SEARCH FOR LOST AIRWOMAN

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22136, 5 July 1937, Page 9

SEARCH FOR LOST AIRWOMAN

MISS EARHART DOWN IN MID-PACIFIC

AEROPLANE BELIEVED TO BE AFLOAT

FAILURE TO REACH ROWLAND ISLAND

(UNITED raKSS ASSOCIATION—COI'TBIOBT.) (Received July 4, 8.30 p.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, July 3. Surface craft, including the San Francisco coastguard cutter Itasca, and the New Zealand cruiser Achilles, are engaged in a search for Miss Amelia Earhart, who is believed to have been forced down on the Pacific in the vicinity of Howland Island.

Miss Earhart left Lae (New Guinea) on Friday, expecting to reach Howland Island at 4 a.m. the following day. At 7.42 a.m., Howland Island time, Miss Earhart sent a wireless message to the San Francisco coastguard station saying that she had fuel for half an hour's flying and could not make a landfall.

Five hours after leaving Lae, Miss Earhart reported that she was flying at an altitude of 7000 feet at a speed of 140 knots. The San Francisco coastguard wireless station also made contact with Miss Earhart eight and a quarter hours after leaving Lae. Miss Earhart then estimated that she had covered half the distance to Howland Island.

Five hours later she also made contact with the coastguard wireless station, but did not give her position.

A message from the Itasca states it is believed that Miss Earhart missed Howland Island because of sun glare. Coastguard officials think she flew north-west of the island and may be found within 100 miles from her destination.

Radio signals picked up from her aeroplane indicated that the petrol supply was nearly exhausted when she was about half an hour's journey from Howland Island. It was thought that without its load of petrol, her machine would float indefinitely, except in extremely rough weather.

Miss Earhart carried emergency rations, sufficient for several days. It was reported in San Francisco early that Miss Earhart had been rescued by a British vessel, <* but these reports were late, announced to be without foundation. The British cruiser Achilles picked up the first "SOS" from the aeroplane. The Itasca also identified weak signals early in the morning as coming from Miss Earhart's aeroplane, but they were so weak that the operator was unable to determine their location.

Husband Urges Search

The United States Navy Department at Washington received a request from Mr Putnam for naval aircraft and vessels from Honolulu to carry out a search for his wife.

A radio amateur in San Francisco has reported that he picked up faint signals on Miss Earhart's frequency. The impulses sputtered as if a handgenerator was being used, and the set had water in it.

Miss Earhart is now believed to be floating midway between Honolulu and New Zealand. The search is most difficult, since the tiny aeroplane could be seen only from a very short distance in daylight, and not at all in the darkness.

The Itasca sent up smoke signals before darkness, and then utilised flares. Look-outs are posted at every vantage point watching out for an answering flare from the aeroplane. The last signal received from the aeroplane indicated that Miss Earhart's position was 300 or 400 miles off the coast of Rowland Island. AH ships and stations have been instructed to listen on 3105 kilocycles fjr ny signals from the aeroplane.

Many Seaplanes to Search

Later the voice of the navigator, Mr Noonan, was also heard. Apparently he and Miss Earhart were alternating. Mr Putnam expressed the belief that the radio calls indicated that they had landed on a small island instead of being adrift on the ocean, and that they were running one motor at a time to generate current for the radio. The two flyers are well provided with rations. They have sufficient condensed food, malted milk, and tablets of chocolate to last several weeks. There are also aboard the aeroplane a "rebreather" outfit, which manufactures drinking water by condensing the human breath, a two-man rubber raft, flares, and a bright orange kite, which could be sent aloft to attract attention.

A snowstorm almost unprecedented in the South Pacific compelled a navy rescue aeroplane to turn back, and caused consternation among officials, who said it had greatly reduced the chances of a rescue. Officials at the Pearl Harbour base intend to send another aeroplane when the weather clears. The Navy Department has ordered the aircraft carrier Lexington to prepare to join the search for Miss Earhart. The ship left Santa Barbara at 6 p.m. and proceeded at full speed towards San Diego. If the Lexington participates it will take six or seven days to reach Howland Island and then it would release seaplanes for a systematic search.

The battle cruiser, Colorado, carrying three seaplanes, is hastening from Honolulu to Howland Island.

Mr Putnam requested the Radio Board at Oakland to send hourly

requests to Miss Earhart to signal by radio whether she is on land or afloat, and whether she is north or south of the equator.

Mr Roosevelt Kept Informed

An open telephone line from Washington to Hyde Park kept Mr Roosevelt informed of developments in tho search. He said the navy was doing all in its power to locate the flyers.

A message from Los Angeles says Miss Ruth Elder, who was forced down at sea in 1927, said: "I {eel at heart that Miss Earhart wUI be rescued. I know exactly how she feels floating round on the Pacific with the sun beating down on her as she prays that there may be a ship nearby."