There are several theories about Amelia Earhart's disappearance on July 2, 1937, during her attempted flight around the world. Here are some of the most popular ones:
1. Crash and Sink Theory: Earhart's plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean, killing her and navigator Fred Noonan.
2. Gardner Island (now Nikumaroro Island) Hypothesis: They landed on a remote Pacific island, now part of Kiribati, and survived for a period.
3. Japanese Capture Theory: They were captured by Japanese forces in the Marshall Islands and imprisoned and later either died or were executed.
4. Spy Mission Theory: Earhart was on a spy mission for the US government.
5. Alternative Routes Theory: They took a different route, possibly to Australia or the Philippines.
6. Weather-Related Crash Theory: Severe weather conditions led to a crash.
The most widely accepted theory is the Gardner Island Hypothesis despite numerous experts debunking the likelihood of this and the scant, tenuous evidence.
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| Did Amelia Earhart become a captive of the Japanese military? |
The Japanese Capture Theory suggests that Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan were captured by Japanese forces after landing or crash-landing in the Marshall Islands, which was then under Japanese control. Here's a summary of this theory:
Key points:
1. Earhart's planned route took her near Japanese-held islands.
2. Some researchers believe she was on a spy mission for the US government.
3. Witnesses reported seeing a plane resembling Earhart's Electra 10E on Saipan Island.
4. Claims of Earhart and Noonan being seen in Japanese custody, including:
- A Marshallese woman's account of seeing Earhart and Noonan on Saipan.
- A Japanese soldier's testimony about guarding two American flyers.
- Alleged radio transmissions from Earhart asking for help.
5. Speculation about imprisonment, interrogation, and possible execution.
Supporting evidence:
1. Declassified US documents mention rumors of Earhart's capture.
2. A 1937 Japanese newspaper article describes capturing two American flyers.
3. Some researchers argue that the Japanese government hid the truth to avoid international embarrassment.
In the 1994 Warner Bros movie "Final Flight", Earhart's manager and husband George Putnam is approached by a government agent, Laughlin from the Department of the Interior, who gives his calling card and makes an offer to fund her flight and encourages Earhart to "observe" Japanese islands while flying this final route. Here is the movie and that scene.
Counterarguments:
1. Lack of concrete evidence.
2. No definitive proof of Earhart's presence in Japanese custody.
3. Many witnesses' accounts are based on hearsay or unverified claims.
4. The Japanese government consistently denied involvement.
Investigations and controversies:
1. US Navy investigations in 1937 and 1940 found no evidence.
2. Post-war investigations, including a 1945 US Marine Corps inquiry.
3. Controversies surrounding researcher Joseph Gervais's claims of finding Earhart's plane on Saipan.
MORE
- The theory that just won't go away by Roderick Eime
- Were bones of Amelia Earhart found?
- More on the Japanese theory, including testimonies at Earhart: The Truth at Last
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