B11: The Search for Amelia Earhart - 3 units
White McKenzie Wallenborn                    
Mon. 9:00–10:30 a.m. - Nov. 17, Dec. 1, 8
Senior Center - Limit: 75

Ken Wallenborn began his aviation career in 1956 when he was called to active duty with the United States Air Force, where he learned to fly and served as a rated flight surgeon and an aircraft accident investigator. Later he became an instrument-rated commercial pilot. For almost 40 years he owned and flew airplanes. Upon returning to civilian life, he served as senior aviation medical examiner (flight surgeon), aircraft accident investigator and accident prevention counselor for the Federal Aviation Administration. In 1994 he retired from the private practice of medicine and as Clinical Professor at the UVa School of Medicine.

One of the great mysteries of the last century was the disappearance of Amelia Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, on their around-the-world flight in 1937. Amelia Earhart, one of America’s most famous female aviators, was on the 2,556-mile leg from Lae, New Guinea, to tiny Howland Island, located about 2,000 miles southwest of Hawaii, when she and Noonan failed to reach their destination. An extensive, 30-days’ search along the route of her flight found no trace of the lost aviator and her navigator. Since then a veil of secrecy and mystery has intrigued many investigators. Was she spying for the U.S. (flying over forbidden Japanese bases)? Was she captured and executed by the Japanese on Saipan? Did the U.S. try to hide her spying mission even to the present time? Through the years a number of theories have been suggested as to what happened to Earhart and Noonan. Fred Goerner’s most exhaustive study probably comes closest to giving an answer to the mystery. It and other theories will be discussed.

Suggested Reading: A reading list will be sent to students.