"We are on the line 157 337"

These are the last words received from Earhart and Noonan at 2013 GMT. This is a photostat of the entry in the "rough log" preserved by Leo G. Bellarts.

The crucial information here is: "We are on the line 157 337. Will repeat the message. We will repeat this on 6210 kcs. Wait. We are running [on] line [north and south]."

Earhart indicates here that she is switching from her nighttime frequency (3105 kcs) to her daytime frequency (6210 kcs). No further messages were received from the aircraft.

The most probable explanation of why Earhart and Noonan were flying on the compass headings of 157 degrees and 337 degrees is that Noonan had calculated a line of position at sunrise.

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Related material

• "Last Words."
• "What is the significance of Earhart's statement, 'We are on the line 157 337'?"
• "Log Jam."
• "Midpoint to Vicinity of Howland."
• "At Howland Island: 1415GMT to 1930GMT."
• "The Airplane Returns to Earth."
• Offset method of celestial navigation.