What Happened to Amelia Earhart? Ancestry.com Posts Case File Investigating Her Disappearance


There are multiple theories surrounding the mysterious disappearance of iconic aviator Amelia Earhart, who vanished in 1937 while attempting to be the first woman to fly around the world. Today, Ancestry.com has published a case file revealing some unique details into the investigation of what happened. The 73-page file consists of letters and telegrams sent in the 1960s by an interesting cast of historical characters, including Congressman J. Arthur Younger, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Douglas MacArthur II and members of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Department of State.

The records give those of us curious about Amelia’s past a first-hand view of the investigation into the claim that she and her navigator Fred Noonan were taken prisoner and executed in Saipan, which at the time was governed by Japan. Through the years, this adaptation of Earhart’s death has become one of the many theories surrounding the 39-year-old’s mystery-riddled disappearance.

Letter from J Arthur Younger

In the above letter, Congressman J. Arthur Younger requests an investigation be made into evidence from U.S. Army Sergeant Thomas Devine, who said he had seen Amelia Earhart’s grave while he was stationed in Saipan.

In the telegram below, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Douglas MacArthur II explains that Japan has identified eight people who may have knowledge about Amelia Earhart’s disappearance in Saipan.

 Letter from MacArthur

The Earhart file is part of the Reports of Deaths of American Citizens Abroad collection on Ancestry.com.

Explore more details of the investigation here, and decide for yourself what really happened to Amelia Earhart. And if you’re still curious, go check out the movie “Amelia” coming out tonight. After learning more about the life of this amazing aviatrix, that’s exactly what I plan to do.

About Suzanne Campbell

Suzanne Campbell is a PR Manager for Ancestry.com. She enjoys sharing with the community the many exciting endeavors that Ancestry.com embarks upon to help folks discover their roots.

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October 23rd, 2009
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Comment Number:
1
Written by:
Nancy Irwin
Posted on:
October 24, 2009 at 1:56 pm

Do we know the ancestry of Amelia Earhart?

Comment Number:
2
Written by:
Jeff Ford
Posted on:
October 27, 2009 at 10:44 am

And this has what to do with genealogy and/or Ancestry’s “purported” mission?

Comment Number:
3
Written by:
Don Byers
Posted on:
October 27, 2009 at 12:30 pm

When I go to the “Reports of Deaths Abroad it basically gives from 1960 up…where is all this good stuff about Amelia???I am still looking..

Comment Number:
4
Written by:
Laura Hendrix
Posted on:
October 28, 2009 at 12:08 pm

i think this is good info for anyone interested in history, which encompasses genealogy..

Comment Number:
5
Written by:
Kenneth W. "Tex" Atkinson
Posted on:
October 31, 2009 at 12:09 pm

SOMETIME AGO, THIS YEAR, I WATCHED A DOCUMENTARY ON TV DETAILING FACTS OF AMELIA EARHART’S LAST FLIGHT.

The evidence discussed suggested that she landed on an island not far from her destination and broadcast for many hours her location. Several people heard thise broadcast. She had no radio receiver.

Natives reported seeing the aircraft but it is no longer there and believed to have dropped into deep water off the coast.

There was to be a search in a year of so by deep water divers to search for the aircraft.

Evidence of human remains were located and a few metal items found were suspected to belong to Amelia and her navigator.

Would like to obtain followup info but have no record of who broadcast the documentory.

Thanks for any assistance you can give. Tex Atkinson