On July 4, 1937, Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan were still en route to Howland Island, the final leg of their ambitious around‑the‑world flight. They had departed Lae, New Guinea, on July 2, 1937, with a 2,500‑mile journey ahead, heavily fueled and expected to take about 18–20 hours. By July 4, they were deep […]