In 1936, Amelia Earhart, one of the most famous of all aviators, landed her Lockheed Electra at Bendix Field in South Bend. Only a few months later, Earhart disappeared while flying over the Pacific Ocean during her ill-fated attempt to fly around the world. Standing next to Earhart in this photograph is Herb Sharlock, who at the time was the public relations director for Bendix Corporation. Construction of what was is today South Bend International Airport began in 1929 by local industrialist Vincent Bendix, founder of the Bendix Aviation Corporation. In 1933, Bendix officially christened the newly-constructed airport as Bendix Municipal Airport, also referred to as Bendix Field. Donated by P.R. Leatherwood for Bendix Corp.