VANISHINGS: Amelia Earhart
Pioneer Of The Skies
Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly solo over the Atlantic Ocean in 1932.
In late 1935, Earhart started planning for what she called "The one last big trip." Her plane was the Lockheed Electra, a twin-engine aircraft and one of the most advanced of its time. Her navigator was Frederick Noonan, who had previously worked with the PanAmerican Pacific Clipper.
The trip originally was planned to fly from California to Florida, and then around the world. But a failed take-off attempt, which severely damaged the plane, a second flight was scheduled.
On 21st May 1937, Earhart set off from Los Angeles and headed for Lae in New Guinea. However, she soon ran into trouble. At 3.45am on 3 July she radioed a brief message: "Earhart. Overcast."
There followed a series of brief calls from the aviatrix, asking for bearings and saying her fuel was running very low. The last message came at 8.45am: "We are on line of position 156-157, will repeat message… we are running north and south."
Nothing was heard from Earhart again. A search party went to find her but no trace of Earhart, Noonan or the plane was ever found.
Earhart knew flying was extremely dangerous in the early part of the 20th century. In one of her last notes, she wrote: "Please know I am quite aware of the hazards... I want to do it because I want to do it. Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail their failure must be but a challenge to others."
What Happened?
Crashed in the sea
There’s no conclusive evidence of the plane or the bodies. However, the islands of the South Pacific are littered with plane wreckage.
Interned by the Japanese
One theory suggests that Eahart and Noonan were US government spies. If the two pilots managed to land on an island, they may have been captured. South Sea Islanders who were questioned said a male and female pilot were in imprisoned in Saipan for years.