Chris
Yes, Earhart and Doran, stunning similarities.
I'm wondering why Amelia didn't get a navigator and enter that race and take Mildred Doran along as a passenger. After all, there were $25,000.00 and $10,000.00 involved for 1st and 2nd prizes. It was 1927, she was 30 years old (Doran was 22). But then again, someone had flown from Oakland to Oahu before the "Race" got off. I believe it was Hegenberfer and Maitland, two Navy fliers that did it but Dole didn't give them the prize because they didn't land at Honoluluand they didn't follow the "rules" of the start. AE wasn't interesred in being second.