[Milsurplus] Earhart video. Interesting radio shots.

[Hubert Miller]

Neil, a good share of "might" and "probably" in your interpretation.
The fact is, there was no need for her to feign radio problems. In a previous test of her HF DF at Lae, she was unable to get it to work. Which is the same thing that happened
when she tried to DF the Itasca on 7000 kHz at Howland, albeit at Howland this glitch could not be shrugged off; it was disastrous. It also seems to be the case that she could 
not hear the Itasca – possibly due to the plane's belly-side ( ventral ) antenna being clipped off during the takeoff at Lae.
-Hue 

>Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] Earhart video. Interesting radio shots.

I remain convinced that Earhart used a "science project" as a guise for trying to set a new world record. By 1937, aviation administrations were clamping down hard on record setting and planes were getting faster. The Lae - Howland Island leg might have been a last effort to set a slow speed record of 2,550 miles in not less than 25.5 hours.

Noonan was probably spot on with his navigation and they saw Howland Island. Earhart then feigned radio problems while circling around the island just over the horizon in order to pass through the 25.5 hour barrier. Noonan might have become aware that he was essentially being kidnapped and that his life was in danger.

Unfortunately, Earhart misjudged her fuel and the plane crashed into the ocean just over the horizon from the island. This seems to be borne out by the last position report, which is quite close. Unfortunately, the water there is very deep.

73 de Neil ZL1ANM