Fred Noonan
From TIGHAR
- Full name: Frederick Joseph Noonan.
- Born April 4, 1893; lost July 2, 1937; declared dead June 20, 1938.
Contents
How did Noonan get involved in the World Flight?
A confidential letter from George P. Putnam to William T. Miller on March 1, 1937, hinted that Putnam was not totally comfortable with the experience level of Capt. Harry Manning "in matters like this" (aerial navigation), and suggested that one of Pan Am's best practicing navigators be summoned to discuss the matter with him "to advantage". On March 12th it was announced that Noonan, who left Pan Am earlier in the year, would be joining the crew of the World Flight.
First round-the-world attempt
- Manning and Noonan's navigation to Hawaii.
- Mantz was scheduled to leave the plane in Honolulu; Noonan at Howland Island, and Manning in Darwin, Australia.
Was Noonan a drunkard?
- Claim first made in the 1960s?
- Heavy drinking a norm for pilots in the 1930s.
- The claim that "personnel unfitness", a phrase from a telegram sent from Earhart to Putnam on June 29th, was a pre-arranged code between them has not been substantiated.[1]
Links
- Research paper on Noonan.
- Fred Noonan, Sea Captain.
- The Brines Letter--mentions Noonan's drinking.
- Wikipedia article.
- "Finding Tiny Islands from Speeding Planes."
- Letters to Helen Day during the final flight:
References
- ↑ Gore Vidal, for example, made this claim in the WGBH American Experience show.