Disappearance Of Amelia

Earhart

Letter to the Editor T SHOULD like to correct some errors A in your article in the July issue regarding the disappearance of Amelia Earhart on her flight from Lae to How land Island.

The plane was heard only five times on the while flight from New Guinea to Howland Island, where the U.S. Coast guard Cutter Itasca was stationed with fuel, oil and spares.

The navigator did not answer repeated requests for his position and speed, and the only complete message sent was that they had half an hour’s supply of fuel, no land in sight, and an estimated posi tion of 281 miles northwest of Howland.

Nothing more was heard by any ship, least of all by the H.M.S. Achilles . which was quite some distance south.

At the time when the plane last heard the U.S. freighter Golden Bear was the closest to the position given, the British freighter Moorhy was north, and the Itasca south.

Some 36 hours elapsed before any ship was asked to search the area.

The Moorhy and Itasca began a search;

but, as the Achilles was very short of oil, she was unable to join in.

The Golden Bear was nearly 400 miles north and running short of fuel and water, owing to having been held up in the Rabaul eruption, and after notifying the Itasca of the position, she maintained her course.

None of the radio stations or ships along the route even knew that a plane was due, otherwise a radio watch would have been set up to intercept her signals.

I am, etc.,

J. W. Faulkner.

M.V. Macdhui, 29/7/37.