The U.S. National Archives has released 4,624 newly declassified pages of government records related to the mysterious disappearance of iconic aviator Amelia Earhart. The documents, made public as part of a directive from former President Donald Trump, include Earhart’s last known radio transmission, the Navy’s 16-day search report for her Lockheed Electra, and credible distress signals detected in the Gardner Island area. The files also detail her final communication on July 2, 1937, and confirm that no aircraft remains were found during the search, which spanned nearly 250,000 square miles of the Pacific.
Among the findings is a translated diplomatic letter from Japan expressing condolences for the tragedy, as well as records of the Navy’s logistical support for Earhart’s planned 1937 world flight. Earhart’s husband, George Putnam, is also referenced in the documents as both her manager and a key point of contact for the Navy. The files include a detailed recalculation of her fuel endurance, suggesting her flight time could have extended beyond the initial Coast Guard estimate, lending further credibility to theories that she may have reached Howland Island. The National Archives also noted that additional files will be released on a rolling basis as they become available.