Aviation pioneer, feminist, author, fashion designer… Amelia Earhart was ahead of her time and larger than life.
Seventy-five years after her plane vanished over the Pacific, Amelia’s legend keeps growing. Turns out that New Jersey was a big part of her saga. Newark Airport was like a second home for the slender aviatrix, according to our former Star-Ledger colleague, Guy Sterling.
In a fascinating podcast for WBGO-FM, Guy traces local highlights of Amelia’s life . . . on the anniversary of her presumed death.
We say presumed because it was rumored that Amelia actually turned back and settled in the Garden State. Guy has that base covered, too.
Wonder if we ever will get to the bottom of one of the 20th century’s greatest mysteries? If technology could find the Titanic, perhaps Amelia’s Lockheed Electra someday will be a museum exhibit…
Well, not quite New Jersey:
Amelia’s Lockheed Electra was within 75 miles of her target Howland Island when her radio cut out. Chief Radioman Leo Bellarts said: “Her voice was loud and clear; sounded frantic on her last transmission. Then it cut off.”
Nikumaroro is 350 miles south-east of Howland and at a right angle to her flight path — and she didn’t have charts for those islands.
Airman Richard Beckham from the USS Colorado, flew over Nikumaroro (Gardner) seven days later and said: “We altered course to Gardner Island … we always went low over the islands at 100 feet … we couldn’t see anyone, and we always scanned the beaches.”
The US sent nine ships, 66 aircraft, and well over 3,000 sailors and airmen who covered well over 250,000 sq. miles of open sea and every island within a 650 mile radius of Howland.
Taken from, The Hunt For Amelia Earhart
Douglas Westfall, historic publisher, Specialbooks.com