I received the following email and photos from Dan Kingsley:
"While I served on the United States Precision Helicopter Team in 1986, I was given a picture of Amelia in a portrait, in formal dress, sitting in a chair with three men.
The photo was given me by Sergei Sikorski, son of Egor Sikorski, who was serving as an American judge on the Team. My recollection of the event was different from what he tells me now (he was alive a year ago, and I sent him the picture to reconfirm its authenticity).
As I recall, he stepped out of a building with a glossy B&W, showed it to me and told me it was her, the Wright Brothers and his father. He said it was owned by Bell Helicopter, who had given him the photo. At my interest, he placed it on a copier and gave me a copy.
Now he says his father is not in it. I presume he should know his father better than all of us... and I am stunned.
And I have discovered that one of the Wright Brothers could not have been alive at the time of this photo.
If it is a fake, it is rather good. I would like you to have it, and perhaps establish the real story for all to know.
I do not claim to own this photo. I believe it is old enough to be public domain, but I would like the real story in any case.
Dan Kingsley
CW4, USA, Retired"
I replied:
"Fascinating puzzle. The photo is not a fake. I would put the date circa 1929 based I on AE’s youthful appearance and 1920s clothing style. Despite his son’s assertion, the man on the left might be Igor Sikorsky (but I don’t know why Bell Helicopter would own a photo of their principal competitor). I don’t think the man on AE’s left is Orville Wright (Wilbur, as you say, was long dead). No idea about the man at far right.
After her transatlantic flight as a passenger in 1928, Earhart was feted by many prominent aviation figures. This looks to me like a photo taken at a dinner or awards event.
Ric"
Can anybody shed light on this photo?