Lt. John O. Lambrecht
John Osgood Lambrecht was the senior aviator in the flight of three floatplanes from U.S.S. Colorado that searched Gardner Island from the air on July 9, 1937.
The observers
"Two were regular enlisted observers and one was the ship's Assisstant 1st Lt. and Damage Control Officer. The 'trained observers' were not trained in aerial searching. The mission of the battleship's planes was to act as forward observers to adjust the fire of the big guns."[1]
On July 9, the observers were: Seaman 1st Class J. L. Marks with Lt. Lambrecht; Radioman 3rd Class Williamson with Lt. j.g. Fox; Lt. Charles F. Chillingworth with Lt. j.g. Short.[2]
The planes
Three Vought Corsair 03U-3 biplanes were launched during the Colorado search.
The Lambrecht Photo
This U.S. Navy photo is the only picture known to have been taken of Gardner Island during the 1937 search for Amelia Earhart. The photographer is unknown, but this print of the photo, obtained from an archive in New Zealand, is inscribed “U.S. Navy (pilot) July 9, 1937” on the reverse. The "North" arrow is not geographically accurate; see Maps of Nikumaroro for the correct N/S orientation of the island.
Google Earth Gallery
These images reflect efforts of members of the Forum to determine the point of view from which the Lambrecht photo (shown above) was taken.
I just noted that some of the TIGHAR members tried to match Google Earth with the Lambrecht photo. I did the same too some weeks ago and included the Google Earth kmz from which I derived the following: (see Lambrecht combined JPG). I tried to match the picture as good as possible, and strangely, could not match as good when having the island centered in GE (only when Niku left in left pane). The Lambrecht picture seems level (horizon) but I have some reservations.
Biography
Lambrecht is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, not far from the Tomb of the Unknowns. He died in 1972, two days short of his 69th birthday. His wife, Elizabeth, survived him and is buried in the same grave, which is located in Section 35, Site 2776. He died in 1972, two days short of his 69th birthday. His wife, Elizabeth, survived him and is buried in the same grave, which is located in Section 35, Site 2776.
References
- ↑ Ric Gillespie, Forum.
- ↑ (Finding Amelia, p. 205, and the deck log of Colorado for July 9).