Busy time for Project Amelia Earhart flyer

Despite all of the psycho-fractal persiflage, we do have a need to know why this photo including Ms. Earhart was classified in the first place, why it was kept secret for almost 80 years, and what the other real, underlying purpose of her flight was beside what was advertised.

Just this morning, infallible Fox News announced that by theirs and the FBI’s analysis, the image is indeed that of the backside of Ms. Earhart. And, that of her navigator as well, who apparently has a bandage of some sort on his forehead.

So, perhaps the Arlington Police can tell us why this was covered up for so many years. We can speculate, and, as is the case with a good deal of what is USG-classified, it was likely to avoid embarrassment for a bureaucratic error in judgement. And yes, a liberal was in charge at the time…….

 

I can only convey the generally accepted speculation:

1) The plane wandered into Japanese territory and was forced down by gunfire;
2) The two were viewed as spies and sent to prison in Saipan, plane brought to Saipan and engines 'tear down': at time the modified Electra was the farthest flying-capable aircraft of its class and could be a 'lessons learned' for long range fighters by Japanese;
3) Japan kept secret because they were not prepared (in 1937) for US conflict. If public, there is no doubt that AE capture would have caused a war declaration by US;
4)Liberation of Saipan in 1944 by Marines led to death of both by Japanese;
5) Plane and AE artifacts buried or classified storage so that US public would not hinder efforts to rebuild Japan as US ally.

I do not present these as personal views; I am only summarizing the points.

 

Notice....

Mitsubishi GM-4 1941, Lockheed Electra 1937...different tail. but......also notice typical Japanese fighter 1940...

 

Yeah, I spotted the commonality between both planes....they had 2 propellers and used radial engines.
The photo and drawing of the Jap plane are quite different also.

 

Noonan and AE went down on the same day that the Second Sino-Japanese War started...in Wonping (Marco Polo Bridge). So the entire Japanese Theater must have been on high alert with zero tolerance for any outside oriented infractions...just conveying the mood at the time.

Who knows? If Noonan and AE had gone down a month earlier, they might have been released after negotiation. But the plane would have stayed....

 

I was very honoured to have hosted Brian on his arrival to Australia, great bloke, enjoyed the 2 days very much I spent with him... Stuie VK8NSB ..

 

That Mitsubishi GM-4 1941 has a Yokosuka MXY7 attached to the bottom of the fuse, well that settles it this whole thread was big waste of time that's Amelia Earharts plane Rachel Maddow at MSMBC just reported it.

 

If they were being held captive, the photo certainly does not add credence to that theory. While they are on a small island, and would have no easy means of escape, there certainly would be someone guarding them. We see what looks like a very low-stress, casual state of mind in the photo. And, Ms. Earhart appears to be relaxing on the pier, ala "sittin in the mornin' sun.." (Otis Redding-style)

As such a dedicated pilot, one would expect her gaze upon her faithful steed being barged off as not at all relaxed and care-free. Nor would her captors, IMO, permit her to observe.

I will agree that the photo was very likely from a counter-spy of ours. Although, its classification should have disappeared long ago.

Perhaps Noonan and Earhart did perish a few years later, but it surely looks somewhat strange that they are both calm, cool and collected. In fact, that alone may have piqued a counter spy's interest in taking and passing the photo as circumstantial evidence of their collusion with Japan.

My guess is that one of her "sponsors" was the Empire of Japan. And, that her landing was prearranged so that she could pass off whatever photo material she had that was of interest. As well as her plane for analysis. Hard to ignore the posture of those in the photo.

 

WB6RQN / Aeronautical Mobile
Update: 8 July 2017
Brian Lloyd and his airplane Spirit are currently in New Zealand for maintenance until 14 July.

Note to ham operators in North America, South America, Oceania, and Asia areas:
From 13 July to 19 July it should be much easier to QSO with WB6RQN / Aeronautical Mobile during the flight over the Pacific Ocean.

On 16 July (15 July in America), Brian plans to overfly Howland Island (the famous destination of Amelia Earhart in 1937).
If he has enough reserve fuel at that point, he will continue directly to Hawaii; if not, he will land at Kiritimati Island, Kiribati for refueling.

*Updated Flight Schedule*
Location : Date : Days : ICAO_Airport_ID
Now at Hamilton, NZ : 6-Jul : 8 : NZHN
Suva, Fiji : 14-Jul : 2 : NFNA
Howland Island overflight : 16-Jul : 0
Kiritimati, Kiribati (backup): 16-Jul: 1 : PLCH
Kauai, HI, USA : 15-Jul : 2 : PHLI
Honolulu, HI, USA : 17-Jul : 0 : PHNL
Hilo, HI, USA : 17-Jul : 2 : PHTO
Oakland, CA, USA : 19-Jul : 3 : KOAK
Atchison, KS, USA : 22-Jul : 2 : KK59
Oshkosh, WI, USA : 24-Jul : 5 : KOSH
Kestrel Airpark, TX, USA : 29-Jul : : 1T7
*Note: Dates are approximate and subject to change without notice.

For photos and Brian's commentary on the flight, click here to read Lloyd's Log


Brian Lloyd WB6RQN adds New Zealand flag to Spirit at Hamilton airport on 6 Jul 2017.

 

What is really fascinating is the fact that stuff like this, that happened what, 80 years ago is still being hashed over as if it is somehow relevant today.

Since the latest go-round, it seems very likely that these intrepid explorers met their end(s) at the hands of a hostile (then) government. That might have been a bit of the "Ugly American" syndrome that still happens today. "They wouldn't dare to harm us, after all, we're Americans!" ...Or words to that effect...

Maybe the Japanese (or whoever) were seemingly open and friendly at first, at least until higher headquarters got into the situation.

We can speculate all we want. It will not change the outcome. History is what it is and the books are mostly written by the victors. No telling what the actual story was. So dish it/ out hash it out until the last horse is turned into hamburger. It still won't change anything, except some who might get satisfaction in digging into the matter.

After they get through with this one, maybe they (collectively) can get to the bottom of the various Kennedy assassinations, clear up that UFO story in Roswell NM, and tell us exactly why (fill-in-the-blank) went down and who is responsible...

Guess the public will have to wait another 40, 50, or more years for some of those answers to surface.

 

Sure, just like we went to the moon back in the 1960s so why on earth would we consider duplicating what we did way back then today?

I think you miss the point of this endeavor completely to say the least.

Robert, K6FNI

 

Factoid: Brian Lloyd is the only solo aviator to attempt the Earhart route.

 

...And in a 38 year-old 1979 "Mooney" at that !!! The History Channel should have shown some interest !!

Steve / W5BIB

 

Comparing this flight to a moonshot....well, no!

 

Well no. I see the point: That being a guy with time and money was looking for something to do that would both fill his day and generate controversy.

I think he succeeded in that.