Aircraft History
Built by Lockheed at Burbank, California. Lockheed constructors number 1055. Registered NR16020. One of 15 Model 10-E's produced, Earhart's was designated Lockheed "Electra" Model 10E Special, powered by Pratt & Whitney "Wasp" R-1340 S3H1 and were rated at 550 hp.

Pilot Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan departed Oakland Airfield, California on May 20, 1937, in their second attempt to fly around the world.

Mission History
On July 2, 1937 took off from Lae Airfield bound for Kamakaiwi Airfield on Howland Island, but never arrived.

Search
Two hours after Coast Guard radio operators lost contact with the aircraft, US Coat Guard cutter Itasca began searching to the north and northwest of Howland Island and continued sweeping that area for the next week without result. The U.S. Navy joined the search which eventually involved the battleship USS Colorado, the seaplane tender USS Swan, and the aircraft carrier USS Lexington accompanied by three destroyers, USS Cushing, Lamson and Drayton.

The Japanese oceanographic survey ship Koshu did some searching in the Marshall Islands. Some sources falsely claimed that Kamoi also participated in her search. This ship was briefly ordered, but the order was canceled and the never participated in any search nor was it in area.

The official U.S. search for Earhart was abandoned on July 18, 1937 with no trace of the aircraft or crew having been found. The cost of the search was estimated by the press to be $4 million dollars and the effort was touted as the largest search and rescue operation ever mounted up to that time. In truth, the actual cost of the search in excess of routine fleet operations was never officially calculated, bur the 1927 search for French transatlantic fliers Charles Nungesser and Francois Coli involved more ships for a greater time over a larger area. Earhart, however, remains one of the most famous unsolved aircraft disappearances in the world.

Memorials
Earhart was officially declared "legally dead" on January 5, 1939. Noonan was officially declared dead on June 20, 1938. At Lae Airfield on July 2, 1987, an Amelia Earhart Memorial was dedicated near the runway, donated by Air Niugini.

Amela Earhart - Pacific War Myths
Earhart's loss has spawned many myths, urban legends and unsupported claims about her fate. During World War II, the Pacific War spawned many myths about Earhart. None are true or substantiated.

References
Paradise Magazine "Amelia Earhart Remembered" by Bruce Hoy No. 63, July - August 1984
Flightpath Magazine "Amelia Earhart Remembered" by Bruce Hoy, Volume 4 No. 3
Lockheed - Model 10 Electra
TIGHAR - The Earhart Project
Amela Earhart - Pacific War Myths
Thanks to Ric Gellespie for additional information

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Last Updated
November 2, 2009

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