For those of you who are curious about this video, I've continued to film interviews with veterans who saw her plane on Saipan. Recently I filmed two brothers in Colorado - WWII veterans, one stationed in Majuro, the other on Saipan. One brother heard from a Stevedore stationed on Majuro that he'd help transport the Electra from where it crashed,and the other brother saw the plane in a hangar guarded by American GI's. Documentary to follow
Interesting twist on the story that I've never heard before. My great grandfather was an Early Bird and met Miss Earhart on a few occasions. As a female, with our family's history in aviation, I was always fascinated by her as a child. These sorts of theories always start off sounding crazy... but then one has to ask WHY would these people all lie? What would they have to gain? What would be the point of it all? History has shown us that it's far more likely that our government has lied.
Exciting news! I was contacted by a viewer, I just interviewed two WWII vets; One stationed in Majuro, an islander claimed he helped offload AE's plane from a barge to a Jap ship after it was forced down and retrieved from Mili Atoll, the other vet stationed in Saipan, late 44 was shown AE's Electra in a hanger at Aslito airfield b4 it was destroyed. FOUR vets now I've interviewed saw her plane there, along with 200 islanders who saw her on Saipan as well! Gaining momentum for my doc! Thanks!!!
the japanese were know for taken people and not reporting them look at the crew of the USS Tang 9 of them were pow's no one knew they were alive till afther the war and look at jimmy Dye he was bush's wing man that went down he was beheaded and the US and Jap Gov's covered it up so do i think this is true Yeah i do the Japanese have a Bad History of this kind of thing
sorry for my ignorance, but i don't understand why the US military would want to burn her plane. i thought she was an american heroine. can someone explain?
@endlesssoul731 FDR (the president at the time) supposidly ordered her to vere off course to spy on the japanese, remember japan was at war with nationalist china and communist china since 1937, this would have been considered an act of war. how would the u.s. look if they started the war? granted the war was almost over by the time this story took place but would still look bad.
For those asking about my doc; it's in the works. About these clips; these men served in WWII, were stationed on Saipan. Her plane was found there in June of 1944, her briefcase a few days later. The plane was burned two weeks later; (7 years after she disappeared.) No info came out of Saipan til after the war; over 200 people said they saw her on Saipan over those 7 years. Why it's not public knowledge, or why people still search for her plane or remains on other isles is beyond me.
He just sounds like reading cards. He was near death when I interviewed him next to his hospital bed. I tried every trick to get him to speak normally - did takes of him just saying his name. But Tom was a tough bird, had strong opinions about his life's work. I don't agree with all the conclusions in his book, no matter; I was interested in what he saw (or thought he saw). These are eyewitnesses to history. No cue cards. Read comments below or watch "The Pacific" to see what they went thru
You mistook "Read" in present tense, for "read" in past tense. I'm suggesting when one does read about the subject (Elgen Long "Mystery Solved") one finds she was always going to land on Howland. Because FDR asked patriots (like Julia Child) for information doesn't make him creepy, any Pres would have asked for her help - but he was Putnam's old buddy. AE is quoted as saying "Imagine me being a spy" a comment much debated in E circles. She was a patriot, but not ignorant of the risks involved.
What I do find interesting is an episode of Unsolved Mysteries - a soldier during the war found that briefcase that was discussed by you in earlier comments and that brief case had the personal belongings of Emelia Earhart.. Very interesting indeed!!
What a RIDICULOUS comment. Its my own fault that I didn't put this information into a film and get it before the public when they made their statements. As it is I have 16 hours of testimony and interviews - and its comments like that the really make me angry that I didn't put this film out. So maybe its a good thing, a kick in the ass to get my film back on track, whatever it turns out to be. Thanks.
they're not actors. PLEASE. if they were I'd have written a better narrative. I had Mr. Devine repeat himself a couple of times to see if I could get him out of his cadence - it didn't work. The last thing Robt. Wallack said to me before he died was "Keep up the good work, Rick, and get this story told." He said this after having all his teeth removed from a painful bout with cancer. He was encouraging me! An amazing guy, toughest Marine I met. Bless their hearts, they trusted me to post this.
One of the first things that struck me as questionable as I read accounts of Earhart's disappearance was the choice of Howland Island for her landing...when there were so many larger, easier to spot from the air, islands in that area. Now that I am learning that the Japanese owned that island, it becomes even more questionable.
If you read up on the subject, you'll find Howland was always a choice, even when she was flying West to East. But Howland's ownership was in disputel Japan protested when the US claimed it in the 30's, so building an airstrip would have been provocative in 37 with Japan already at war. FDR built one anyway, as a result it was the first place bombed after Pearl Harbor. They correctly assumed we'd built it to attack them, it wasn't until Saipan was taken that we could build an airstrip to do so.
You should write a book on this or a full feature length documentary. Clearly you know alot about this case other than general youtube viewers like myself..
it's great just want to know did she fly around the world or what ? my dad,mom and other people in my family can't remember please comment and tell me if u found out.
please dont rely on youtube for your history.. pick up any book on her to hear her courageous story. Mary Lovell's is wonderful and highly recommended.
Most of American history is a compete lie or strech of a truth.Their is nothing in american histroy we can believe.You search long and hard like I have you will find alot of are history is diluted,Sad but very true.
I can't agree with you more! This country is filled with deception, lies and coverups - what's worse most Americans are clueless to this..On top of that, we have the media if ever rarely telling the whole truth.. Even channels like National Geogrpahic leave stuff out to prove their hypothesis as in their special on Amelia Earhart - they left out evidence such as Irene's Preist admitted she was Amelia after her death in 1982. Also, the Earhart family was actually friends with Irenes family
There's no evidence whatsoever of Irene Bolam being Earhart, yet I have a number of eyewitnesses (3 here) who were eyewitnesses to her plane burning and briefcase being found on Saipan. There are at least 2 who witnessed her death. One was interviewed by Connie Chung, the other is the daughter of the police chief who executed her who wrote letters about her death. try to stay with facts please, i won't post any Irene theories, thanks.
I agree. I too real extensively about most of the major issues and events of Am. history, and the contradictions are enough to drive one to distraction. An even either happened one way or it did not; why would there be so many versions of every event if not for misinformation and disinformation purposes? The powers that be do not want the public to know the truth. And as we read up on a prior event, new ones are happening the facts of which we will also be forced to speculate on, ad infinitum...
As a scientist put it to me recently "but people thought the sun went around the earth for centuries, that doesn't make it true." I agree - no matter how many eyewitnesses saw her die on Saipan, it doesn't make it true. But it allows the viewer to come to a consensus in their own mind, i.e., that this might be the most reasonable answer to the questions "what happened?"
Just saw the movie with Hilary Swank and Richard Gere. I think it needs to be investigated who was financing the planes and the flights she was taking. Earhart was a pioneer in women's aviation and just loved flying. I wouldn't put it past the government machine to use and exploit her for political or financial gain. She did not have the money for all those expeditions, she depended on donations and grants.
From the information that has come to light I believe that for a woman to be the first to circumvent the globe at a time when women weren't considered human enough to vote, the US secret service hunted her down after her plane landed and left her in Saipan for the Japanese to capture and torture her. It would have upset the order of things then, and even to this day since the truth is still being actively hidden by those who were responsible for the cover-up.
I've heard of a rumor that Earharts plane ditched in the ocean somewhere between Tarawa and Mili atoll, and her and Noonan were then picked up by the Japanese. I know this is one of only many "captured by the Japanese theories / rumors", but has anyone else heard of her being picked up out of the ocean by the Japanese??
yeah. scan thru the posts. over 200 people saw her and fred on saipan. not a rumor. Aussi papers reported her being picked up by a japanese fishing boat, but it was later discounted. it was a seaplane tender, and picked her up in Milli atoll along with the Electra. transported to Jaluit, then on to Saipan.
What's your point? That because you don't have the bodies, the 200 eyewitnesses should be discounted? Fliers were lost over the Bermuda triangle, no bones ever found, people disappear all the time without a trace - does that mean that we can't reasonably infer what happened to them? Except these bodies were dug up and Id'd. Three eyewitnesses to that fact. Did their corpses wind up on a ship that sunk? Reburied on Saipan? Or in the basement of the CIA? Don't know. Don't particularly care.
Fred Goerner's book is excellent. Highly recommend the second edition. He has one eyewitness who said Noonan died from beheading, another said he was shot. One eyewitness thought AE died of dystentery, as she changed her sheets at a hotel she stayed in briefly when she arrived. I've seen one eyewitness who claims AE was shot, and I've read a letter from the daughter of the man who shot her. That's enough for me.
Thanks for posting these interviews. I wonder can no DNA testing be done today of the "cell" in which she was said to be held in or the grave site in which she was said to be buried to prove if she was actually there.
No clue. Just reporting the eyewitness details. You can read thru the posts and decide for yourself. Either the over 200 eyewitnesses are lying (one guy suggested "they like the notoriety") or there's some truth to it. The Navy man was reportedly ordered to "either rescue her, or cover up the fact that she'd been there." Why would the US want that? Middle of a war. Would have made great PR. Could be they wanted to preserve the pristine memory of her, could be something else. One can only guess
As mentioned - it was turned over to a US Navy man, same man who supervised the torching of the plane. His identity was verified by J. Nabers - I saw this Navy man's name on a manifest of a ship that went to Saipan in 44. Don't know what he did with the briefcase after he got it. It may have gone to the bottom of the sea, (or to DC...?). Two people who didn't know each claim they saw it before turning it over to him; (both are interviewed above.) Her passport may still exist; I'm looking for it
It was turned over to the Navy man who supervised the torching of the plane. (confirmed independently). There was a passport in the briefcase which was seen by Robt. Wallack (above). Many ships from Saipan were sunk in Okinawa, may not have survived the trip home. Or maybe it did. Tantalizingly, the passport may still exist outside this chain of discovery. I'm looking for it. There may be some evidence in the womens flight museum in Akron if anyone gets a chance to go there and search. Hot tip.
@jsnramc1 Akron, Ohio? I live in Ohio I didn't know the women's flight museum was here. I may just have to check that out. It would be interesting if somehow something like that would surface. The whole story is just incredible. Thanks for answering my question.
I remember reading an article a year or so ago that mentioned the fact that Caucasian female remains, as well as feminine artifacts such as makeup and a hairbrush, were found on a deserted island (not sure which one). Is this true? Also, can you recommend a good factual type book related to the mysteries surrounding her disappearance?
Again; over 200 people saw her on Saipan, a few saw her executed, were interviewed, one is the daughter of the police chief who killed her. Not a deserted island at all. Books I recommend; "Last Flight" by AE, "Mystery Solved" by Elgen Long, "Search for AE" by Fred Goerner (2nd ed), Campbell & Devine's books "Eyewitness," "Sound of Wings" by Lovell, "AE" by Knaggs, "Eyewitness" Buddy Brennan's video, the Tighar website, "Legerdemain" by Bowman is the most recent and probably best in detail.
Saipan didn't. She was executed by Japanese who occupied Saipan. They executed a number of "spies" prior to WWII, a British couple among others who passed along intel on their illegal (Treaty of Nations) build up in the Pacific. She spent approx. 5 years in Garapan prison, if you go to Saipan her "cell" is on a tour. I'll say it again; over 200 islanders saw her there and are on record claiming she was there, and died there. These soldiers only found her briefcase, passport and plane.
Do the research if you're curious. You'll find most recent documentaries on AE (Biography/National Geographic and others) the Japanese were aware of her flight and considered it a US military mission. The Japanese claimed Howland isle before the US, resented the airstrip we built solely for her flight. The first place bombed hours after Pearl Harbor? The airstrip on Howland. Either way, I'm not intimating anything about her trip other than eyewitness accounts. They speak for themselves.
@martinifilm I remember reading an article a year or so ago that mentioned the fact that Caucasian female remains, as well as feminine artifacts such as makeup and a hairbrush, were found on a deserted island (not sure which one). Is this true? Also, can you recommend a good factual type book related to the mysteries surrounding her disappearance?
why would the U.S. govt. keep her capture secret? For political reasons? And why would the U.S.Marines given the task of destroying her plane? Is it a case of the U.S. govt. not being willing to admit what her real objective was? This whole issue is intrigueing to say the least...
Why would the U.S. gov. waste a $100 dollars worth of .50 cal. tracer ammo to set the fuel on fire to burn down the plane when a simple road flare from the jeep or a piece of paper or a simple round from a .45 could have set it off? The last guy can't even describe the plane, he has no clue what it looked like. An easy description could have been shiny aluminum skin with a twin rudder, but that also covers lots of planes. Most likely what happened, it ran out of fuel, and broke up in the ocean.
He's not claiming anything. He's just telling you what he saw. I have been in the archives in DC and have found a report confirming the fire on the runway on a specific date, which matches this testimony. I have two eyewitnesses to the destruction of the plane that I've personally interviewed, and neither had ever met the other. Their stories match up. Again, over 200 people saw her on Saipan, sorry if that annoys you. This is as he remembered it; if you call as Marine a liar, you can't post.
This whole cover up thing just don't add up. Nothing to gain from doing so. Even if it was...releasing the information now would serve to consequence to anyone. Sorry, but i dont' buy this up. I wish that the US government would fund the search and give her an american hero burial.
No one is claiming its a cover up. What is claimed is that either thru incompetence, laziness, or prejudice, people have overlooked the obvious. She was seen on Saipan. People saw her executed there. People saw her plane destroyed. Don't know why, don't really care. Someone else can dig that up. Why isn't this info better known? I found it pretty easily doing research. I'm not the 1st, won't be the last. If it was a cover up, they did a damned good job and deserve credit for it.
Rich - I am interested as to why US forces would destroy Amelia Earhart's airplane as late as - what? - 1944?
After searching so hard to find her in 1937, why would the US seek to eradicate all trace of Amelia and fed and their airplane as a war with Japan was ongoing?
Maybe I'm missing something here - if so, can you help me understand?
Good questions. I can only report what facts I've ascertained. The Why is to be discovered. Over 200 people saw her on Saipan from 1937 to 1942. People have reported how she got there, where she lived, and how she died. People have reported finding her plane, briefcase and body on Saipan. That her plane was destroyed by US forces. Briefcase turned over, body dug up. Discovery covered up. Why? I'd guess she was a spy for FDR (like Julia Child and others.) I know who covered it up, and he was ONI.
Whilst I concede this remains a possibility, and that the collected eyewitness statements may add up to an identification, is it not also true that many such statements from Saipan also only identified a "western female" - or words to that effect?
If you're really interested, do the research. You'll find many sources with people who took statements from eyewitnesses; the south African journalist who filmed interviews, wrote a book, there's a book with just statements of eye witnesses, interviews by Connie Chung, the "eyewitness to the execution" interviews, as well as my own. To me critiques of the islanders' statements feels bigoted, as if they were delusional.See for yourself. No witnesses elsewhere vs hundreds on Saipan.
This is very interesting. I had no idea. Do you think this will be included in the movie. I was just watching Hilary Swank on Oprah and decided to come to youtube to find out more about her. This is an eye opener.
I was hired on the Swank movie for my research - I'm a writer-director, have my own AE project which begins where theirs ends. I'm sad to say I'm still trying to get my film made - while theirs seemed to miss the key question; what happened to her? I think she had lots more secrets, I've recently come across a few, and hopefully one day I'll be able to make my film, and let it speak for itself. These three soldiers were part of my background research, bless them; they're no longer with us.
Read Elgen Long's book. She wrote in "last flight" she didn't know morse code. The Itasca followed Harry Manning protocols but Harry was no longer with her; she spoke and they didn't. She was picked up on Mili atoll where she ditched by the Kyoshu, a seaplane tender. Seen by over 200 islanders, she was executed when the US shelled Saipan 5 years later.(I'm credited in "Amelia" for my research)
God bless these heros but man they are annoying to listen to. The question I have is how could Itasca hear her so well and estimated she was inside 100 miles from them based on her last voice com, but these guys are saying she was captured by the Japs?
I never knew about this amazing lady until I watched movie about her last night. I am so excited to know more about Amelia's life and the books she has written in her life.
This video gave my answer to the question that Had no one ever found any stuff or anything around that place where she disappeared?
May I repeat, over 200 people saw her on Saipan after she disappeared. No one saw her anywhere else. She was held captive by the Japanese and executed for being a spy. Whether she was one or not is subject to conjecture. The fact that she was picked up, incarcerated and executed should not be - but for some reason still is. But this comment is not as annoying as the next one.
These "witnesses" are just a bunch of old wannabes. Any proof? Did the old fart save her brief case? Naw, why would he think of that? Just old war stories.
Why would anyone destroy her airplane? Is that plausible? I'm surprised they didn't serve in Roswell too.
All these people that supposedly saw this, and he is the only one that saw it, come on, and why in the hell would they have destryed it, conspricy theroists, have got to be the worst believers.
I'd reply to this, but I don't think there's a question here. Or a sentence. I'll just leave it to reflect the person expressing the opinion. Thanks for posting.
I don't understand why the US military would have destroyed Amelia's Lockheed Electra, unless the discovery would have refuted earlier official accounts of the plane's disappearance.
just as i thought... she died, and now this mystery is resolved. so many people like saying she came back undercover. just like people keep saying elvis presley is alive. -_-
Amelia Earhart could have been a huge conspiracy she could have faked the crash and then come back to investigate something for the government or maybe her crash was cause by a supernatural force in which if the US found out they would panic and do stupid shit.But Elvis,Elvis is dead ^^
It's true to their memories. I've found more GI's who have 2nd hand accounts of her being there. They don't know why; it's unproven - but saw her plane, her briefcase, and her body. Try and read Fred Goerner's book (rev. ed), Elgen Long for why she went off course, (AE's own "Lost Flight" corroborates her lack of being able to use morse code), Brennan's video interviews of "Witness to the Execution" (also interviewed by connie chung). good luck.
its all shit, unfortunately she's dead, these things happen, no use coming up with theories and trying to become famous. god bless you amelia, everyone respects what you did, god bless x
These three men gained nothing from their tale. They are merely 3 of over 200 people who saw AE on Saipan before and during the war. Try to have a little respect for these three soldiers, who risked their lives so that you could post criticisms on youtube. The truth takes nothing away from AE's accomplishments. She should be remembered for her sacrifice on behalf of the nation AND her contribution to the history of aviation.
To those of you asking "Why is this only coming out now?", well it isn't. Anyone interested in this needs to read the book "The Search for Amelia Earhart" by CBS correspondant Fred Goerner. Some of these very people and many many more were found and quoted in 1966 book. The Saipan story has so much evidence supporting it in fact that I personally really can't imagine what the "mystery" is.
Thanks Jon, you're absolutely right. Fred got the story, just not the smoking gun. Unfortunately he came back with some bones from a tomb (she'd already been dug up) a piece of an engine (he assumed her plane had flown to Saipan) and was discredited because of them. In his second edition, he interviewed the GI's who dug her up. He just didn't know about Julious Nabers or Robert Wallack. The story is there if one just looks for it. Thanks for posting
men in those days didn't come out and just tell lies for no apparent reason. I believe every word they say and martinifilm has done a fine job of research on the matter of Amelia Earhart.
I totally agree. No one fully understands the government, and are kept in the dark about certain things. These men may have potentially risked their lives telling this story. I believe them 100%.
people the government will lie and do anything to make a buck at anyone expense!!!!!!!!!!!! So it could have happend the way they said , you never know some many explanations you cant rule this out !!!!!!!!!!
The briefcase was handed over to a USN Officer by Mr. Wallack. His identity was confirmed by 2 sources. The same man supervised the destruction of her plane, and dug up the bodies. The decoded messages aren't in the official file in Washington - I know, I've looked. However, a message confirming the burning of the plane was found last month. Over 200 people have gone on record as to her presence and death on Saipan. Calling US Marines liars, that's up to you. They only confirm what others know.
I apologize to You Sir , but what I was stating was it is 40 years later and they are just coming out with this news now.How come they did not sat anything when she was first declared missing.I'm sure the briefcase was around then.
No apology needed. These men told me they thought the news would come out during World War II. But it didn't. They continued to fight a long campaign in the Pacific. They were as surprised as anyone the info wasn't released. The US military wanted to cover up the fact she'd been in a prison in Saipan, or that she'd spied (as they thought) on the Japanese - it would ruin her reputation. She was dead, so, they covered up the story. Did a good job. Until now. The truth always comes out.
because its classified there trained not to say anything thats why my dad was in military intellegence was informed of alot a crap that would blow your mind about the government , but tthey get trained to keep there mouth shut, now there up in age they didnt have much time to leav so it didnt matter thats why they came forward 40 years later
I think this happened between Amelia Earhart and her partner Fred Noonan. After they got lost, they fought over where anything was and eventually wanting to survive he killed her over control of the plane and went on to live a new life with a new identity. Or if their is any connections to the evidence found, he was a spy sent to kill Amelia Earhart from overachieving that of male status right form the start. Makes sense to me.
Amelia Earhart's disappearance is one of the greatest UNSOLVED mysteries.
I personally believe she was either shot down by the Japanese or there was "foul play." A woman aviator was about to circumnavigate the Earth in 1937. Had any "man" accomplished this feat back then? One of the last things she said over her radio, "we're flying north and south." Was she lost? Could her flying instruments have failed her? Could there have been a government cover-up? The truth will surface sone day.
the antenna on her plane was broken so she couldnt communicate, they could hear her but couldnt talk back to her, she needed info about where the island was and she ran out of gas trying to find it, if you see the island from the sky, youll notice its very very small, she crashed landed her plane on the water but she got out as it sank, she took out alot of stuff out of the plane before it sank, like her suitcases and other stuff, she and the man she was with drowned in the middle of nowhere
why would they destroy it and not telling anyone? people would have known not to keep looking for her and she would have been considered a hero if she was on some kind of special mission. instead she was just..gone.
i think they ran out of full because they radioed the station saying that they where low on fuel so they couldnt find any place to land and then they ran out of fuel and they crashed in the middle of the ocean and they were stuck because they didnt have a radio because they needed fuel to use it today we dont need fuel to use a radio because it runs on electricity
Very interesting. But three things do puzzle me: -why would they still keep it a secret over 70 years later?
-how about the `clear signs of recent habitation' found on gardner island only shortly after earharts disappearance?
-how about nearly identical eyewitness reports from the Marshall Islands, nearly 3000 miles to the south?
However, the case for some kind of spy-story makes sense. After losing Zeppelins Akron & Macon in '35-'36. The US lacked sufficient reconnaissace in the Pacific.
One of these guys went back to Saipan in the 60's with Fred Goerner. They dug up sites. According to other witnesses, the US dug her up, and what was found later were others. AE was seen on Saipan by over 200 eyewitnesses on the island. Her briefcase and plane were discovered there intact. Her plane was destroyed - but yes, no matter how much you burn or shoot up a plane, there's still physical evidence. Someone should dig up the old runway, which is still there.
I just read the book, "Lost Star." It's all about Amelia's flight & a request from the American Government that she take pictures of the Japanese in the Pacific during the war.
Her plane was equpit with 2 special cameras & wasn't even her origianl Lockheed. She was given a different one, a bigger one fitted with evrything she needed
There's documents in the book from the government that proves she was doing something for them. Read it & be amazed.
So, this is what Most likely happened... Amelia flew near SAIPAN and the Japanese thought that she was an American spy. Then, they shot her plane down and took her prisoner. Then she and her navigator were probably killed. So, that marine found her plane? On the history channel, that marine said when his company was raiding the island, he found a passport with her ID on it.
I know this is probably a HORRIBLE thing to say, but what if Amelia was killed after releasing information to the Japanese? Under certain pressure, someone could spill the beans. What if she were killed b/c of that, and the government didn't want her to be remembered that way?
don't raise stupid things like that when there is absolutely no reason to think that. hey, what if she was really an alien and the govt didn't want anyone to know? what is she was a spy for the nazis? what if she was a communist spy, and wanted everyone to think that the US govt killed her?
there is no evidence to think any of these stupid theories. don't just raise something dumb to ruin her reputation.
she ran out of gas and her navigator was probably drunk. end of story.
You need to calm the f*ck down. It's called theories, as*hole. I clearly stated that it might be horrible to post that, so yes, I know that it would offend someone. There's no reason for you to attack anyone for their theories. If you don't like people's input here, than you probably shouldn't be watching a video that almost disproves her just crashing somewhere. GTFO.
why has this been kept so hush hush i would think something would have broken aver this...if it was hid and kept secret after all these years wouldnt some one have spoken i guess i just wanna know the truth like we all do ...
this mystery is messed up i mean com on why they destroy the plane and let her die? they could hav actually put those plane parts in the museum. that wud hav been cool
After finding out about my uncles(Mr. Nabors) knowledge of this after his death I got more interested in it. I heard that she spun out while taking off and the military fixed her plane free of charge in return they installed surveillance cameras in her plane and the Japanese found out about this and that's why she was brought down and held before they killed her and her co-pilot.
I'd like to say a few words about Robert Wallack, interviewed in this clip, who passed away last week. The toughest Marine I've ever met, the most charming man I've ever interviewed. My condolences to his wife Honorine, his daughter and sons, who were lucky to have such a wonderful dad. Bob'd call to encourage ME while undergoing chemo, "to hang in there" to get AE's "story told." With his guidance from above, I'm still hoping to do that. Thanks for your help Bob. God bless and Semper Fi.
The problem with the Mikio Suzuki 'Sugita' account is it's inconsistent, and therefore unreliable. Not to mention there were several other 'Earhart death' reports; The two Goerner 'Earhart died' accounts (1 by sickness, 1 by Kempeitai execution), the Brennan 'eyewitness execution' account, the Knaggs account, Akiyama's, etc. There's a pattern here, likely-initially propagandized by Japan itself, to mark Amelia as gone forever. U. S. & Japan history required it.
If you read Suzuki's letters, you'll find her account isn't inconsistent. Goerner's book is as accurate as it could be, being the first with the story in the 1960's. Connie Chung's interview with Ms. Blas is also compelling. This follows the annoying argument that natives don't know what they're talking about, are lying, or are drunk. Find a few eyewitnesses to any other theory and we can discuss it. In honor of those who have spoken on record I'm ending this discussion. Thanks for posting.
Again, the problem remains to few actually conveyed the authentic account of her execution. The Petrik/Brennan interviews notwithstanding, no way (you know this Rich) no way would Japan have done such a thing. AE needed to move on, not as a dead person, but as a replaced person, death recorded. So much was the political answer. It's nice to believe she died, it just didn't happen that way physically. The logistical research evidence and forensic research evidence... it's way too clear.
I'm not sure why eyewitnesses are discounted. Connie Chung interviewed the same woman as Brennan. The Saipan Chief of Police's daughter, Ms. Suzuki, has gone on record, both in print in the US, and in newspapers in Japan with her eyewitness account of her father telling how he had to execute Ms. Earhart. One can read her letters to Devine, or the Japanese news accounts as I have. There are no eyewitnesses to any other story that I'm aware of. I happen to consider eyewitnesses credible. Sorry.
Pertaining to the 'survival' theory, where in 1965 Admiral Nimitz did admit it was known and documented in Washington how Earhart ended up existing under the auspice of Japan after she was reported 'missing,' the question became: Would Japan, who in the 1930s regaled Amelia Earhart as a hero (Babe Ruth too) have allowed Amelia to die either by sickness or execution? OR, could another co-endorsed (U.S., Japan) solution have been achieved for her continued existence? The latter holds weight.
I respectfully disagree. Nimitz did tell Fred Goerner personally he was "on the right track" with his story. In the amended version of his book, Goerner, in my opinion, got it right. The CBS newsman was the first to report her death in Saipan, and identify eyewitnesses. Over 200 saw her on Saipan, I know of at least 2 who had first hand knowledge of her execution. There's no question in my mind what happened. The 'Why' is another matter, and up to speculation. I'm more interested in the 'How.'
according to these eyewitnesses, they watched her plane destroyed by US forces in June of 1944. Two watched her plane burn, one found her briefcase and heard about her burial on Saipan. Two are US Marines, and one is an Army Soldier.
Some think it was to protect her reputation. (because she was a spy?) some think it was to protect FDR's reputation. (because he knew she'd been captured via the broken Japanese code?) Or maybe just because it was better to let sleeping dogs lie. I don't know. Perhaps someone who is still alive knows the answer. Perhaps it will come out of detective work, ie someone digs up the Japanese war records from Saipan. Perhaps. Meanwhile, it's good to know that it was destroyed deliberately, not lost.
but it's still weird that they deliberatly desroyed. someone could have put it desplay in a museum. wouldnt you love to tour around her plane if it hadn't been destroyed??
If you click on neilnils you will find a good earhart website link in the channel description. It discusses the main never-disproved post war survival theory.
The eyewitness evidence, I'm sorry to say, leads one to conclude that she was executed on Saipan. Too many people saw her there, a few saw her die, and a few saw her grave. There's no evidence from any eyewitnesses to the contrary I'm aware of.
The assumption then, is to doubt the eyewitness testimonial of Major Gervais ret., who in 1965 felt he identified the body evidence of the person formerly known as Amelia Earhart. In recent years more light has been shed on this issue. National Geographic tried to make light of it in 2006, as has been the tradition of historical dictum influence always. For those who examine it closely, it does look like Gervais was a certifiable eyewitness. Goerner, Devine, Brennan never found body evidence.
ill buy the fact japanese got her but was she really killed im not so sure there did she come back to the us later maybe some day it will come out and also what happened to tha man who was with her.
there are a number of eyewitnesses to her death. The daughter of the man who ordered her execution, Suzuki, has written about it in letters to Tom Devine. Ms. Blanco was interviewed by Connie Chung, who claimed to have watched her execution (the account is the same as from the daughter). Two GI's, Hanson and Burke wrote in the Stars and Stripes in 44 that they were ordered to dig up the bodies of AE and Fred Noonan, and they later told their story to Fred Goerner. Many eyewitnesses.
what about the radio signals coming in for days after she was lost ham radio operators
have said signals came in for days sos and emergency transmissions from a woman and man saying who they were even why werent they traced its all weird so many people saying so much different stuff i know we all wish we knew the real story and also why would these men not tell they had no reason the truth its all crazy thanks.
i try to stick to eyewitnesses. so far i've gathered over 100 who saw her on saipan. two who i interviewed who saw US troops burn her plane. two who watched her be executed, one being the daughter of the police chief who executed her. the story is there for everyone to see if they take the time to read what people have written in the past.
Think about it, BOTH SIDES have a vested interest in keeping AE disappearance "as it is recorded in history". U.S. from the standpoint she was used as a spy and the Japanese because they won't want to admit that she was excuted. Maybe AEs radio reports were bogus and while giving them she was infact flying straight for the Marshalls. The plan may have been she'll crash land there and be returned by the Japanese to U.S. and report what she saw. Gov did not think they'd kill a lady. Search? P.R.
For those of you who are curious about this video, I've continued to film interviews with veterans who saw her plane on Saipan. Recently I filmed two brothers in Colorado - WWII veterans, one stationed in Majuro, the other on Saipan. One brother heard from a Stevedore stationed on Majuro that he'd help transport the Electra from where it crashed,and the other brother saw the plane in a hangar guarded by American GI's. Documentary to follow
martinifilm 1 week ago
Finally! I knew the government lied!
EpicStudios1 2 months ago
Keep up the good work, by the way. Regardless of the outcome, constantly striving to learn more and reveal the truth can only be a good thing. Kudos.
mzlove1974 7 months ago
Interesting twist on the story that I've never heard before. My great grandfather was an Early Bird and met Miss Earhart on a few occasions. As a female, with our family's history in aviation, I was always fascinated by her as a child. These sorts of theories always start off sounding crazy... but then one has to ask WHY would these people all lie? What would they have to gain? What would be the point of it all? History has shown us that it's far more likely that our government has lied.
mzlove1974 7 months ago
@mzlove1974
I've finally gotten around to interviewing some other veterans and see the info below the clip to see the new interviews, thanks. R
martinifilm 7 months ago
thums up if u are watching this in 2011
MrSpongebob1986 7 months ago
wonderful work Rick - when will the doc be ready?
dewaynecullen 1 year ago
wow you interviewed these people? amazing :)
xonp34 1 year ago
Exciting news! I was contacted by a viewer, I just interviewed two WWII vets; One stationed in Majuro, an islander claimed he helped offload AE's plane from a barge to a Jap ship after it was forced down and retrieved from Mili Atoll, the other vet stationed in Saipan, late 44 was shown AE's Electra in a hanger at Aslito airfield b4 it was destroyed. FOUR vets now I've interviewed saw her plane there, along with 200 islanders who saw her on Saipan as well! Gaining momentum for my doc! Thanks!!!
martinifilm 1 year ago
very interesting!!
halkiphulkiben 1 year ago
another dirty act by us government, no wonder no one believes a word they say
AussiesRock72 1 year ago
how much stuff does the american goverment cover up
AussiesRock72 1 year ago
the japanese were know for taken people and not reporting them look at the crew of the USS Tang 9 of them were pow's no one knew they were alive till afther the war and look at jimmy Dye he was bush's wing man that went down he was beheaded and the US and Jap Gov's covered it up so do i think this is true Yeah i do the Japanese have a Bad History of this kind of thing
seawolfu99 1 year ago
sorry for my ignorance, but i don't understand why the US military would want to burn her plane. i thought she was an american heroine. can someone explain?
endlesssoul731 1 year ago
@endlesssoul731 FDR (the president at the time) supposidly ordered her to vere off course to spy on the japanese, remember japan was at war with nationalist china and communist china since 1937, this would have been considered an act of war. how would the u.s. look if they started the war? granted the war was almost over by the time this story took place but would still look bad.
darian2777 1 year ago
For those asking about my doc; it's in the works. About these clips; these men served in WWII, were stationed on Saipan. Her plane was found there in June of 1944, her briefcase a few days later. The plane was burned two weeks later; (7 years after she disappeared.) No info came out of Saipan til after the war; over 200 people said they saw her on Saipan over those 7 years. Why it's not public knowledge, or why people still search for her plane or remains on other isles is beyond me.
martinifilm 1 year ago
the last guy u interviewed, when asked "can you describe the plane?" he avoided that question. It makes it a bit sketchy but otherwise this is kewl!
Furizle135 1 year ago
Why destroy the plane and keep the whole thing secret? The first guy looked like he was reading off cue cards.
AliceFan1 1 year ago
He just sounds like reading cards. He was near death when I interviewed him next to his hospital bed. I tried every trick to get him to speak normally - did takes of him just saying his name. But Tom was a tough bird, had strong opinions about his life's work. I don't agree with all the conclusions in his book, no matter; I was interested in what he saw (or thought he saw). These are eyewitnesses to history. No cue cards. Read comments below or watch "The Pacific" to see what they went thru
martinifilm 1 year ago
wow
LifeBoatSinking 1 year ago
yup figured somethin was sketchy about amelias dissapearence....dont believe wat they tell you
0theetruth0 1 year ago
You mistook "Read" in present tense, for "read" in past tense. I'm suggesting when one does read about the subject (Elgen Long "Mystery Solved") one finds she was always going to land on Howland. Because FDR asked patriots (like Julia Child) for information doesn't make him creepy, any Pres would have asked for her help - but he was Putnam's old buddy. AE is quoted as saying "Imagine me being a spy" a comment much debated in E circles. She was a patriot, but not ignorant of the risks involved.
martinifilm 1 year ago
What I do find interesting is an episode of Unsolved Mysteries - a soldier during the war found that briefcase that was discussed by you in earlier comments and that brief case had the personal belongings of Emelia Earhart.. Very interesting indeed!!
herbiiderbii 1 year ago
that soldier is interviewed above.
martinifilm 1 year ago
All of these men "happen" to be dead.
mrceebees14 1 year ago
What a RIDICULOUS comment. Its my own fault that I didn't put this information into a film and get it before the public when they made their statements. As it is I have 16 hours of testimony and interviews - and its comments like that the really make me angry that I didn't put this film out. So maybe its a good thing, a kick in the ass to get my film back on track, whatever it turns out to be. Thanks.
martinifilm 1 year ago
Finish your movie, we are all waiting.
mrceebees14 1 year ago
These guys are either really stellar actors or else they are telling the truth - what they saw, heard, and experienced.
jimfarrowlove 1 year ago
they're not actors. PLEASE. if they were I'd have written a better narrative. I had Mr. Devine repeat himself a couple of times to see if I could get him out of his cadence - it didn't work. The last thing Robt. Wallack said to me before he died was "Keep up the good work, Rick, and get this story told." He said this after having all his teeth removed from a painful bout with cancer. He was encouraging me! An amazing guy, toughest Marine I met. Bless their hearts, they trusted me to post this.
martinifilm 1 year ago
One of the first things that struck me as questionable as I read accounts of Earhart's disappearance was the choice of Howland Island for her landing...when there were so many larger, easier to spot from the air, islands in that area. Now that I am learning that the Japanese owned that island, it becomes even more questionable.
olga2415 1 year ago
If you read up on the subject, you'll find Howland was always a choice, even when she was flying West to East. But Howland's ownership was in disputel Japan protested when the US claimed it in the 30's, so building an airstrip would have been provocative in 37 with Japan already at war. FDR built one anyway, as a result it was the first place bombed after Pearl Harbor. They correctly assumed we'd built it to attack them, it wasn't until Saipan was taken that we could build an airstrip to do so.
martinifilm 1 year ago
You should write a book on this or a full feature length documentary. Clearly you know alot about this case other than general youtube viewers like myself..
herbiiderbii 1 year ago
thanks. i should. (i pitched it awhile ago, got a thumbs down, but with my new info, maybe it's worth another shot).
martinifilm 1 year ago
it's great just want to know did she fly around the world or what ? my dad,mom and other people in my family can't remember please comment and tell me if u found out.
16phillips 1 year ago
please dont rely on youtube for your history.. pick up any book on her to hear her courageous story. Mary Lovell's is wonderful and highly recommended.
martinifilm 1 year ago
history is filled with lyers
jjst1994 1 year ago
i think you meant flyers
martinifilm 1 year ago
We should care Martin. It is only through observing history we being to really learn. : )
Danue333 1 year ago
Most of American history is a compete lie or strech of a truth.Their is nothing in american histroy we can believe.You search long and hard like I have you will find alot of are history is diluted,Sad but very true.
jrrolow2yahoo 1 year ago 6
I can't agree with you more! This country is filled with deception, lies and coverups - what's worse most Americans are clueless to this..On top of that, we have the media if ever rarely telling the whole truth.. Even channels like National Geogrpahic leave stuff out to prove their hypothesis as in their special on Amelia Earhart - they left out evidence such as Irene's Preist admitted she was Amelia after her death in 1982. Also, the Earhart family was actually friends with Irenes family
herbiiderbii 1 year ago
There's no evidence whatsoever of Irene Bolam being Earhart, yet I have a number of eyewitnesses (3 here) who were eyewitnesses to her plane burning and briefcase being found on Saipan. There are at least 2 who witnessed her death. One was interviewed by Connie Chung, the other is the daughter of the police chief who executed her who wrote letters about her death. try to stay with facts please, i won't post any Irene theories, thanks.
martinifilm 1 year ago
I agree. I too real extensively about most of the major issues and events of Am. history, and the contradictions are enough to drive one to distraction. An even either happened one way or it did not; why would there be so many versions of every event if not for misinformation and disinformation purposes? The powers that be do not want the public to know the truth. And as we read up on a prior event, new ones are happening the facts of which we will also be forced to speculate on, ad infinitum...
olga2415 1 year ago
As a scientist put it to me recently "but people thought the sun went around the earth for centuries, that doesn't make it true." I agree - no matter how many eyewitnesses saw her die on Saipan, it doesn't make it true. But it allows the viewer to come to a consensus in their own mind, i.e., that this might be the most reasonable answer to the questions "what happened?"
martinifilm 1 year ago
Just saw the movie with Hilary Swank and Richard Gere. I think it needs to be investigated who was financing the planes and the flights she was taking. Earhart was a pioneer in women's aviation and just loved flying. I wouldn't put it past the government machine to use and exploit her for political or financial gain. She did not have the money for all those expeditions, she depended on donations and grants.
StarLite9152 1 year ago
From the information that has come to light I believe that for a woman to be the first to circumvent the globe at a time when women weren't considered human enough to vote, the US secret service hunted her down after her plane landed and left her in Saipan for the Japanese to capture and torture her. It would have upset the order of things then, and even to this day since the truth is still being actively hidden by those who were responsible for the cover-up.
BodyFitLife 2 years ago
I've heard of a rumor that Earharts plane ditched in the ocean somewhere between Tarawa and Mili atoll, and her and Noonan were then picked up by the Japanese. I know this is one of only many "captured by the Japanese theories / rumors", but has anyone else heard of her being picked up out of the ocean by the Japanese??
QM183 2 years ago
yeah. scan thru the posts. over 200 people saw her and fred on saipan. not a rumor. Aussi papers reported her being picked up by a japanese fishing boat, but it was later discounted. it was a seaplane tender, and picked her up in Milli atoll along with the Electra. transported to Jaluit, then on to Saipan.
martinifilm 2 years ago
lol see the fly ontop of hiz head at 5:55? lol
bosser231 2 years ago
Amelia Earharts' airplane still isn't Noonan and Earhart bodies, is it?
NotAvailableOne 2 years ago
What's your point? That because you don't have the bodies, the 200 eyewitnesses should be discounted? Fliers were lost over the Bermuda triangle, no bones ever found, people disappear all the time without a trace - does that mean that we can't reasonably infer what happened to them? Except these bodies were dug up and Id'd. Three eyewitnesses to that fact. Did their corpses wind up on a ship that sunk? Reburied on Saipan? Or in the basement of the CIA? Don't know. Don't particularly care.
martinifilm 2 years ago
I've always heard she and Fred of dysentary on Saipan. Wonderful book by Fred Goering years ago...plus the offical
Amelia search website was an interest.
The CIA wasn't invented in 1937; OSS was the preCIA and that was created in WW2.
How many m issionaries are missing from that day and age?
Just curious....
cheers!
NotAvailableOne 2 years ago
Fred Goerner's book is excellent. Highly recommend the second edition. He has one eyewitness who said Noonan died from beheading, another said he was shot. One eyewitness thought AE died of dystentery, as she changed her sheets at a hotel she stayed in briefly when she arrived. I've seen one eyewitness who claims AE was shot, and I've read a letter from the daughter of the man who shot her. That's enough for me.
martinifilm 2 years ago
Thanks for posting these interviews. I wonder can no DNA testing be done today of the "cell" in which she was said to be held in or the grave site in which she was said to be buried to prove if she was actually there.
Love7escobar 2 years ago
so the japanese executed her, and the US govt burned the plane? because..?
SoccerDudeACW 2 years ago
No clue. Just reporting the eyewitness details. You can read thru the posts and decide for yourself. Either the over 200 eyewitnesses are lying (one guy suggested "they like the notoriety") or there's some truth to it. The Navy man was reportedly ordered to "either rescue her, or cover up the fact that she'd been there." Why would the US want that? Middle of a war. Would have made great PR. Could be they wanted to preserve the pristine memory of her, could be something else. One can only guess
martinifilm 2 years ago
I know that i can be wrong ofcourse but i have a bit of a feeling that it's about more then preservation. ^^;
YoraPiratekitty 2 years ago
what happned to the briefcase?!
joho1316 2 years ago
As mentioned - it was turned over to a US Navy man, same man who supervised the torching of the plane. His identity was verified by J. Nabers - I saw this Navy man's name on a manifest of a ship that went to Saipan in 44. Don't know what he did with the briefcase after he got it. It may have gone to the bottom of the sea, (or to DC...?). Two people who didn't know each claim they saw it before turning it over to him; (both are interviewed above.) Her passport may still exist; I'm looking for it
martinifilm 2 years ago
Whatever happened to the breifcase? Why didn't anyone keep it? That was a very valuable part of any Earhart story?
jsnramc1 2 years ago
It was turned over to the Navy man who supervised the torching of the plane. (confirmed independently). There was a passport in the briefcase which was seen by Robt. Wallack (above). Many ships from Saipan were sunk in Okinawa, may not have survived the trip home. Or maybe it did. Tantalizingly, the passport may still exist outside this chain of discovery. I'm looking for it. There may be some evidence in the womens flight museum in Akron if anyone gets a chance to go there and search. Hot tip.
martinifilm 2 years ago
@jsnramc1 Akron, Ohio? I live in Ohio I didn't know the women's flight museum was here. I may just have to check that out. It would be interesting if somehow something like that would surface. The whole story is just incredible. Thanks for answering my question.
jsnramc1 2 years ago
I remember reading an article a year or so ago that mentioned the fact that Caucasian female remains, as well as feminine artifacts such as makeup and a hairbrush, were found on a deserted island (not sure which one). Is this true? Also, can you recommend a good factual type book related to the mysteries surrounding her disappearance?
Fiddlechick 2 years ago
Again; over 200 people saw her on Saipan, a few saw her executed, were interviewed, one is the daughter of the police chief who killed her. Not a deserted island at all. Books I recommend; "Last Flight" by AE, "Mystery Solved" by Elgen Long, "Search for AE" by Fred Goerner (2nd ed), Campbell & Devine's books "Eyewitness," "Sound of Wings" by Lovell, "AE" by Knaggs, "Eyewitness" Buddy Brennan's video, the Tighar website, "Legerdemain" by Bowman is the most recent and probably best in detail.
martinifilm 2 years ago
What reason would Saipan have for executing Amelia anyhow?
CoasterBoy567 2 years ago
Saipan didn't. She was executed by Japanese who occupied Saipan. They executed a number of "spies" prior to WWII, a British couple among others who passed along intel on their illegal (Treaty of Nations) build up in the Pacific. She spent approx. 5 years in Garapan prison, if you go to Saipan her "cell" is on a tour. I'll say it again; over 200 islanders saw her there and are on record claiming she was there, and died there. These soldiers only found her briefcase, passport and plane.
martinifilm 2 years ago
Wasn't Amelia just about a celebrity around that time? Surley Japan knew who she was and that she wasn't an agent used for reconnaissance.
CoasterBoy567 2 years ago
Do the research if you're curious. You'll find most recent documentaries on AE (Biography/National Geographic and others) the Japanese were aware of her flight and considered it a US military mission. The Japanese claimed Howland isle before the US, resented the airstrip we built solely for her flight. The first place bombed hours after Pearl Harbor? The airstrip on Howland. Either way, I'm not intimating anything about her trip other than eyewitness accounts. They speak for themselves.
martinifilm 2 years ago
@martinifilm I remember reading an article a year or so ago that mentioned the fact that Caucasian female remains, as well as feminine artifacts such as makeup and a hairbrush, were found on a deserted island (not sure which one). Is this true? Also, can you recommend a good factual type book related to the mysteries surrounding her disappearance?
Fiddlechick 2 years ago
why would the U.S. govt. keep her capture secret? For political reasons? And why would the U.S.Marines given the task of destroying her plane? Is it a case of the U.S. govt. not being willing to admit what her real objective was? This whole issue is intrigueing to say the least...
olga2415 1 year ago
yeah right!!! i always thought this was bs! this is creepy and sad
luvrip4life 2 years ago
Why would the U.S. gov. waste a $100 dollars worth of .50 cal. tracer ammo to set the fuel on fire to burn down the plane when a simple road flare from the jeep or a piece of paper or a simple round from a .45 could have set it off? The last guy can't even describe the plane, he has no clue what it looked like. An easy description could have been shiny aluminum skin with a twin rudder, but that also covers lots of planes. Most likely what happened, it ran out of fuel, and broke up in the ocean.
dwc4343 2 years ago
He's not claiming anything. He's just telling you what he saw. I have been in the archives in DC and have found a report confirming the fire on the runway on a specific date, which matches this testimony. I have two eyewitnesses to the destruction of the plane that I've personally interviewed, and neither had ever met the other. Their stories match up. Again, over 200 people saw her on Saipan, sorry if that annoys you. This is as he remembered it; if you call as Marine a liar, you can't post.
martinifilm 2 years ago
This whole cover up thing just don't add up. Nothing to gain from doing so. Even if it was...releasing the information now would serve to consequence to anyone. Sorry, but i dont' buy this up. I wish that the US government would fund the search and give her an american hero burial.
hailtotheraiders 2 years ago 2
No one is claiming its a cover up. What is claimed is that either thru incompetence, laziness, or prejudice, people have overlooked the obvious. She was seen on Saipan. People saw her executed there. People saw her plane destroyed. Don't know why, don't really care. Someone else can dig that up. Why isn't this info better known? I found it pretty easily doing research. I'm not the 1st, won't be the last. If it was a cover up, they did a damned good job and deserve credit for it.
martinifilm 2 years ago
Rich - I am interested as to why US forces would destroy Amelia Earhart's airplane as late as - what? - 1944?
After searching so hard to find her in 1937, why would the US seek to eradicate all trace of Amelia and fed and their airplane as a war with Japan was ongoing?
Maybe I'm missing something here - if so, can you help me understand?
flygweilo 2 years ago
Good questions. I can only report what facts I've ascertained. The Why is to be discovered. Over 200 people saw her on Saipan from 1937 to 1942. People have reported how she got there, where she lived, and how she died. People have reported finding her plane, briefcase and body on Saipan. That her plane was destroyed by US forces. Briefcase turned over, body dug up. Discovery covered up. Why? I'd guess she was a spy for FDR (like Julia Child and others.) I know who covered it up, and he was ONI.
martinifilm 2 years ago
Whilst I concede this remains a possibility, and that the collected eyewitness statements may add up to an identification, is it not also true that many such statements from Saipan also only identified a "western female" - or words to that effect?
flygweilo 2 years ago
If you're really interested, do the research. You'll find many sources with people who took statements from eyewitnesses; the south African journalist who filmed interviews, wrote a book, there's a book with just statements of eye witnesses, interviews by Connie Chung, the "eyewitness to the execution" interviews, as well as my own. To me critiques of the islanders' statements feels bigoted, as if they were delusional.See for yourself. No witnesses elsewhere vs hundreds on Saipan.
martinifilm 2 years ago
This is very interesting. I had no idea. Do you think this will be included in the movie. I was just watching Hilary Swank on Oprah and decided to come to youtube to find out more about her. This is an eye opener.
robirob12000 2 years ago
I was hired on the Swank movie for my research - I'm a writer-director, have my own AE project which begins where theirs ends. I'm sad to say I'm still trying to get my film made - while theirs seemed to miss the key question; what happened to her? I think she had lots more secrets, I've recently come across a few, and hopefully one day I'll be able to make my film, and let it speak for itself. These three soldiers were part of my background research, bless them; they're no longer with us.
martinifilm 2 years ago
Read Elgen Long's book. She wrote in "last flight" she didn't know morse code. The Itasca followed Harry Manning protocols but Harry was no longer with her; she spoke and they didn't. She was picked up on Mili atoll where she ditched by the Kyoshu, a seaplane tender. Seen by over 200 islanders, she was executed when the US shelled Saipan 5 years later.(I'm credited in "Amelia" for my research)
martinifilm 2 years ago
God bless these heros but man they are annoying to listen to. The question I have is how could Itasca hear her so well and estimated she was inside 100 miles from them based on her last voice com, but these guys are saying she was captured by the Japs?
STUCKER868 2 years ago
I never knew about this amazing lady until I watched movie about her last night. I am so excited to know more about Amelia's life and the books she has written in her life.
This video gave my answer to the question that Had no one ever found any stuff or anything around that place where she disappeared?
I believe in this information.
Thanks for posting it!
ramizrazrisk 2 years ago
go to discovery channel discovery news web site they have some new stuff out now on this..
james1tk 2 years ago
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james1tk 2 years ago
yea i have a hard time believing these men lied as well ...
james1tk 2 years ago 2
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james1tk 2 years ago
May I repeat, over 200 people saw her on Saipan after she disappeared. No one saw her anywhere else. She was held captive by the Japanese and executed for being a spy. Whether she was one or not is subject to conjecture. The fact that she was picked up, incarcerated and executed should not be - but for some reason still is. But this comment is not as annoying as the next one.
martinifilm 2 years ago
These "witnesses" are just a bunch of old wannabes. Any proof? Did the old fart save her brief case? Naw, why would he think of that? Just old war stories.
Why would anyone destroy her airplane? Is that plausible? I'm surprised they didn't serve in Roswell too.
Julious Nabors is Jim's brother?
Flint870 2 years ago
old war stories that are true
macdoug12 2 years ago 2
truth is stranger than fiction
macdoug12 2 years ago 6
All these people that supposedly saw this, and he is the only one that saw it, come on, and why in the hell would they have destryed it, conspricy theroists, have got to be the worst believers.
james5193 2 years ago
I'd reply to this, but I don't think there's a question here. Or a sentence. I'll just leave it to reflect the person expressing the opinion. Thanks for posting.
martinifilm 2 years ago
I think she died in the water...
bubblys56 2 years ago
yeah me too
23yannie32 2 years ago
i believe these guys.. interesting!!
scaramoochscaramooch 2 years ago
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prchristman 2 years ago
I don't understand why the US military would have destroyed Amelia's Lockheed Electra, unless the discovery would have refuted earlier official accounts of the plane's disappearance.
rbf100 2 years ago
Did anyone catch the second dude Wallack say "Wallack was the first on the scene"?
roadiecow 2 years ago 2
just as i thought... she died, and now this mystery is resolved. so many people like saying she came back undercover. just like people keep saying elvis presley is alive. -_-
LilBlkAznBeauty 2 years ago 2
Amelia Earhart could have been a huge conspiracy she could have faked the crash and then come back to investigate something for the government or maybe her crash was cause by a supernatural force in which if the US found out they would panic and do stupid shit.But Elvis,Elvis is dead ^^
helraiser420 2 years ago
great I needed this for a school project! but is this really true?
tennyson98 2 years ago
It's true to their memories. I've found more GI's who have 2nd hand accounts of her being there. They don't know why; it's unproven - but saw her plane, her briefcase, and her body. Try and read Fred Goerner's book (rev. ed), Elgen Long for why she went off course, (AE's own "Lost Flight" corroborates her lack of being able to use morse code), Brennan's video interviews of "Witness to the Execution" (also interviewed by connie chung). good luck.
martinifilm 2 years ago
Its probity. I read that the japs probliy took her cause they wouldn't let America's troops on there waters!
errotabere2 2 years ago
my littl girl is named Amelia :) Thanx for the clip martin
TheRuthieGal 2 years ago
its all shit, unfortunately she's dead, these things happen, no use coming up with theories and trying to become famous. god bless you amelia, everyone respects what you did, god bless x
DaveTibbetts 2 years ago
These three men gained nothing from their tale. They are merely 3 of over 200 people who saw AE on Saipan before and during the war. Try to have a little respect for these three soldiers, who risked their lives so that you could post criticisms on youtube. The truth takes nothing away from AE's accomplishments. She should be remembered for her sacrifice on behalf of the nation AND her contribution to the history of aviation.
martinifilm 2 years ago
To those of you asking "Why is this only coming out now?", well it isn't. Anyone interested in this needs to read the book "The Search for Amelia Earhart" by CBS correspondant Fred Goerner. Some of these very people and many many more were found and quoted in 1966 book. The Saipan story has so much evidence supporting it in fact that I personally really can't imagine what the "mystery" is.
JonDraeger 2 years ago
Thanks Jon, you're absolutely right. Fred got the story, just not the smoking gun. Unfortunately he came back with some bones from a tomb (she'd already been dug up) a piece of an engine (he assumed her plane had flown to Saipan) and was discredited because of them. In his second edition, he interviewed the GI's who dug her up. He just didn't know about Julious Nabers or Robert Wallack. The story is there if one just looks for it. Thanks for posting
martinifilm 2 years ago
men in those days didn't come out and just tell lies for no apparent reason. I believe every word they say and martinifilm has done a fine job of research on the matter of Amelia Earhart.
macdoug12 2 years ago
I totally agree. No one fully understands the government, and are kept in the dark about certain things. These men may have potentially risked their lives telling this story. I believe them 100%.
lilipadster 2 years ago
ya!! he lives close to me!!! real close!!
zefrongirl1 2 years ago
people the government will lie and do anything to make a buck at anyone expense!!!!!!!!!!!! So it could have happend the way they said , you never know some many explanations you cant rule this out !!!!!!!!!!
mikewbatman 2 years ago
Well where's the briefcase then? It takes 40 odd years to come out with evidence that doesn't exist. They need proof .
Anyone can make a documentary .
edmanman 2 years ago 2
The briefcase was handed over to a USN Officer by Mr. Wallack. His identity was confirmed by 2 sources. The same man supervised the destruction of her plane, and dug up the bodies. The decoded messages aren't in the official file in Washington - I know, I've looked. However, a message confirming the burning of the plane was found last month. Over 200 people have gone on record as to her presence and death on Saipan. Calling US Marines liars, that's up to you. They only confirm what others know.
martinifilm 2 years ago
I apologize to You Sir , but what I was stating was it is 40 years later and they are just coming out with this news now.How come they did not sat anything when she was first declared missing.I'm sure the briefcase was around then.
edmanman 2 years ago
No apology needed. These men told me they thought the news would come out during World War II. But it didn't. They continued to fight a long campaign in the Pacific. They were as surprised as anyone the info wasn't released. The US military wanted to cover up the fact she'd been in a prison in Saipan, or that she'd spied (as they thought) on the Japanese - it would ruin her reputation. She was dead, so, they covered up the story. Did a good job. Until now. The truth always comes out.
martinifilm 2 years ago
because its classified there trained not to say anything thats why my dad was in military intellegence was informed of alot a crap that would blow your mind about the government , but tthey get trained to keep there mouth shut, now there up in age they didnt have much time to leav so it didnt matter thats why they came forward 40 years later
mikewbatman 2 years ago 3
Gollllllllllly Mr Nabers . Get to the point.
Aikenmort 2 years ago
I think this happened between Amelia Earhart and her partner Fred Noonan. After they got lost, they fought over where anything was and eventually wanting to survive he killed her over control of the plane and went on to live a new life with a new identity. Or if their is any connections to the evidence found, he was a spy sent to kill Amelia Earhart from overachieving that of male status right form the start. Makes sense to me.
StraightOutThere 2 years ago
yeah yeah. that sounds about right. i think that too. yeah.
jimkingwood 2 years ago
O_o i read about her she was the famous woman to ever do that pilot i read about it in READ 180 (maybe) kind of
fuzzywolfxd 2 years ago
"Amelia Earhart's airplane was found and destroyed by the US Military"
For what reason? It makes no sense whatsoever to claim that military personell would destroy an historic relic such as Earhart's plane.
bapyou 2 years ago
Maybe she found something that wasn't suppose to be found. If the government is covering it up, then it must've been pretty serious.
bmkification 2 years ago
The men in this video are claiming to have found Earhardt's plane YEARS after she dissappeared. She had been dead a long time by then.
bapyou 2 years ago 2
Amelia Earhart's disappearance is one of the greatest UNSOLVED mysteries.
I personally believe she was either shot down by the Japanese or there was "foul play." A woman aviator was about to circumnavigate the Earth in 1937. Had any "man" accomplished this feat back then? One of the last things she said over her radio, "we're flying north and south." Was she lost? Could her flying instruments have failed her? Could there have been a government cover-up? The truth will surface sone day.
tolbab65 2 years ago
the antenna on her plane was broken so she couldnt communicate, they could hear her but couldnt talk back to her, she needed info about where the island was and she ran out of gas trying to find it, if you see the island from the sky, youll notice its very very small, she crashed landed her plane on the water but she got out as it sank, she took out alot of stuff out of the plane before it sank, like her suitcases and other stuff, she and the man she was with drowned in the middle of nowhere
Diablitatraisionera 2 years ago
why would they destroy it and not telling anyone? people would have known not to keep looking for her and she would have been considered a hero if she was on some kind of special mission. instead she was just..gone.
bababybwoo 2 years ago
i will discover about her someday
and2467 2 years ago
i think they ran out of full because they radioed the station saying that they where low on fuel so they couldnt find any place to land and then they ran out of fuel and they crashed in the middle of the ocean and they were stuck because they didnt have a radio because they needed fuel to use it today we dont need fuel to use a radio because it runs on electricity
EpicFail1231 2 years ago
Very interesting. But three things do puzzle me: -why would they still keep it a secret over 70 years later?
-how about the `clear signs of recent habitation' found on gardner island only shortly after earharts disappearance?
-how about nearly identical eyewitness reports from the Marshall Islands, nearly 3000 miles to the south?
However, the case for some kind of spy-story makes sense. After losing Zeppelins Akron & Macon in '35-'36. The US lacked sufficient reconnaissace in the Pacific.
xavierbaudet 2 years ago
1. it was covered up successfully on july 23rd, 1944. the day her plane was burned. no one's covering it up now. it was taken care of then.
2. citation needed. lots of islands in the marianas. and islanders who went there.
3. not aware of any eyewitness reports who saw AE anywhere but on Saipan, and there are over 200 of those.
martinifilm 2 years ago
i have * Questions *
if these guys may know of her grave site .... can't we go dig it up and using DNA technology determine the truth ?
has any kind of " Modern Day " search been attempted ?
the truth's we know
#1 Amelia Earhart did not just vanish into thin air !
#2 some type of physical evidence still remains to be discovered and verified.
nuff said!
fistysticks 2 years ago
One of these guys went back to Saipan in the 60's with Fred Goerner. They dug up sites. According to other witnesses, the US dug her up, and what was found later were others. AE was seen on Saipan by over 200 eyewitnesses on the island. Her briefcase and plane were discovered there intact. Her plane was destroyed - but yes, no matter how much you burn or shoot up a plane, there's still physical evidence. Someone should dig up the old runway, which is still there.
martinifilm 2 years ago
I just read the book, "Lost Star." It's all about Amelia's flight & a request from the American Government that she take pictures of the Japanese in the Pacific during the war.
Her plane was equpit with 2 special cameras & wasn't even her origianl Lockheed. She was given a different one, a bigger one fitted with evrything she needed
There's documents in the book from the government that proves she was doing something for them. Read it & be amazed.
Remember, Julia Child was a spy too.
loneweaver 2 years ago
shes ben missing for 70 years
babygirl121207 2 years ago
So, this is what Most likely happened... Amelia flew near SAIPAN and the Japanese thought that she was an American spy. Then, they shot her plane down and took her prisoner. Then she and her navigator were probably killed. So, that marine found her plane? On the history channel, that marine said when his company was raiding the island, he found a passport with her ID on it.
wormez45 2 years ago
I know this is probably a HORRIBLE thing to say, but what if Amelia was killed after releasing information to the Japanese? Under certain pressure, someone could spill the beans. What if she were killed b/c of that, and the government didn't want her to be remembered that way?
lilipadster 2 years ago
That would be a reason to burn her plain . . .
lilipadster 2 years ago 2
*plane
lilipadster 2 years ago
don't raise stupid things like that when there is absolutely no reason to think that. hey, what if she was really an alien and the govt didn't want anyone to know? what is she was a spy for the nazis? what if she was a communist spy, and wanted everyone to think that the US govt killed her?
there is no evidence to think any of these stupid theories. don't just raise something dumb to ruin her reputation.
she ran out of gas and her navigator was probably drunk. end of story.
karlsmith00 2 years ago
You need to calm the f*ck down. It's called theories, as*hole. I clearly stated that it might be horrible to post that, so yes, I know that it would offend someone. There's no reason for you to attack anyone for their theories. If you don't like people's input here, than you probably shouldn't be watching a video that almost disproves her just crashing somewhere. GTFO.
lilipadster 2 years ago
this might be a horrible thing to say, but maybe amelia was a big fat lesbian and the govt wanted to kill her for that.
this might be a horrible thing to say, but maybe she was a jew and the nazis shot her down.
this might be a horrible thing to say but maybe she wanted a divorce so her husband had her killed.
GET SOME EVIDENCE ASSHOLE.
karlsmith00 2 years ago
Eh, Fu*k off, dude.
lilipadster 2 years ago
any body know where you can get a picture of these guys?
lacita62 2 years ago
I have to do a project on this can you give me some more information please. Thanks.
Woelfle1 2 years ago
why has this been kept so hush hush i would think something would have broken aver this...if it was hid and kept secret after all these years wouldnt some one have spoken i guess i just wanna know the truth like we all do ...
jakelord1 3 years ago
this mystery is messed up i mean com on why they destroy the plane and let her die? they could hav actually put those plane parts in the museum. that wud hav been cool
Pein806429 3 years ago 2
It's possible though...you know what I mean? It's sad, though seeing those parts in the Smithsonian would be soo awesome!
Freakgrl04 2 years ago
amelia new generation the world remember marcela uruguay south america
guazzone1977 3 years ago 4
Mr. martini,
It is sad to hear about Mr Wallack.
After finding out about my uncles(Mr. Nabors) knowledge of this after his death I got more interested in it. I heard that she spun out while taking off and the military fixed her plane free of charge in return they installed surveillance cameras in her plane and the Japanese found out about this and that's why she was brought down and held before they killed her and her co-pilot.
baddog43 3 years ago
Totally plausible! Though I hope that didn't happen!
Freakgrl04 2 years ago
I'd like to say a few words about Robert Wallack, interviewed in this clip, who passed away last week. The toughest Marine I've ever met, the most charming man I've ever interviewed. My condolences to his wife Honorine, his daughter and sons, who were lucky to have such a wonderful dad. Bob'd call to encourage ME while undergoing chemo, "to hang in there" to get AE's "story told." With his guidance from above, I'm still hoping to do that. Thanks for your help Bob. God bless and Semper Fi.
martinifilm 3 years ago
The problem with the Mikio Suzuki 'Sugita' account is it's inconsistent, and therefore unreliable. Not to mention there were several other 'Earhart death' reports; The two Goerner 'Earhart died' accounts (1 by sickness, 1 by Kempeitai execution), the Brennan 'eyewitness execution' account, the Knaggs account, Akiyama's, etc. There's a pattern here, likely-initially propagandized by Japan itself, to mark Amelia as gone forever. U. S. & Japan history required it.
neilnils 3 years ago
If you read Suzuki's letters, you'll find her account isn't inconsistent. Goerner's book is as accurate as it could be, being the first with the story in the 1960's. Connie Chung's interview with Ms. Blas is also compelling. This follows the annoying argument that natives don't know what they're talking about, are lying, or are drunk. Find a few eyewitnesses to any other theory and we can discuss it. In honor of those who have spoken on record I'm ending this discussion. Thanks for posting.
martinifilm 3 years ago
Again, the problem remains to few actually conveyed the authentic account of her execution. The Petrik/Brennan interviews notwithstanding, no way (you know this Rich) no way would Japan have done such a thing. AE needed to move on, not as a dead person, but as a replaced person, death recorded. So much was the political answer. It's nice to believe she died, it just didn't happen that way physically. The logistical research evidence and forensic research evidence... it's way too clear.
neilnils 3 years ago
I'm not sure why eyewitnesses are discounted. Connie Chung interviewed the same woman as Brennan. The Saipan Chief of Police's daughter, Ms. Suzuki, has gone on record, both in print in the US, and in newspapers in Japan with her eyewitness account of her father telling how he had to execute Ms. Earhart. One can read her letters to Devine, or the Japanese news accounts as I have. There are no eyewitnesses to any other story that I'm aware of. I happen to consider eyewitnesses credible. Sorry.
martinifilm 3 years ago
Pertaining to the 'survival' theory, where in 1965 Admiral Nimitz did admit it was known and documented in Washington how Earhart ended up existing under the auspice of Japan after she was reported 'missing,' the question became: Would Japan, who in the 1930s regaled Amelia Earhart as a hero (Babe Ruth too) have allowed Amelia to die either by sickness or execution? OR, could another co-endorsed (U.S., Japan) solution have been achieved for her continued existence? The latter holds weight.
neilnils 3 years ago
I respectfully disagree. Nimitz did tell Fred Goerner personally he was "on the right track" with his story. In the amended version of his book, Goerner, in my opinion, got it right. The CBS newsman was the first to report her death in Saipan, and identify eyewitnesses. Over 200 saw her on Saipan, I know of at least 2 who had first hand knowledge of her execution. There's no question in my mind what happened. The 'Why' is another matter, and up to speculation. I'm more interested in the 'How.'
martinifilm 3 years ago
im confused. why was her plane destroyed?? please no snappy, or mean, and no swearing
TheodoresGF 3 years ago
according to these eyewitnesses, they watched her plane destroyed by US forces in June of 1944. Two watched her plane burn, one found her briefcase and heard about her burial on Saipan. Two are US Marines, and one is an Army Soldier.
martinifilm 3 years ago
i know, they are eyewitnesses and all. but WHY was it deliberatly destroyed? that's all i want to know.
TheodoresGF 3 years ago
Some think it was to protect her reputation. (because she was a spy?) some think it was to protect FDR's reputation. (because he knew she'd been captured via the broken Japanese code?) Or maybe just because it was better to let sleeping dogs lie. I don't know. Perhaps someone who is still alive knows the answer. Perhaps it will come out of detective work, ie someone digs up the Japanese war records from Saipan. Perhaps. Meanwhile, it's good to know that it was destroyed deliberately, not lost.
martinifilm 3 years ago
ok
but it's still weird that they deliberatly desroyed. someone could have put it desplay in a museum. wouldnt you love to tour around her plane if it hadn't been destroyed??
TheodoresGF 3 years ago
If you click on neilnils you will find a good earhart website link in the channel description. It discusses the main never-disproved post war survival theory.
neilnils 3 years ago
The eyewitness evidence, I'm sorry to say, leads one to conclude that she was executed on Saipan. Too many people saw her there, a few saw her die, and a few saw her grave. There's no evidence from any eyewitnesses to the contrary I'm aware of.
martinifilm 3 years ago
The assumption then, is to doubt the eyewitness testimonial of Major Gervais ret., who in 1965 felt he identified the body evidence of the person formerly known as Amelia Earhart. In recent years more light has been shed on this issue. National Geographic tried to make light of it in 2006, as has been the tradition of historical dictum influence always. For those who examine it closely, it does look like Gervais was a certifiable eyewitness. Goerner, Devine, Brennan never found body evidence.
neilnils 3 years ago
ill buy the fact japanese got her but was she really killed im not so sure there did she come back to the us later maybe some day it will come out and also what happened to tha man who was with her.
jakelord1 3 years ago
there are a number of eyewitnesses to her death. The daughter of the man who ordered her execution, Suzuki, has written about it in letters to Tom Devine. Ms. Blanco was interviewed by Connie Chung, who claimed to have watched her execution (the account is the same as from the daughter). Two GI's, Hanson and Burke wrote in the Stars and Stripes in 44 that they were ordered to dig up the bodies of AE and Fred Noonan, and they later told their story to Fred Goerner. Many eyewitnesses.
martinifilm 3 years ago
...these are great historical reference testimonials... shows the plausibility of Earhart's post loss survival...
neilnils 3 years ago
what about the radio signals coming in for days after she was lost ham radio operators
have said signals came in for days sos and emergency transmissions from a woman and man saying who they were even why werent they traced its all weird so many people saying so much different stuff i know we all wish we knew the real story and also why would these men not tell they had no reason the truth its all crazy thanks.
jakelord1 3 years ago
i try to stick to eyewitnesses. so far i've gathered over 100 who saw her on saipan. two who i interviewed who saw US troops burn her plane. two who watched her be executed, one being the daughter of the police chief who executed her. the story is there for everyone to see if they take the time to read what people have written in the past.
martinifilm 3 years ago
Think about it, BOTH SIDES have a vested interest in keeping AE disappearance "as it is recorded in history". U.S. from the standpoint she was used as a spy and the Japanese because they won't want to admit that she was excuted. Maybe AEs radio reports were bogus and while giving them she was infact flying straight for the Marshalls. The plan may have been she'll crash land there and be returned by the Japanese to U.S. and report what she saw. Gov did not think they'd kill a lady. Search? P.R.
Monday767 3 years ago