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.
