Amelia Earhart's aircraft was a rock formation.

[OLDSAMIAM]

There was a show on TV the other night where they were looking for the Electra in the Paupa New Guinea jungle under the assumption that she was trying to reach Rabaul.

Some Aussie troops were looking for a trail thought to be used by the Japanese in 1943 when they encountered the wreckage of what they thought might be an Electra. On the TV show they found the wreckage from a B-17.

The show was on Discovery- labelled " Finding Amelia " - normally avail by subscription but also a one time ? freebie. However, they carefully worked hard to NOT mention or give credit to the real person who had found out about the map years ago and , the written notes about the engine mount tag removed from the wreckage etc. A bit of ethics involved. But look up 'Earhart Lockheed Electra Search Project ' copyright 2004 to 2025 for most of the rest of the story. And while what discovery channel did show was ' true '- a bit too much hollywood and VERY careful ducking around how the map ( genuine ) was really discovered and attempts to find the metal tag removed. Follow the comments which also show a simple ( non pilot ) an analysis of Lockheeds' Kelly Johnson range calcs of her plane.

 

[MiTasol]

No, I am not missing any point.

The fact of the matter is, they have not found and authenticated any wreck site as of yet.

A missing tag, a series of interviews and a map is no more evidence of Earhart's demise than aircraft parts and a sextant case (found by the British) is.

The alledged P&W R-1340 engine is not unique to Lockheed. Fokker, Boeing and others used that engine in civil transport aircraft before the war.

So to summarize: New Britain is one of several theories.

and the R-1340 was used on the RAAF Wirraway and a number of them were shot down in that area.

 

[OLDSAMIAM]

and the R-1340 was used on the RAAF Wirraway and a number of them were shot down in that area.

Hmmm- how many 600HP versions using 100 plus oct peer manufactuer data ? Do you have such a list ?

 

[GrauGeist]

and the R-1340 was used on the RAAF Wirraway and a number of them were shot down in that area.

The RAAF also operated the Douglas Dolphin, which was a twin.

Not sure if any were lost in that area, but it is an example of the R-1340 not being unique to an Electra.

BTW, there was an RAAF Ford 4-AT-61 Trimotor lost to a Japanese attack in New Guinea, Spring of 1942.

 

[OLDSAMIAM]

So we have single montor and trimotor planes with the WASP possibly in the area in the late 30's and 40's- But how many two motor airframes used the 600HP version and also had the same airframe serial number as that of Earhart -?
I am apparently wrong in having assumed that the commenters here have bothered to look at Both the Discovery " finding amelia " and the "Earhart Lockheed search project " video-website I have mentioned and also TIGHAR docs which have Kelly Johnson range calcs and the history of the Naval Officer who was responsible for preparing Howland Island and radio comm arrangements.

Have a nice evening

 

[MIflyer]

The show was on Discovery- labelled " Finding Amelia " - normally avail by subscription but also a one time ? freebie.

Well, I recorded the last hour or so of that show.

 

[GrauGeist]

So we have single montor and trimotor planes with the WASP possibly in the area in the late 30's and 40's- But how many two motor airframes used the 600HP version and also had the same airframe serial number as that of Earhart -?
I am apparently wrong in having assumed that the commenters here have bothered to look at Both the Discovery " finding amelia " and the "Earhart Lockheed search project " video-website I have mentioned and also TIGHAR docs which have Kelly Johnson range calcs and the history of the Naval Officer who was responsible for preparing Howland Island and radio comm arrangements.

Have a nice evening

There estimated to be over 600 crash sites in PNG with a potential for hundreda more that span between the 1930's and the end of WWII.

A lone engine tag, which is conveniently missing has about as much credence as the missing woman's skeleton found on Howland.

Find the wreck, then we'll know.

Have yourself a wonderful evening.

 

[OLDSAMIAM]

Well, I recorded the last hour or so of that show.

Great -- now spend an hour or two and read comments and history of "Earhart Lockheed search project " . Which in combination at least shows/proves the general area where she crashed. But IMHO the coming second part of Discovery ( when I dont know ) will find a few other plane parts from WW2 but not one proved to be that of Earhart- interesting that no mention of US graves team have been in area- and if bones found could be dna linked to Earhart. part of my reasoning is mentioned in search project- but do not want to be tangled in copyright issues.

 

[MiTasol]

Hmmm- how many 600HP versions using 100 plus oct peer manufactuer data ? Do you have such a list ?

Every Wirraway built - fuel 87 or 100 Octane - power ratings as shown below.

 

[MiTasol]

The RAAF also operated the Douglas Dolphin, which was a twin.

BTW, there was an RAAF Ford 4-AT-61 Trimotor lost to a Japanese attack in New Guinea, Spring of 1942.

The aircraft was damaged on the ground at Myola lakes.

In the late 70's or early 80's the RAAF "salvaged" it with a large helicopter but failed to put any lift destroying equipment on the top of the wing (a full span of 4x2s strapped on or a full span length of fabric doped down just forward of the peak curvature and extending unglued for a further 6" is all it takes) so naturally it started to fly of its own accord. Instead of slowing down they just hit the pickle switch.