One of our researchers has raised an interesting question.
"We believe it is likely that Betty listened to the transmission on 5 July. Prior to that
do you know if she might have learned thru the media that Earhart had reported
her navigator was seriously injured (per the credible signal on 2 July heard by
Larremore)?
If it appears that Betty could not have known about what appears to be a significant
injury to Noonan, then that piece of information both strengthens the authenticity of
the Notebook per hearing Earhart, and the validity of the Notebook wherein "the man"
appears to behave in ways indicative of a possible injury to his head."
The answer is surprising.
1. Mabel Larremore on the night of July 2nd (Message 27 in the
Catalog).
"She stated that her navigator Fred Noonan was seriously injured. Needed help immediately. She also had some injuries but not as serious as Mr. Noonan.” As far as we know, Mabel's account never appeared in the press.
2. Nina Paxton on the morning of July 3rd (Message 47 in the
Catalog).
We've judged as credible the initial July 1937 newspaper account of what Paxton heard. That article makes no mention of injuries but Nina told her increasingly embellished story many times over the years to anyone who would listen. In 1962 she reported that Earhart had said,” The captain is with me, but unable to walk well due to injuries in landing yesterday.” The credibility of that embellishment is marginal at best.
3. Dana Randolph on the morning of July 4th (Message 81 in the
Catalog).
Randolph's reception "Ship on reef southeast of Howland" was widely reported in the press the next day. It's possible that Betty saw the story if it was carried in the St.Pete papers but Randolph reported no mention of injuries.
4. Mrs. Ernest Crabb on the morning of July 4th (Message 82 in the
Catalog).
Mrs. Crabb's reception was coincident with Dana Randolph's. Mrs. Crabb heard snatches of conversation between AE and FN but no mention of injuries. An account of Crabb's reception appeared in the Toronto Daily Star on July 5th and 6th but the story was not picked up by American newspapers.
5. Mrs. Ernest Crabb early morning of July 5th (Message 140 in the
Catalog).
Mrs. Crabb heard snatches of conversation between AE and FN but no mention of injuries.
6. Betty Klenck later on morning of July 5th (Message 142 in the
Catalog).
Betty heard snatches of conversation between AE and FN. No overt mention of injuries but Betty's transcription implies that Noonan is behaving in a matter consistent with a traumatic head injury and that AE has an injury that causes her to cry out in pain.
6. Mrs. Ernest Crabb early morning of July 6th (Message 161 in the
Catalog).
Mrs. Crabb heard snatches of conversation between AE and FN but no mention of injuries.
7. Thelma Lovelace early morning of July 7th (Message 170 in the
Catalog).
“We have taken in water, my navigator is badly hurt; (repeat) we are in need of medical care and must have help; we can’t hold on much longer.”
Reference to "we" needing medical care implies that she is also injured. Lovelace's account never appeared in the press.
So, to summarize:
• Larremore, Klenck and Lovelace independently describe or imply severe injury to Noonan and less severe injury to Earhart.
• All three women came forward with their stories many years after the event and had no knowledge of each other.
• None of the accounts of post-loss radio receptions that were reported in the press in 1937 - whether credible, uncertain, or not credible - included mention of injuries. Among the not credible reports, expressions of desperation ("can't hold on much longer") were common but there was no mention of injuries.
• Paxton's 1962 description of Noonan's knee injury is not consistent with the type or severity of injury reported by Larremore, Klenck and Lovelace.