1938 Aerial Photos

[Doug Giese]

Arg, every time I try to view that video I get a message telling me it is not available.  Why oh why am I being punished?   ???

Seriously though, is it my browser or something?

See my reply in the Forum FAQs and problem solving section. I've fixed the problem on my computer but don't know why it works.

[Charlie Chisholm]

Surely if there's something to be seen it will be seen?

If the resolution is good enough, the remains of the Electra should be visible.

Also signs of recent habitation should be clear.

And remember, the bones at the seven site were not found until after these pics were taken. So the hi-res pics of the seven site will be most interesting indeed. Even if remains are not visible, the many fire sites should still be visible.

[Bill de Creeft]

...and something at the 'G'/'E' site...That's my hope, even if only white coral rocks in some kind of pattern at that location.
Judging from some of things that have been said, there was *something* there at some point....Right ??
Depends on how it compares with the 'resolution' in the 'Sat.Photos', I suppose...
Waiting...
Bill

[Matt Revington]

Remember that the photos were taken at the same time a survey party was landed on the island that stayed for ~ 2 months. They camped near the beach opposite the NC wreck.  They surveyed the island, particularly the lagoon but also the rest of the island, any obvious plane wreckage would have spotted and they do not mention it in their report

http://tighar.org/Projects/Earhart/Archives/Documents/New_Zealand_Survey_Report/gardnerreport.html

It is unclear if they knew this island had been part of the AE search so they may not have been particularly attentive to such things but if any wreckage was there ( or in the photos ) its likely out near the edge of the reef were they wouldn't have gone or would have mistaken it for NC debris.

[richie conroy]

Hi Matt

It was world news at the time, Even islands that didn't have radio or what ever were checked by sea or air, Also it is obvious that the NZ party never did a thorough job of surveying island, Or they would have discovered skeleton whether the remains are from Norwich city crew or Possibly Amelia. 

If they did discover bones of the castaway would they have immediately thought Amelia or a crewman of the Norwich City ?

I honestly don't think these new images will shed any light on the hypothesis that we aren't aware of, Just my opinion

They didn't have much to take ashore, Anything i believe the colonists may have found would probably just be classed as being from Norwich City Crew,

As there is no mention of the colonists believing the remains to be of Amelia Earhart, Just Gerald's

Thanks Richie 

[Jeff Victor Hayden]

HMS Leander, Supermarine Walrus Z2 K5783 from which the photographs were taken was one of the first batch produced by Supermarine at Woolston.

"12 Supermarine Walrus I ordered 5.35 to Spec 2/35 under Contract No 391700/35/C.4 ( c ) from Vickers-Supermarine, Woolston
Serial Numbers: K5772 to K5783. The following were still in service 9.39
Total: 6"

Here is the link to the Fleet Air Arm archive. Quite an interesting page.

http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/aircraft/Walrus.htm

[Paul Parsons]

Possibly the aircraft was serial number L2222.

According to Fleet Air Arm Aircraft, Units And Ships 1920 To 1939 by Ray Sturtivant, L2222 was one of "168 Supermarine Walrus I spotter-reconnaissance amphibian biplane flying boats ordered 10.7.36 under Cont No 534422/36 to Spec 37/36 from Vickers-Supermarine, Woolston and numbered L2169 to L2336."

The particulars of L2222 are:

FF 7.1.38; Allocated PD Sealand 10.1.38; For 715 Flt 5th Cruiser Sqn in Far East (NTU?); 720 Flt New Zealand Sqn in HMNZS Leander ('Z-4' later 'P9A') from 6.38 - 5.39; To RN charge 24.5.39

(FF = first flight. PD = packing depot. Flt = flight. Sqn = squadron. NTU = not taken up. RN = Royal Navy)

Some more pertinent information about L2222 can be found here:

/38 Embarked HMS LEANDER for surveys of Pacific islands
24/11/38 Reconnaissance of Christmas Island (Pacific) flown but catapult cradle lost overboard HMS LEANDER on launch so subsequent operations confined to calm waters when aircraft could be lowered into the water by crane

and here:

According to 'The Supermarine Walrus' by G W R Nicholl, the author was pilot of Walrus L2222 embarked on Leander in late 1938 and operating in the Pacific at that time.

[richie conroy]

Hi All

Rather than start a new post, on the following link scroll down to 10 or 11 picture down of Amelia in cabin with Manning can anyone tell me what the object is top left corner " left of manning s head in cockpit ?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/40-Issue-MY-WEEKLY-READER-KIds-Newspaper-DEPRESSION-1937-Dust-Bowl-FDR-Earhart-/290942415753?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43bd84f389

Thanks Richie

[Ric Gillespie]

Rather than start a new post, on the following link scroll down to 10 or 11 picture down of Amelia in cabin with Manning can anyone tell me what the object is top left corner " left of manning s head in cockpit ?

It's actually on the centerpost of the windshield. It's the back of the magnetic compass.

[Ric Gillespie]

/38 Embarked HMS LEANDER for surveys of Pacific islands
24/11/38 Reconnaissance of Christmas Island (Pacific) flown but catapult cradle lost overboard HMS LEANDER on launch so subsequent operations confined to calm waters when aircraft could be lowered into the water by crane

That's really interesting and probably why Leander was positioned off the southern side of Gardner during the aerial survey.  That's the lee side of the island where the water is calmest.

[Ric Gillespie]

Research Needed:  In writing up when and how these aerial photos were taken I need to confirm that December 1, 1938 was the ONLY day HMNZS Leander was at Gardner Island.  We know Leander was at Christmas island immediately before coming to Gardner and that she went back to Suva (Fiji) upon departing Gardner.  Can we establish where she went from there?

[Albert Durrell]

Some info on Leander:

http://www.worldnavalships.com/directory/shipinfo.php?ShipID=429

[Michael Calvin Powell]

Here is a link to the official report that includes December 1937.  Need the report like it that must have been compiled the following year:

http://www.atojs.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/atojs?a=d&d=AJHR1938-I.2.3.2.5&e=-------10--1------0Lulu--

[Michael Calvin Powell]

The official report just gives the date she returned to Auckland, so no help there.

http://www.atojs.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/atojs?a=d&d=AJHR1939-I.1.2565&cl=&srpos=0&e=-------10--1------0Lulu--

[Albert Durrell]

Based on above reports, it looks like departed Auckland 11/7/38 for Suva and other Pacific islands, departed Niku 12/1/38 for Suva, departed Nukualofa 12/9/38 for Auckland, arrived Auckland 12/12/38 and was docked till 3/30/39.  Haven't found info on other ports along the way.