The Oldest Theory (Manila Tribune 7/4/37)

[Russ Matthews]

I spotted the attached archival newspaper headline during a recent visit to the Moffett Field Museum. It's amazing to see the basics of the scenario TIGHAR is investigating already spelled out in an article published just the day after Earhart's disappearance (July 4 in Manila .. but, still July 3 in California). This really is (as Ric is fond of saying) the oldest theory of what happened to AE.

[Ric Gillespie]

When the radio signals continued night after night, Mantz said she must be running the right-hand generator-equipped engine to recharge the battery.  Asked whether she would have enough fuel, he explained that she could recharge the battery by running the engine at only 900 RPM burning as little as 6 gallons per hour.  TIGHAR verified those numbers with tests at Covington Aircraft Engines in Oklahoma using the same type of engine and generator that were on NR16020.