographer.  After working with Amelia and developing a trust, she mentioned she never had a brother and thought they should adopt each other.  Thereafter, she referred to him as her "little brother".

Albert had first seen Amelia flying while photographing the Powder Puff Derby Air Race. This was the first Women's Air Race held in 1929 and was named such by Will Rogers for it's participants.  Amelia had been taught to fly by Neta Snook, an accomplished pilot/flight instructor and one of the first women to challenge the male dominated aviation community.  Albert would photograph them and sell prints for 50 cents each.

After Albert had been photographing Amelia for awhile, he attended a meeting she was holding to inspire young women to become aviators and if not flying, to challenge themselves to accomplish other goals.  Looking around the room she suggested that they form an association.  She then asked how many were in attendance in the room and counted 99.  She said, "We will call ourselves the Ninety-Nines".  Albert recounts, "Later they decided to add me in and I am still the only male inducted."

As I write this story it makes me realize that there is more to it than just Amelia; there is the dedication to a far greater purpose, that of motivating women to pursue their dreams. Both Amelia and Albert dedicated their lives to this cause.  Albert conveyed that message through the images he took of Amelia as she accomplished so many achievements in aviation for female pilots.  Albert said that he and Gabrielle, his wife, felt the presence of Amelia in their home as well as throughout their daily lives after she was gone.  He told me his mission in life after her disappearance was to continue to convey her message as he did public speaking appearances.  They were collaborating on a book to be called "World Flight" documenting her historic flight circumnavigating the globe. 

Albert had planned to accompany Amelia and navigator, Harry Manning on the flight. After a ground looping accident in Hawaii and necessary modifications to the aircraft as a result of the accident, there was no longer room for Albert.  After Manning was called back for duty with the Navy, another change was made when Fred Noonan was substituted as the navigator.

Because of photojournalists like Albert and his historic images of flight, the public became more aware of opportunities for both men and women to pursue this vocation.  

Ironically, a more recent tribute to Amelia was the flight of Astronaut and Marine Lt. Col. Randy Bresnik, Albert's grandson, who took one of Amelia's favorite scarves inside the space ship Atlantis on the flight to the International Space Station.  

In essence and spirit, Amelia completed the last 7,000 miles of her trip around the World via the International Space Station.

If you are interested in seeing images of Amelia photographed by Albert Bresnik, the book The Sound of Wings: The Life of Amelia Earhart by Mary S. Lovell, features many of his photographs.