Amelia Earhart disappeared July 2, 1937. Earhart was an aviator and pioneer. She became the first woman to win the Distinguished Flying Cross after being the first woman to solo across the Atlantic. Earhart worked to inspire and help women interested in flying careers and formed the Ninety-Nines, an organization for female pilots. She disappeared over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to circumnavigate the world. Her mysterious disappearance has been a source of speculation and conspiracy theories since 1937. However, Earhart probably ran out of fuel and ditched either in the ocean or on an island and perished.
On March 17, 1937, Earhart’s first attempt to circumnavigate the world did not get far. After traveling from California to Hawaii, her plane experienced mechanical problems and was grounded. The plane ended up severely damaged and had to be transported back to California for repairs. Earhart made her final attempt two months later.
Quietly, Earhart and crew member Fred Noonan left California for Miami beginning her second attempt at circumnavigation. On June 1, she took off from Miami and traveled 22,000 miles before arriving in New Guinea. Earhart had 7,000 Pacific Ocean miles left. On July 2, the pair left Lae, New Guinea for Howland Island.
Earhart experienced technical difficulties on the Howland Island approach. There are several theories about what happened ranging from a damaged antenna to confusion on Earhart’s part. There is no way to know for certain. Whatever happened, Earhart and Noonan missed the island and began to run low on fuel. Soon after, the plane crashed.
Amelia Earhart tried to inform rescuers of her location. Transmissions continued for a few days after they ditched. However, rescuers could not make use of them to find the downed plane. The U.S. Navy joined the search, but turned up nothing. There was some evidence of a crash on Gardner Island, but since the island was considered uninhabited, it was discounted. Instead, the navy focused on the open ocean. After the official search ended, Earhart’s husband, George Putnam, continued the search on his own. Eventually, he gave up and had her declared dead in 1939.
Following her disappearance, several conspiracy theories emerged. Some claimed Earhart and Noonan were American spies captured and executed by the Japanese. Others believe the Japanese captured the aviators and murdered them, but they were not spies. One bizarre theory claims she returned to America and lived under an assumed name. Still another, popular after World War II, argued Earhart was the infamous Japanese propagandist, Tokyo Rose. There is no evidence to support any of these claims.
For years, most researchers believed the plane ditched in the ocean. However, recent examinations of Gardner Island have turned up intriguing evidence. For example, a skeleton of a white woman was found in 1940. Unfortunately, it has disappeared. Additionally, makeshift tools, Plexiglas, a zipper, the heel from a woman’s boot in Earhart’s size, and an aluminum panel have been found. Although nothing placing Earhart on the island directly has been uncovered, the artifacts are tantalizing.
What happened to Amelia Earhart will remain a mystery until her remains are found and identified. Until then, there is only speculation. The Gardner Island finds provide circumstantial evidence that point to a crash and subsequent attempts at survival. Unfortunately, the skeletal remains found by the British have been lost. Whatever happened, Earhart was a skilled pilot and inspiration to men and women aviators everywhere. Like John F. Kennedy, Amelia Earhart should be remembered for what she accomplished and not how she died.
Comments
Mr. Keko, While I enjoyed your article, I found two vital things missing. Mira Nair hits on them at the last portions of the movie, but doesn't draw any implications. First there was the error made by the seaman on the Itaska who left the direction finding device on all night and let the battery run down. So, no poss. for that highly useful tactic that aviators had used from the earliest days. Then, it turns out that husband George Putnam had removed the "Morse box" from the plane b/c as he said in the film "it was too heavy". Every aviator and ship knew that voice often fails in adverse conditions, but Morse goes through. Only turn to the Titanic and the Carpathia. The Itasca had working Morse equipment and used it, to no avail-no receiver.
I believe reporters like you might try shifting the cause from Amelia and more to her ground crew and even Putnam whose high control needs and domineering ways might well have removed the vital link that would have saved his wife's life.
Want to really know what happened to Amelia-Francis Powers-Earhart? Read Fred Goerner's The Search for Amelia Earhart. No speculation. Pure research by a reputable journalist. (1966 Book Club Edition) Doubleday & Co. She crash-landed in the Marshall Islands (Japanese mandated & extremely sensitive), was taken to Saipan, where she was probably murdered and for sure died.
shit
sorry dude got cuzins and they mess stuff up but i loved ur arcticle it was great
Mr. Keko,You should indeed write more.
shut your face
Yes indeed it appears the Amelia Earhart ran out of fuel and crashed landed somewhere in the Pacific around Howland Island. What happened before and after that is the mystery! Researcher Fred Goerner spent many years researching the accident. On page 315 of his 1966 book he quotes Admiral Nimitz US Navy "I want to tell you Earhart and her navigator did go down in the Marshalls and were picked up by the Japanese." He also writes on page 272 "Admiral Nimitz wants you to continue, and he says you're onto something that will stagger your imagination". Why has this mystery gone on for so long? Were Earhart and Noonan flying over Japanese territory taking photographs of Navy installations on the islands? Were they not where they were saying they were? Who knows? Answer: The American and Japanese governments know! Why are they silent? Michael_S_Cranmer@hotmail.com
A.E has enough fuel an board to make it to gardner island. The range between gardner and howland island is small enough to has (faillure in this case) commucation in the postware era. In that time there were not so many plane's in that area as off today. Gardner island had till after W.O.2 Never see a white female.Q is how many planes lost in that erea in those years ? How maney white female's where "exploring" that area in that time. And by the way my uncle was one of the guy's who see the female body-skelet and burry it between the coconut trees on gardner island in 1940. According to wracked pieces that was found the plane is not on the island but in the lagoon. And to the fact that she try to give her positions for several days means that she was not dying in the crash or attempt landing on the island that she maybe take by mistaken for howland island.
That's to bad no one know's what actually happened to Amelia Earhart
Amelia is my idol. :)
i love amilia and i am so sorry of what happend to her thanks for the info
Great article... very thoroughly researched.
There are several speculations but nobody knows eactly what hapenned. The only truth is that Amelia was a real and amazing pilot who wanted every woman in the world be brave and do things that any woman would not consider to do in that time.
amelia earheart is awsome
I THINK AMELIA EARHART DOESNT HAVE A REASON TO BE FAMOUS BEACAUSE SHE WAS JUST THE FIRST LADY TO FLY ACROSS THE UNITED STATES
she waz one tuff chick she is koooll
grat article
I agree. Amelia SHOULD be remembered for what she did and not how she died. She was a very skilled, intelligent, women and inspired people everywhere. Amelia Earhart will always be remembered no matter what.
nice artical.T00 bad nobody knows what happend.
you know amelia earheart is a great person who has inspired many people and hopefully someone will figure out what really did happen to her.
Amelia is my insperation she gives me a lot of confidents!
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnooooooooooooooo
i think amelia mary earhart maybe had a problem with the helicopter and maybe it was too hard to control it and maybe she didn't die maybe someone helped her
banana
We can go on and on and on for as long as we don't have any conclusive evidence. It is A GREAT mystery, but it is 73yr already. Let technology leap a few more years and maybe we will have Robotics that can scan the bottom of the Pacific!
ummm?? ohkay.
The story of the bermuda triangle and Amelia Earharts story is really inspiring. I hope to one day uncover the myths by actually sailing the bermuda triangle. It would be an amazing experience and even if it means death, atleast I will have seen it for myself. Amelia is an inspiration, although I dont believe that they will find any trace of her body after 73 years :(
To liliana:Amelia Earhart was also the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean alone!she was sooo brave!
shut up no one cares
no one cares
why r u so stupid
The character of Amelia is joy to those who remember Her for her form. She is and was an inspiration to those not of her form then and now. The truth is lost to history known and may be lost to unknown history with time.
If in fact the truth was hidden then, let us remember Her for the knowing of truth that we know She did. Revelations known to us now can subject Her form to One whom might not want her to be known any other way.
I joy to know such a woman whom gave me strength, joy, happiness.
Thank you Amelia for knowing you. You have a place in my heart. Time with One heals the broken threads with placement in our hearts with new time to know new joy, and erase the old.
Great article. One day maybe we'll find out and then we'll know. That'll b AWESOME! My brother went to Bermuda on his HONEYMOON!
Amelia lives y will live for ever . What a great woman !!!!
i have big balls
thanks for all the comments I'll try to back as soon a i can clear the air :D
amelia was really brave I lOVE her story love her
THNK SHE WAS REALLY GOOD
i think they should search that island and dig in the ground and look even more. Amelia might have not of died if they checked the place they thought would be a negative. You should always look in the places you belive will not be.
Actually, Amelia was sent on a spy mission to check out truk lagoon,because of the Japinese navy base build up.Before her flight, the aircraft was sent to March Army Air Field Riverside Ca.to be fitted with a photo equiptment for 2 weeks. She was good friends with FDR. Her aircraft had enough fuel to swing by and return to her normal flight path and to howland island.
Amelia Earhart ran out of gas near Howland Island and her and her navigator Fred Noonan got picked up by a boat. They were held captive and many travelers seen photos of Amelia and Fred. Once she was let go, they worked for the U.S government and became spies. Finally 6 years they were allowed to go back to thier regular lives but Amelia decided to hide her identidy by changing her name to Irene Bolam. Thats the true story of what really happened to Amelia!
i have studied her for a while now and cant figure it out!but i do know she was an brave and strong woman!<3
im school now its good the articale
I would like to add something! I work with a women who is in her 50's. Now I make no claim but I do believe there may me some distant link BUT this women I work with looks IDENTICAL to Ameila Earhart at 55 yrs of age. Email to get a pic. I have never been MORE serious about anything, they look identical. Wonder if she has ever been to Japan eh??? lol jon_mckillop@hotmail.com
I.... LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLOVE her evan Thoght we don't no what happened to her
I do to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i love amelia earhart very very much ...im so sad for what happened to her. thanks Mr.keko for that informatoin.
You're welcome!
You know with so many making money off of offering their 'theories' as to what happened to this poor woman and selling books I understand that it's never gonna' go away. The sad truth of the matter is the poor lass was captured by the Japanese and executed as a spy whether she was spying or not (which I believe she was). The sad truth has been told for there are to many witnesses who were privy too and SAW what happened. It's not the romantic ending a lot of people want, but it was wartime and terrible things happen during wars. A lot of people wanted to believe that Anastasia had managed to escape with her life for the tragedy of a whole family being murdered royal or not is to much for many to bear. Unfortunately that's what happened and there was a woman for a long time who told a convincing story and made a lot of money for a little while milking public sympathy. DNA tests confirmed she was a fake and they FOUND the graves where they buried the unfortunate family. I would hope the public would stop feeding these greedy opportunists and face the facts that the woman met her end in front of a firing squad and quit unduly enriching these sycophants at the expence of this poor woman's legacy.
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