The Radio Line That Ended in Silence

Transcript

1. 01

   At about 8:43 a.m., the plane reported being on line 157-337, running north and south.

2. 02

   On July 2nd, 1937, Earhart and navigator Fred J. Noonan left Lae.

3. 03

   The flight from Lae was headed for Howland Island, about 2,550 miles away.

4. 04

   Their Lockheed Electra carried extra fuel tanks and a two-way radio.

5. 05

   The cutter Itasca waited near Howland to support radio navigation and communication.

6. 06

   The Itasca supported Earhart's radio navigation and communication; KHAQQ was the call sign.

7. 07

   At 6:14 a.m., the plane reported itself 200 miles from Howland.

8. 08

   Over open water, hope can shrink to a voice inside static.

9. 09

   At 7:42 a.m., Earhart reported she could not see the Itasca; fuel was running low.

10. 10

    The crew reported flying at 1,000 feet; Earhart reported being unable to reach Itasca by radio.

11. 11

    Just before 8 a.m., the plane reported circling and requested bearings.

12. 12

    Earhart and Noonan reported receiving cutter signals but could not obtain a minimum bearing.

13. 13

    Amber light held the room in a hush.

14. 14

    The plane reported being on line 157-337, running north and south.

15. 15

    The log records the last KHAQQ communication at about 8:43 a.m.

16. 16

    The 8:43 a.m. communication was the last one heard by Itasca.

17. 17

    With no sign of the plane, Itasca began a search.

Sources

• The Japanese Government’s Offer of Assistance to Help Find Amelia Earhart, July 1937 – The Text Messagetext-message.blogs.archives.govprimary
• Radio Log of the Last Communications of Amelia Earhart | National Archivesarchives.govprimary
• March | 2017 | Memoirs & Memoriesblogs.lib.purdue.edusecondary
• Introduction - Amelia Earhart: A Resource Guide - Research Guides at Library of Congressguides.loc.govsecondary