Curious Dragonfly Monthly Science Amelia Earhart WHO IS AMELIA EARHART? Amelia Earhart is known as an aviation pioneer, and the most famous female pilot who ever lived. She was only the 16th woman to be issued a pilot's license. Several notable flights made Earhart a legend. In 1928, Earhart became the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean in an airplane when she accompanied two pilots from Newfoundland to Burry Port, Whales. She was an instant celebrity! During this trip, however, Earhart was simply keeping the log for the other pilots. And so in 1932, she crossed the Atlantic again. This time, she made the trip solo. The experienced aviator left Newfoundland and traveled 12 hours in difficult conditions. Realizing she would not make it to Paris as planned, Earlhart landed in a pasture outside the small village of Culmore, in Londonberry, Northern Ireland. Amelia Earhart made several other notable flights, including a solo trip from Honolulu, Hawaii to Oakland, California. This established her as the first woman to travel both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Earlhart aslo flew from Los Angeles to Mexico City, and then Mexico City to New York. Amelia Earhart set 7 women's speed and distance aviation records in a variety of different aircrafts. Would you have flown by yourself across the ocean in 1937?
CIRCLING THE GLOBE Amelia Earhart's dream was to successfully fly around the globe. This dream would soon end tragically, and forever be known as her final fight. Earhart's journey began on May 20, 1937 when she left from Oakland, California, heading toward Hawaii. Captain Harry Manning acted as her first navigator on this historic flight, and Fred Noonan as her second. The trio experienced problems flying across the Pacific Ocean, but landed safely at the United states Naval field for repairs. After three days, the Lockheed Electra 10E airplane attempted a take-off, but experienced a loss of control and crashed on the runway. It is not known what caused the accident. One theory states a blown tire, but another claims pilot error. After the completion of repairs on the Electra, and receiving additional funding, weather patterns and wind changes altered Earhart's original travel plan. Her new route would take her east. Due to previous first navigatoe Harry Manning's commitments, Fred Noonan would now be the only one accompanying Earhart on her voyage. One June 1st, 1937, Earhart and Noonan took off from Miami, Florida in the direction of Central and South America. From there, they turned east for Africa, crossed the Indian Ocean, and finally landed in Lae, New Guinea, on June 29, 1937. 22,000 miles of Earhart's journey was complete. Only 7,000 miles across the Pacific Oean remained. Did you follow her flight plan across the world? While in New Guinea, Earhart contracted dysentary, and inflammation of the intestines, which lasted several days. While she recuperated, adjustments were made to her aircraft. Extra fuel was stored on the plane, and parachutes were packed away. Radio equipment was adjusted, as well, and shorter wavelength frequencies were left behind.
AMELIA'S FLIGHT PLAN Earhart and Noonan left New Guinea for their next target destination, Howland Island, on July 2, 1937. One claim said that their radio antennae may have been damaged while taking off. Their plan was to use an ancient method of tracking their location called celestial navigation. This meant they would note their location by the position of the sun and stars. However, conditions were overcast, making this difficult. On July 3rd at 7:20 am, Earhart reported their position at 20 miles southwest of Nukumanu Island. At 7:42 am, the USCGC Itasca (a U.S. Coast Guard ship stationed off Howland Island to assist in keeping Earhart's plane on the right route) picked up a message from the aircraft "We must be on you," Was Earharts communication. "but we cannot see you. Fuel is running low. Been unable to reach you by radio. We are flying at 1,000 feet." The Electra's last communication was at 8:43 am. It was marked as questionable. "We are funning north and south." Realizing that the plane must be in trouble and the Itasca had no further contact with Earhart and Noonan, an immediate search began. What do you think happened to Amelia Earhart's plane? THEORIES OF AMELIA'S DISAPPEARANCE Many theories aboud as to what happened to Earhart and Noonan. These include: 1. The plane successfully landed on one of the smaller, uninhabited islands in the area. 2. Earhart purposely crashed into the Pacific Ocean on a suicide run. 3. Before crashing into the ocean, Earhart and Noonan ejected. They perished at sea. 4. The plane was either shot down or ran out of fuel and crash-landed on the Japanese-held Marshall Islands, where Earhart and Noonan were jailed or executed. 5. Earhart guided the plane north on a spy mission for the American goverment, where they photographed and studied the secretive Japanese in the Caroline Islands. 6. Earhart was captured by the Japanese and forced to broadcast to American GI's as 'Tokyo Rose.' Which theory is the most likely? Do you have a theory of your own?
AMELIA EARHART FOUND? Modern forensics continue to research what they consider the most likely final resting place of Amelia Earhart. Artifacts were discovered on the remote island of Nikumaroro (formally known as Gardner Island), located on the southwestern Pacific Republic of Kiribati. TIGHAR - The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery - has continually researched the possibility of Earhart and Noonan's disappearance on Nikumaroro since 1989. Ten expeditions have been made to the South Pacific, and they are currently raising funds for more. ITEMS FOUND ON THE UNINHABITED ISLAND OF NIKUMARORO Archeologists are finding artifacts that support the theory that Earhart survived for a time as a castaway on the island. Custom-Made Aluminum Sheet A scrap of metal found by TIGHAR in 1991 has been verified with a high degree of certainty as belonging to Earhart's Lockheed Electra 10E Freckled Cream Jar Believed to belong to Earhart, the jar was discovered on the southeast end of Nikumaroro, in the Pacific Ocean. Ointment Glass Jar Glass fragments from a jar of St. Joseph Nerve and Bone Family Ointment were discovered during a 2010 expedition. Earhart was believed to carry this tof ointment.
ITEMS FOUND ON THE UNINHABITED ISLAND OF NIKUMARORO Partial Skeleton Found in 1940, the skeleton is consistent with that of a female of European descent. The bones have since been lost. Aluminum Cover Plate A 4.5-inch long metal plate used to cover the auxillary power unit to jump-start aircraft engines was found. Red paint on the plate matches the trim of Earhart's aircraft. Compact Mirror Glass shards believed to be part of a compact mirror carried everywhere with Earhart were also discovered. Parts of a Shoe Sole The sole pieces were from a women's left shoe, and of a style known as a 'butcher oxford.' Bone Fragment DNA testing was completed on a bone fragment to determine if it was a match for Earhart. The results were inconclusive. Rubber Shoe Heel The replacement heel, called a 'cat's paw' was manufactured in the U.S. in the 1930's. What do you think of the discovered artifacts found on the island? Could they belong to Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan?
THE SEARCH FOR THE PLANE TIGHAR's most recent expedition to search for Earhart's plane was completed in 2015. A 14-person team scored the remote South Pacific, but the expedition did not go as expected. Technical issues, bad weather, and a difficult environment plagued the group. A remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) was intended to dive 600 feet underwater just off-shore to investigate an anomaly. However, the ROV malfunctioned and became inoperable. Due to costs, a second, back-up ROV was not on board. At the last minute, TIGHAR was able to deploy a crude camera system to take images of the ocean floor in the area of the anomaly. The expedition's results are still being compiled, analyzed, and evaluated. No information has been released to the public. Do you think researchers will discover pieces of Amelia Earhart's plane?
POSSIBLE Photo OF THE BEVINGTON OBJECT Just three months after the disappearance of Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan, a photo taken by a British Colonial Service Officer shows an object protruding from the water off Nikumaroro. At the time, the photographer dismissed the photo as unimportant, but current studies show the object may have been part of the Lockheed Electra's landing gear sticking out of the water. It is believed that Earhart successfully landed the plane on the island's reef during low tide. When high tide returned, the plane washed over the edge, sinking into deeper waters. If you would have seen anything unusual in the water, would you have investigated? ENGAGING QUESTIONS! 1. 2. 3. 4. Why was it difficult for women to become pilots in the 1920's? How did Amelia impact American Society? Do you think she had an effect on women's rights? Would you have attempted to fly around the world in the 1920's and 1930's? 5. If Earhart and Noonan did survive and landed on Nikumaroro, how long do you think they survived on the island? 6. How do you think Earhart and Noonan survived on the uninhabited island? What would they have eaten or drank? 7. Why do you think they were never discovered? Curious Dragonfly LLC Trina Terrell www.curiousdragonfly.com 303-903-5319