New Guinea - Amelia Earhart & Fred Noonan, en route to Howland Island, 2 July 1937

[Unalienable Rights]

https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/07/politics/amelia-earhart-fbi-employees-record-search

October 7, 2025

The Trump administration has ordered FBI employees in Washington, DC, and New York to immediately search their workstations and digital media for any records pertaining to the disappearance of Amelia Earhart, two law enforcement sources told CNN.

Employees in the FBI’s DC and New York field offices received a highly unusual message from their leadership flagged with high importance late Tuesday telling them: “Per a priority request from the Executive Office of the President of the United States, please search any areas where papers or physical media records may be stored, to include both open or closed cases, for records responsive to Amelia Earhart.”

FBI employees were given a priority deadline of Wednesday to respond to the request....

*****

 

[Richard]

Amelia Earhart went missing with her aircraft and navigator Fred Noonan on 2 July 1937. The official conclusion was that she ran out of fuel and ditched in the Pacific Ocean. From the earliest news reports, hope and theories that she had survived the crash landing and was sending out radio messages were expressed.

In the 1960's some researchers believed that she and Noonan had been captured by the Japanese in the Marshall Islands and held prisoner on Saipan. That belief was supported by testimony from various islander witnesses.

In more recent times, the theory that they ditched or crash landed on Gardiner Island (now called Nikumaroro) has been widely publicized. A group called TIGHAR has raised large amounts of money and conducted a number of unsuccessful search missions to Nikumaroro, never finding any solid evidence that she was there.

LINK:

MSN

 

[Chimera]

Amazing how this case lives on.
Even finding her plane would answer so many questions ......

 

[PrairieWind]

Amazing how this case lives on.
Even finding her plane would answer so many questions ......

It is a fascinating story from so many angles. I have always been interested in the case.
Where did she go? Why has the plane not been found. Lots of theories. I do think that eventually something will be found.

 

[PrairieWind]

I would add that the fact that her plane has not yet been found, is perhaps a clue in and of itself.

 

[Richard]

I would add that the fact that her plane has not yet been found, is perhaps a clue in and of itself.

Not necessarily. There actually is testimony from a number of people who claim that the plane was recovered by the Japanese Navy and transported to Saipan.

Some veteran US servicemen claimed to have seen the plane intact in a hangar at Aslito Field on Saipan in July 1944, and that it was taken out and destroyed (burned) by US forces.

 

[Gators North]

Does anyone think that there will be any further information available when the files are released (as per the President’s instructions)?

 

[PrairieWind]

Does anyone think that there will be any further information available when the files are released (as per the President’s instructions)?

I don't know. Good question. There were many Marshallese and Japanese who claimed Amelia and Fred had been captured. The US military clearly gathered information on that. Admiral Nimitz apparently believed she had been taken by the Japanese as did General Erskine. So, there should be something to show why. I originally didn't think there was anything to the "Japanese capture" theories, but as I have learned more, I realized that it wasn't so crazy. There were a lot of people that said they saw her. We need to see what the records release shows us.

 

[Unalienable Rights]

I went on a business trip to Saipan in the 1990s (it's hard to believe that was 30 years ago!) While I was there, a business associate who was a lifelong resident, took me on a drive around the island and pointed out sites of historical interest. One site was said to have been an area that was associated with Amelia Earhart's plane. He was very enthusiastic in relating Earhart lore....the research he had done and stories his parents and other older residents had told him. I wish I could remember everything he said! It will be interesting to see what is in the soon to be released documents.

 

[Mysteries1974]

While I know the Japanese capture theory has been gaining some traction lately, I still think Earhart and Noonan found themselves on Nikumaroro before perishing.

 

[PrairieWind]

While I know the Japanese capture theory has been gaining some traction lately, I still think Earhart and Noonan found themselves on Nikumaroro before perishing.

I originally never gave the Japanese Capture theory much credence at first, I thought it was far fetched. But then I started to learn a little more about it and the idea of how they got there, etc and realized it wasn't really crazy. They one thing it has going for it, is that sooo many witnesses claimed they had seen Amelia or Fred or the plane. Many in the US military, including Admiral Nimitz believed she had been there.

Personally, I still think the most likely thing that happened is the original theory; that she ran out of fuel looking for Howland and crashed into the ocean somewhere within 100 miles of Howland.

 

[Mysteries1974]

I originally never gave the Japanese Capture theory much credence at first, I thought it was far fetched. But then I started to learn a little more about it and the idea of how they got there, etc and realized it wasn't really crazy. They one thing it has going for it, is that sooo many witnesses claimed they had seen Amelia or Fred or the plane. Many in the US military, including Admiral Nimitz believed she had been there.

Personally, I still think the most likely thing that happened is the original theory; that she ran out of fuel looking for Howland and crashed into the ocean somewhere within 100 miles of Howland.

I wish the skeleton found on Nikumaroro hadn’t been lost so the bones could be tested for DNA. I heard that TIGHAR was going to search the islands lagoon for the plane but the search has been postponed until next year.

 

[Mysteries1974]

I originally never gave the Japanese Capture theory much credence at first, I thought it was far fetched. But then I started to learn a little more about it and the idea of how they got there, etc and realized it wasn't really crazy. They one thing it has going for it, is that sooo many witnesses claimed they had seen Amelia or Fred or the plane. Many in the US military, including Admiral Nimitz believed she had been there.

Personally, I still think the most likely thing that happened is the original theory; that she ran out of fuel looking for Howland and crashed into the ocean somewhere within 100 miles of Howland.

I too agree she likely crashed into the ocean and it’s one of my top theories as well. It’s the only explanation for why her plane’s wreckage hasn’t been uncovered yet. People have been looking out for her plane for nine decades, if she had managed to land somewhere I’m sure someone would’ve found her by now but I could always be wrong.

However, I still think it’s possible they made an emergency landing on a remote island somewhere along their flight path and lived as castaways until perishing. The fact that cosmetic products consistent with ones Earhart was known to use were found on Gardner Island has always stuck out to me

 

[PrairieWind]

The Nikumaroro (Gardner) Island idea is very interesting. The radio signals received over the next couple days could be explained by it. TIGHAR expeditions locating items that could be Amelia's has really boosted that theory. And there are the reports of bones found, mis-identified, then lost, etc. My problem with that theory is that it seems unlikely she and Fred would have attempted to go there or that she even COULD have reached Gardner Island on her fuel. I also just think that if they had, there would have been more found there. The plane should be there. The Island was overflown by the Navy a couple days after her disappearance and saw nothing. I am intrigued that some of the mysterious radio messages could be construed to mention the Norwich ship wreck there. So I do think there is still lots to look at there. But I also question the integrity of some of those that involved in those expeditions.

I love to discuss Amelia theories and what could have happened, debate ideas, theories. I read everything I can find. I find Amelia and Fred to be fascinating people with incredible stories. I love that people keep posting here. Part of me almost hopes the mystery is never solved.

 

[sds71]

U.S. Spy Agency Releases Amelia Earhart Records

The U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence released long-promised records related to vanished pioneering aviator Amelia Earhart. More records are promised on a rolling basis

www.scientificamerican.com

Records Related to Amelia Earhart

On September 26, 2025, President Donald J. Trump directed “government records related to Amelia Earhart, her final trip, and everything else about her" be declassified and released. This website will be the home of documents and items that are released. The National Archives’ Role In accordance...

www.archives.gov

 

[Richard]

Most of what has been made public so far from these released records about Amelia's last flight and the search for her is information which is already known.

Such tidbits about alleged post-flight radio signals and letters from researchers or psychics are not necessarily true or proven facts in the case, but could be of interest.

What would be of high interest would be how this information was originally classified. If it was given a security classification of CONFIDENTIAL or SECRET - what was the reason behind it? And why were these records sealed and kept from the public for so long?

 

[cenazoic]

Movement / numbers of Navy/Coast Guard ships and planes, personnel names/numbers, radio technology, etc, would always be classified.

And there’s a culture of ‘once secret, always secret’ (in my experience with military intelligence, USAF). Example: WWI intercepts detailing secret ink formulae weren’t declassified until 2011. So I don’t think there’s anything suspicious or nefarious there, just ‘normal’ data hoarding by the government.

Speaking of Nikumaroro, anyone seen this (non-TIGHAR expedition to examine the “Taraia Object”) ?

Expedition to search for Amelia Earhart’s plane postponed to 2026

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University, Purdue Research Foundation (PRF) and the Archaeological Legacy Institute (ALI) announced Monday (Oct. 27) that the Taraia Object Expedition…

www.purdue.edu

 

[Richard]

I agree that "data hoarding" and the government version of "I've Got a Secret" probably played a good part in keeping the Amelia Earhart files classified.

But there have been many requests over the years by dedicated researchers for information. Requests have been denied or stonewalled often with the explanation that the information doesn't exist.

With the release of these files, perhaps long asked questions can be answered.

An example of this would be the allegation that the Japanese captured Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan and salvaged their aircraft. Also that a search for their bodies was conducted by US forces on Saipan in 1944. What is in the files about this?

 

[Richard]

The Treaty of Versailles at the end of World War One resulted in the establishment of a new League of Nations. The League appointed Japan to administer the "Mandated Islands" which had previously been claimed by Germany.

Japan began a program of colonizing and exploiting those various Islands. They built air fields, radio stations, ship docking facilities, fortifications, munitions storage bunkers, and military posts.

The Japanese Military considered these Islands to be their territory even after Japan withdraw from the League of Nations.

The Marshall Islands were in the Southeastern most area of the Mandated Islands. The Gilbert Island (claimed by Great Britain), over which Amelia and Fred's course passed, were to the south of the Marshalls.

When Amelia and Fred failed to arrive at Howland Island, a major search effort began. The US Navy covered the area south of the Marshalls, and requested that the Japanese assist by searching in the Marshalls.

The Gilberts and the Islands south of Howland, including Gardiner (now Nikunaroro) island were overflown in numerous sorties by US Navy carrier based planes.

The Japanese claimed in official diplomatic messages to have done a thorough search of the Marshalls, but said they found nothing. They named specific ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy as having participated in the search. Post War records revealed that those ships were actually in port in Japan at the time.

It is possible that the Japanese had already captured Amelia and Fred and were lying about a fictional search in order to appear helpful and to keep US ships and aircraft from entering "their" territory.

 

[Richard]

I too agree she likely crashed into the ocean and it’s one of my top theories as well. It’s the only explanation for why her plane’s wreckage hasn’t been uncovered yet. People have been looking out for her plane for nine decades, if she had managed to land somewhere I’m sure someone would’ve found her by now but I could always be wrong.

However, I still think it’s possible they made an emergency landing on a remote island somewhere along their flight path and lived as castaways until perishing. The fact that cosmetic products consistent with ones Earhart was known to use were found on Gardner Island has always stuck out to me

An aircraft - especially one like the Lockheed Electra 10 - would not suddenly crash and disintegrate if it ran out of fuel. The pilot would be able to control it into a water landing or ditching. If near an island or lagoon, a "crash landing" on land or a water ditching alongside the island might be attempted.

Pilots and navigators plan a flight carefully and fuel consumption is a major consideration in a flight plan. You always plan to arrive at a destination with a certain amount of reserve fuel on board in case you have to go to an alternate landing site.

In Amelia's case, we know that she was running short of fuel but don't know how much she had because she didn't say. She also did not say much in the way of her intentions. Those are two significant bits of information to include in any emergency message.

In her last transmission, she said she was running north and south on a line which could have been a sun line of position or some sort of radio direction finder vector. She could have seen another island while hoping to find Howland.

It is also possible that she decided to head back along her original course hoping to locate a landing/ditching place in the Gilberts. If she had drifted north, a heading to the west would take her, instead, over the Marshalls.

As with many possibilities and theories, the stories of possible radio messages sent by Amelia after her plane would no longer be airborne provide researchers with much to question, discuss, and consider.