The Route Amelia Turned Backward

Name: The Route Amelia Turned Backward
Genre: Documentary

While mechanics rebuild the Electra, Earhart redraws the journey and reverses the direction of her assault on the globe.

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Transcript

A damaged Electra sat in California as Amelia Earhart redrew her world-flight route.
March 20th, 1937, her first Howland attempt ended in a damaged plane.
The Electra was repaired in California from March through May 1937.
During the delay, Earhart studied weather maps and consulted meteorologists.
The revised plan favored flying eastward rather than westward.
That reversal put Miami first and shifted the route across the Pacific.
In aviation, a changed plan can become part of the courage required to continue.
June 1st, 1937, Earhart left Miami, Florida, for a world flight.
Her twin-motored Electra had extra gas tanks, radios, and an autopilot.
Earhart told Roosevelt she undertook the flight to show what women could do.
July 2nd, Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan left Lae, New Guinea.
Their flight from Lae headed for Howland Island, about 2,550 miles away.
The Coast Guard cutter Itasca waited near Howland to support radio navigation.
6:14 a.m., KHAQQ reported the Electra 200 miles from Howland.
7:42 a.m., Earhart couldn't see Itasca and reported low fuel. She also reported flying at 1,000 feet.
Just before 8:00 a.m., the plane circled and requested bearings.
8:43 a.m., KHAQQ reported line 157-337, north and south.

The eastward route changed almost everything—except the final rendezvous with tiny Howland Island.

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