The day is July 2, 1937, and the world’s first woman to fly across the Pacific solo, Amelia Earhart, goes missing as she attempts to circumnavigate the globe at the equator. Earhart was preparing to land for refueling and for more supplies at the Howland Islands, where the Coast Guard along with the ship Itasca were deployed to aid her in landing. Earhart radioed the ship to inform them that she was low on fuel; but the Itasca could not pinpoint her location nor could she pinpoint theirs, despite the Itasca pumping miles of black smoke into the air. She radioed “one-half hour fuel and no landfall” and later tried to give information on her position.1 Soon after, contact was lost, and Earhart presumably tried to land the Lockheed on the water.2 After this, no news of Earhart emerged, and she was officially declared missing, along with her copilot, Fred Noonan. What happened to Amelia Earhart?
Theories suggest that Earhart crash landed near Nikumaroro, an island near her original destination, Howland Island. It is said that Itasca, the nearby ship sent out by the Coast Guard, was able to pick up her transmissions, which is why it is believed that she was near the Howland Islands. In 1940, the colonial administrator of Howland Islands, Gerald Gallagher, discovered thirteen bones in what seemed to be the remnants of a campfire. The bones were shipped to Fiji to be examined by Physician D.W. Hoodless, who examined the bones and determined that they belonged to a stocky, short man of European descent, which would seem to rule out Earhart and Noonan. After deciding this conclusion, Hoodless discarded the bones, completely eliminating the chance for further examination. However, the International Group for Historical Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR) took Hoodless’s original measurements and found that the bones could have possibly belonged to a tall woman of European descent.3 Earhart was known to be around 5’7 to 5’8. To entertain the bone evidence, TIGHAR Director Ric Gillespie states that the lack of bones could be caused by the island’s coconut crab population. Coconut crabs are known to grow up to three feet long, and can break open coconuts with their claws. The crabs could have possibly carried the remains of bone and flesh to their burrows for feeding.
Along with these bones, a shoe sole was found with writing on it, stating, “Cats Paw Rubber Company USA.” The sole was from the same type of shoe that Earhart was pictured wearing in Indonesia shortly before her disappearance. However, the sole belonged to a size-nine shoe, which would have been too big for Earhart’s feet, disproving the possibility of it being hers. But along with the sole, a sextant, an instrument used to find latitude and longitude, was discovered with the bones and campfire.4 This instrument could have belonged to Earhart, as it was very common for pilots to navigate through longitude and latitude using a sextant. It made sense that Earhart and Noonan could have used the instrument to determine their location after landing. To further this theory, across the island are findings of campfires, along with remains of fish, clams, birds, and turtles. Based on the way the clams were opened and the way the fish were eaten without their heads, it is more plausibly the activity of non-pacific islanders.
A less likely theory suggests that Earhart and Noonan were given orders that if they could not find the Howland Islands, to crash land near the Marshall Islands, which at the time were controlled by Japanese forces. The purpose of this could be so that the US army could move towards the area, claiming that they were “searching for Earhart.” Another claim is that Earhart and Noonan were captured by the Japanese Army and eventually killed.5 Evidence exists that shows that at the time, locals claimed seeing the plane crash on the island. Also, in 1944, an Army Sergeant named Thomas E. Devine claimed that he came across a group of US Marines guarding a hanger containing Earhart’s Electra, on the formerly settled Japanese Island Saipan.
Furthermore, a photo found in the national archives suggests that the photo contains Earhart and Noonan after landing on the Marshall Islands. However, the photo was subsequently found in a Japanese textbook published in 1935.6 Furthermore, experts claim that at the time, Earhart would not have had enough fuel to make it to the Marshall Islands, considering that in her last radio transmission, she claimed to have only seventy-four gallons remaining.
In conclusion, despite theories ranging from survival on islands to alien interference, most enthusiasts speculate Earhart crashed into the ocean, burned up in the crash, and sank to the bottom of the ocean. However, the world will never know what happened to Amelia Earhart unless the aircraft or a body is discovered. For now, the case of Amelia Earhart remains a mystery.
- Women In World History: A Biographical Encyclopedia, 2002, s.v. “Amelia Earhart,” by Doris L. Rich. ↵
- Candace Flemming, Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart (New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2011), 30-36. ↵
- Kristina Killgrove, “The Mysterious Disappearance Of Amelia Earhart’s Skeleton,” Forbes Science Journal 02, no.1 (November 2016): 1-3. ↵
- TIGHAR Project Amelia, “The Sextant Box Mystery,” Earhart Project Research Bulletin 2, no.12 (January 1999): 1-2. ↵
- Johnny Dodd, “Does This Photo Prove Amelia Earhart Survived Her Flight,” Journal Of Human Interest 14, no. 4 (July 2017): 1-2. ↵
- Two Leaf Yakosubi Store, The life line of the sea My figure of the South Sea: South Sea archipelago photo book (Two Leaf Yakko Cloth Store, 1935), 34-35. ↵
83 comments
Brianda Gomez
Before reading this article, I never really knew who Amelia Hart was. I really enjoyed reading this article and learning about the journey of Amelia. It Is amazing how she was the first woman to fly over the pacific in the year on 1937. After her plane went off the radar they have been may theories of what happened to Amelia. Her case remains a mystery.
Erik Shannon
Awe shucks! The Bermuda Triangle has always been a mystery to me that some how keeps fascinating me. It is a tragedy that ships and planes go missing there but it is interesting how it even happens. There have always been theories about Amelia Earhart and I wish I knew more about her and this topic to gather my own assumption or theory. Overall great article.
Dayna Valdez
As much as I’ve heard of Amelia Earhart, this article goes into great detail about the different possibilities of what could have actually occurred. It’s interesting to learn about the different theories they have as to what really happened to her. I think it’s crazy that with different things that they have found, there isn’t an exact explanation as to what really happened to her or where she could have possibly landed.
Eduardo Foster
I have some knowledge before about Amelia Earhart’s case. It is actually very interesting the fact that she disappeared and could never found. Still now in days the case could not be figure out and have been left with a bunch of theories. I would like to know what happen to Amelia Earhart after the radio transmission. Very interesting and excellent article! Keep it up with the good work.
Abigale Carney
This was a very interesting article! I have always been fascinated with the mysterious story of Amelia Earhart. She was such a courageous women, and was brave to take on this long flight all by herself. I really hope she turned out to be fine, but the Bermuda Triangle loses ships and planes all the time so it will not be easy to find evidence. Such a great article!
Sarah Mares
I have always been familiar with the mystery behind Amelia Earhart’s disappearance and it has always fascinated me. This article was short and sweet in getting down to the facts of Amelia Earhart’s unknown whereabouts and the most talked about theories to accompany. I find it so amusing how she was never found and, of course, we can somewhat blame the lack of technology since this was during the 1930’s. I’m not sure what the current status of the investigation on locating Amelia Earhart’s whereabouts, but hopefully a conclusion is reached eventually.
Gabriela Serrato
I have always hoped that one day the answer to what happened to Amelia would be answered. Sadly, as years go by I fear that the answer may never come. I am so glad that I read this article because I was not aware of the possible involvement with the Japanese. There are so many things that could have possibly happened to her and her copilot, one cannot even imagine all of the possibilities. For what she represented was amazing. She was brave and courageous. She is a legend that will live on forever, and it deeply saddens me that she most likely lost her life before she could conquer more.
Andrea Chavez
I had heard before of Amelia Earhart, I had seen her in a scene in the movie about a museum going alive and all. But I had never read about her. It is really sad what happened to her and it kind of makes me mad that in the research the mishandled the case. I do like the theories that come out. I might even create ones on my own.
Troy Leonard
I never knew that Amelia Earhart had gone missing. it caused a great mystery about what happen and the outcome of that is we have all of these theory about what may have happened. in my opinion I think she may have fell into the ocean. its the only one that makes since to me. with the evidence it really dosent support the others but it still something that no one knows
Matthew Rios
It’s always a shame to have situations like this ending up in mystery. Even in recent events, we’ve had planes somehow disappear with no trace. In this day and age, it makes no sense for it to occur without some sort of foul play being in the situation. I don’t think that’s the case for Amelia Earhart. Still sad nonetheless, she is brave for attempting such a feat.