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[John Joseph Barrett]

The picture of the Electra on the reef in the "Where is the Electra" bulletin caused me to wonder, If the engine(s) could be run, why not try to move the plane to the beach? Barring a collapse of one of the main gear, could the plane have been moved under power to the beach (or at least the shallows) with, lets say, one or both tires flat? Could the engines/rudders overcome drag from one flat tire or both? Are there areas of the reef that one could taxi across if needed? Also, if one gear is collapsed, how much lower does the cockpit, and by extension, the radio sit to the water? I know it is pure speculation and our heros most likely did all they could to survive snd hindsight is 20-20, but I'm just curious if the reef surface would have allowed them to taxi, given that there was no damage which would have made it impossible.

[Ric Gillespie]

That's a sensible question Joe but the only part of the reef flat smooth enough to land or taxi on is a strip out near the edge. Most of the reef flat is pitted and jagged.

If one gear leg is collapsed the transmitter wouldn't be much lower than it would be otherwise.