Flier Lost

Amelia Earhart Disappears In Central Pacific

THE famous American aviatrix, Mrs.

Amelia Earhart Putnam, with Cap tain Noonan as navigator, flying a Lock heed Electra aeroplane, disappeared in the Central Pacific on July 3.

Having flown around the world from U.S.A., west to east, via South America, Africa, India, East Indies, and North Australia (22,000 miles), the flier reached Lae (New Guinea) on June 29.

On Friday, July 2, she left Lae at 10 a.m., carrying eight tons (950 gallons) of fuel, on the longest hop of the flight— -2,600 miles to Rowland Is. That island is north of the Phoenix Group, and a land ing-ground was made there last year by

Pan-American Airways.

She should have made the journey by 3 or 4 a.m. Saturday (17 or 18 hours).

She reported regularly by radiophone.

Then, at 3.28 a.m. she announced: “Can’t make landfall—only 90 minutes gas left.”

Later, the British cruiser Achilles picked up a message, apparently: “Quite down, but radio still working.’’

After that, during Saturday, fragments of radiophone messages that may have come from Mrs. Putnam were picked up, but they meant nothing.

The U.S.A, cutter Itasca put out from Howland Island; the British cruiser Achilles joined in; the U.S.A. battleship Colorado, with three seaplanes, raced down from Hawaii; and the U.S.A. air craft carrier, Lexington, with 62 aero planes, came under forced draught from San Diego. But, although the search continued by sea and air until July 19, not a sign of the fliers was found.

American navy experts think that the p ane missed Howland entirely, and that the last message (about fuel shortage) was sent from a point 350 miles S.S.E. of Howland. This would be right over Canton or Hull Islands, in the Phoenix Group.