The U.S. National Archives has released over 4,600 pages of previously classified government records detailing the 1937 disappearance of famed aviator Amelia Earhart. These documents, made public on Friday, include her last known radio transmission, which was sent on July 2, 1937, and detailed search logs from the U.S. Navy’s 16-day search operation that followed. The files also contain diplomatic correspondence from Japan expressing condolences for her disappearance, as well as records showing the Navy’s logistical support for her planned world flight.
The released records detail Earhart’s last confirmed radio transmission, which was reaffirmed at 1912 GMT near 157° east longitude, 337° south latitude. The U.S. Navy report, which spans 16 days, describes the search operations conducted by the USS Colorado and USS Lexington, covering nearly 250,000 square miles of the Pacific. PBY-1 seaplanes searched a 25,000-square-mile region daily. Despite extensive efforts, the report concludes there was no confirmed aircraft debris found within the search radius.
Among the findings is a section from the Navy report noting seven credible distress signals detected between July 2 and July 6, with two logged near Gardner Island, supporting the Nikumaroro theory. The Lockheed Electra performance charts indicate that the Navy recalculated Earhart’s fuel endurance at 20 hours and 13 minutes, extending her expected flight time by nearly 40 minutes beyond the initial Coast Guard estimate. This suggests there was speculation she may have passed Howland Island.
The documents also reveal that Earhart’s husband, George Putnam, was both her manager and the one who communicated with the Navy regarding the trip. The Navy, while not funding her journey, was authorized to assist with logistical aid. A memo dated November 18, 1936, confirms the Navy’s request to assist in refueling Earhart’s airplane ahead of her planned world flight in 1937.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced the release of the Earhart documents on X, emphasizing the public demand for answers surrounding her disappearance. She added that as agencies identify additional files, those documents will be released on a rolling basis, fulfilling President Donald Trump’s promise to declassify all Amelia Earhart files after nearly 90 years of public intrigue.