Editor instructions in the Popular Culture section
Latest comment: 20 March 20252 comments2 people in discussion
While possibly intended in good faith, the current phrasing smacks of gatekeeping and elitism, as in "the examples we've selected are good enough, your contribution is not appreciated".
Guys, that is not how to expand and better our project. Rephrasing to more neutral language; basically, if you provide a reliable source, we appreciate your contribution.
Latest comment: 6 May 20256 comments5 people in discussion
Script error: No such module "protected edit request".
Edit for death location:
Roughly 60 miles SW (southwest) of Howland Island according to the Date Line Theory. (Said theory was developed by Liz Smith, a former NASA employee and current amateur pilot.) 73.18.150.11 (talk) 11:18, 16 April 2025 (UTC)Reply
@Martinevans123 I think these claims stem from YouTube videos that claim the team that is doing imaging in that area supposedly recovered metal pieces which match the Electra. I can't seem to find the original report or any updated information from other sources other than the team's website. The larger community seems to not have reacted with the exception of the Smithsonian which said they were "Intrigued". Vote to wait until more sources are published. R8cobra (talk) 13:30, 23 April 2025 (UTC)Reply
"Deep Sea Vision (DSV), a South Carolina-based firm, released the blurry image in January captured by an unmanned submersible of what it said may be Earhart's plane on the seafloor."
"After 11 months the waiting has finally ended and unfortunately our target was not Amelia's Electra 10E (just a natural rock formation)," Deep Sea Vision said. Sollupulo (talk) 23:42, 6 May 2025 (UTC)Reply
Latest comment: 11 June 202522 comments3 people in discussion
A common myth persists that Amelia Earhart’s plane landed in Pwll during her first transatlantic flight in 1928. At a glance, it might seem plausible—but only if you haven’t looked too closely at the facts. The aircraft, a seaplane named Friendship, did not touch down in Pwll or Burry Port itself—doing so would have meant crashing. Instead, it landed in the Burry Estuary (also known as the Burry Inlet or Loughor Estuary), a fact supported by a map signed by the three crew members—Wilmer Stultz, Lou Gordon, and Amelia Earhart herself—while they rested at Fricker’s Metal Company offices in Burry Port. On that map, they clearly marked the point in the estuary where the aircraft came down.
If we take the crew at their word, it’s not even possible to argue that Pwll was the closest settlement to the landing site. For those familiar with the area, the estuary landing spot lies approximately 650 metres from Burry Port and about 1.3 kilometres from Pwll. So where did the idea that it landed in Pwll originate?
The answer lies in local geography. Pwll is set on a hillside overlooking the estuary, giving residents a clear view of the sea. In contrast, most of Burry Port’s homes at the time were built at or near sea level, offering little visibility of what was happening offshore. The plane landed off a desolate stretch of coast near Burry Port known as “The Slags,” an area then uninhabited and still sparsely populated today—though it has since become a rather beautiful part of the town.
From Pwll, Friendship would have been clearly visible, and with its size—large for the 1920s—it likely made a strong impression. This view, combined with a lack of visual access in Burry Port, likely led to the misconception that the aircraft landed nearer Pwll than it actually did.
But the precise landing location is not the most significant detail. After the plane moored at navigation buoy number 5, Wilmer Stultz was rowed ashore by locals to contact flight organisers in Southampton and await further instructions. At that point, Friendship was still afloat in the estuary, and the journey was not yet officially over. The crew, honouring their obligations to the sponsors, hoped to refuel and continue on to Southampton—making it the intended final destination, and ideally the place where Amelia Earhart would first set foot on land.
Thus, from the crew’s perspective, the key moment wasn’t where the plane came down—but where Amelia Earhart came ashore. That moment, and that place, was Burry Port.
You can view a short video showing the landing location derived from the signed map and its current location on Google Maps here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPEoDLleBuo&ab . If you'd like a copy of the map (jpeg), I’d be happy to provide one. Topeuph (talk) 09:35, 31 May 2025 (UTC)Reply
Many thanks for that information. Part of what you say sounds like hearsay. Do you have published any WP:RS source(s) that support your reasoning or actually says what you do. Otherwise it might have to be discounted as your own WP:OR, even if it is perfectly logical, well thought out and entirely convincing. Would it be enough for now to change the phrase "Template:Tq" to "Template:Tq"? I've just looked at the existing online source there, which is this, page number 132, but I don't see any mention of "Pwll" on that page, or even Burry Port. So another source is probably needed anyway. Martinevans123 (talk) 09:52, 31 May 2025 (UTC)Reply
Thank you for getting back so quickly! I suppose a "landed on the Burry Estuary between Burry Port and Pwll" would be a diplomatic compromise I suppose. The fact that Wilmur Stultz came ashore alone is from Amelia Earhart 's book "20 hours and 40 minutes", and the fact that they wanted to stay on the estuary and refuel and fly on to Southampton was from the book "The sound of wings: the biography of Amelia Earhart" by Mary S.Lovell. There is archive film and photographs of the seaplane "Friendship" moored to buoy number 5, which I have and can provide you. Annoyingly, I've just moved house so everything is in a bit of a mess here, so I'm not sure of the exact pages from those books that the references come from. Would you like a copy of the map signed by the crew of "Friendship"? Ceri Topeuph (talk) 10:12, 31 May 2025 (UTC)Reply
Here is the paragraph in question- In 1928, Earhart became the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean in an airplane. The project coordinators included publisher and publicist George P. Putnam, who later became her husband. She was a passenger, with the plane flown by Wilmer Stultz and copilot/mechanic Louis Gordon. On June 17, 1928, the team departed from Trepassey Harbor, Newfoundland, in a Fokker F.VIIb/3m named Friendship and landed at Pwll near Burry Port, South Wales, exactly 20 hours and 40 minutes later. The flight duration became the title to her book about the expedition 20 Hrs. 40 Min.
Along with the issue with "landed at Pwll", which would have been impossible for a seaplane, there is a little error in the flight time. The flight time of 20 Hrs and 40min in the title of her book is actually slightly incorrect! the flight time from the log that Earhart herself took, was actually 20 Hrs and 49 mins. This is displayed correctly on the Burry Port Amelia Earhart monument in Burry Port. https://www.forneymuseum.org/News_AmeliaEarhart_2.htmlTopeuph (talk) 10:54, 31 May 2025 (UTC)Reply
So that paragraph is copied from The Sound of Wings: the Biography of Amelia Earhart by Mary S. Lovell? That link to the online museum page looks a perfectly good source for the time of 20 hrs and 49 mins. Thanks. Martinevans123 (talk) 16:17, 31 May 2025 (UTC)Reply
sorry my mistake, I didn't clarify that I was referring to the paragraph from the current Wiki article that needs changing. I'm looking through boxes to find the two books! if all else fails, it will be another order from Amazon. 2A0A:EF40:132C:CC01:680C:6F00:7DB1:CCF (talk) 16:21, 31 May 2025 (UTC)Reply
File:Friendship landing spot..jpgA map of the Burry Estuary (also known as the Burry Inlet or Loughor Estuary), signed by the crew of the seaplane Friendship, which carried Amelia Earhart across the Atlantic from Trepassey, Newfoundland, marking the location of their landing on the estuary. The signatures, listed from top to bottom, are those of Wilmer Stultz (Pilot), Amelia Earhart (officially designated as Commander and keeper of the flight log), and Louis Gordon (Mechanic and Co-pilot). The map was signed upon their arrival at the offices of Fricker's Metal Company in Burry Port.Topeuph (talk) 22:12, 31 May 2025 (UTC)Reply
Template:Od
Since I am unsure whether I can upload a photo of the relevant pages from the two books, without there being a copyright issue, I will quote the relevant passages with the page number and paragraph.
Evidence of Wilmer Stultz Going ashore alone.
"20 hr. 40 mins" by Amelia Earhart
page 114 paragraph 4, third sentence.
"Bill (Wilmer Stultz) went ashore with him (Norman Fisher a manager at the Fricker's Metal company, Burry Port)and telephoned our friends at Southampton while Slim (Louis Gordon, flight mechanic and Co-pilot) and I remained on the 'Friendship'. A vigorous ferry service was instituted and many small boats began to swarm around us."
This passage is also evidence that despite dozens of boats coming back an fore from Burry Port harbour, taking local dignitaries out to visit the seaplane, she never left the plane when she could easily have made the short boat trip back to Burry Port if she wanted.
"The Sound of Wings: the Biography of Amelia Earhart, Mary S. Lovell"
"Bill Stultz went ashore in a dory to contact Railey (Captain Hilton Railey, one of the flight organisers. It was he who originally contacted Amelia Earhart inviting her to become the first woman to cross the Atlantic back in Boston), send radio messages to George Putnam (another flight organiser, and future husband of Amelia Earhart) and organise refuelling so that they could carry on to their original destination, Southampton."
page 140 paragraph 1.
"After a few hours, Railey arrived by seaplane from Southampton accompanied by New York Times journalist Allen Raymond and they were taken out to the 'Friendship'. Stultz decided that it was too dangerous to attempt a take-off against the flooding rip-tide so the 'Friendship' was moved to a sheltered mooring int the town's harbour while while Amelia and Lou Gordon were taken ashore."
The seaplane was out in the estuary for many hours. So, long in fact that there was time for Wilmer Stultz to be rowed ashore, contact Southampton for instructions, for Hilton Railey to hire a seaplane in Southampton, to fly to Burry Port, and for him to be rowed out to 'Friendship', before the decision was made that refuelling would be impractical and it would be better to come into the harbour, abandoning their attempts to get to Southampton. And in all this time, Amelia Earhart could have simply got on a boat and come ashore. This is pretty solid proof that it is not where a seaplane comes down in the water that matters, but where it comes to shore, or in this case, a harbour.
I have uploaded a map of the Burry Estuary signed by the crew of 'Friendship' pinpointing their landing spot. To a local familiar with the geography it's pretty compelling. But if your not from the area, I have made a video where the old map transforms into a modern map from Google maps. At the end of the video there is a satellite image of the landing spot, the land that juts out to the north West is the "Earth Sculpture" Burry Port. Topeuph (talk) 10:41, 4 June 2025 (UTC)Reply
On the satellite image at the end of the video shows the advantage Pwll had in claiming that it landed there. The village of Pwll is on a hillside, and much of the houses were orientated towards the landing point, giving them a perfect view. Whereas no one lived in the area of Burry Port closest to the landing spot! allowing Pwll to claim it (forgetting the silly notion that a village or town has its own territorial waters!). Topeuph (talk) 10:54, 4 June 2025 (UTC)Reply
A couple of, somewhat pedantic, questions (sorry if I have missed these somewhere): does the lat/long of the "approximate landing spot" represent the point at which the aircraft touched down, or the place it came to rest? I'm not sure what the likely difference between these might have been. Perhaps nobody knows. And I assume that the tide was in? Thanks. Martinevans123 (talk) 13:54, 4 June 2025 (UTC)Reply
Not pedantic at all. That is the point that it touched down. It came to rest and moored to a buoy (Buoy No.5) further to the west, about 300m south of the Earth sculpture (the buoy was another thing that some Pwll people claimed was in Pwll!!!, it's unbelievable!!), but that is an educated guess based on film and photo evidence, as there is literally a film made from another seaplane flying over 'Friendship' tied to the buoy, showing where it was moored, if you know the coastline (I can provide you with that footage if you like). I am trying to find the exact location of the buoy from the Carmarthenshire county archives, but it is difficult as all the local authorities have changed, and no one quite knows where the maritime archives are held. The tide was out! The sandbanks in the estuary have changed since. A training wall https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Loughor was constructed in the 19th century to divert waters of the Loughor River to the north, as seen in the old map. But that wall has been breached in several places so the channel is now further to the south and where the channel was, is now sandbank. The fact that the tide was out is important, as the map shows the the estuary at low tide, showing where the sandbanks were. The only water available to the crew would have been the water in the channel shown in the old map directly under Wilmer Stults' name. For context the Bristol channel, of which the Burry Estuary is a part has the 2nd largest tidal range in the World! so when the tide goes out, it really goes out, and the sandbanks get exposed. I'm happy to answer any question you have. Topeuph (talk) 14:26, 4 June 2025 (UTC)Reply
"The fact that the tide was out is important, as the map shows the the estuary at low tide, showing where the sandbanks were." I should have clarified that I was referring to the old map in this sentence. Topeuph (talk) 14:29, 4 June 2025 (UTC)Reply
Ah just down the road then! There a couple more little inconsistencies in the other parts of the story of the Flight of Friendship. this is the 2nd paragraph of -Aviation career and Marriage-
"Earhart had no training on this type of aircraft and did not pilot the plane. When interviewed after landing, she said: "Stultz did all the flying—had to. I was just baggage, like a sack of potatoes ... maybe someday I'll try it alone." Despite her being merely a passenger, she gained international attention from the press."
Whilst it is true that she wasn't able to fly the seaplane before travelling from Boston to Trepassey, and therefore had no specific training on that particular aircraft. It was the intention both Earhart and the flight organisers that she should fly the plane should weather allow.
"The Sound of Wings, The biography of Amelia Earhart" Chapter 11 page 121 last paragraph "For her part Amelia had made it clear from the start that the role of passenger din not much appeal to and that she wished to take her turn at the controls. She had no experience of multi-engine flying, however, nor of instrument flying, so it was agreed that if weather permitted she would be allowed to fly for some of the time. All the same, those present recognised that it was important that Amelia was seen to be in charge of the flight, since its entire purpose was to promote the concept of a women flying the ocean. Her role as 'Commander' was therefore covered by a document drawn up at that meeting."
I will add the contact details alluded to in a minute, but the reason that Earhart didn't take the controls was due to the thick fog and cloud that "Friendship" travelled through for the vast majority of the flight, making it necessary to fly the plane non-visually using cockpit instruments only; a skill Earhart had not yet mastered.
Earhart official position aboard "Friendship" was actually COMMANDER. Here is the formal contract of the flight. 'The Sound of Wings: The biography of Amelia Earhart' Chapter 11, page 122 2nd paragraph.
"Wilmer Stultz
Louis E. Gordon
J.H. Lewes Gowner (sic) - his actual name was Gower, and he was the backup pilot, but never left Boston-
AND ANYONE ELSE CONCERNED:
This is to say that on arrival at Trepassey of the tri-motor Fokker plane 'Friendship' if any questions of policy, procedure, personnel or any other question arises the decision of Miss Amelia M. Earhart is to be final. That she is to have control of the plane and of the disposal of the services of all employees as fully as if she were the owner. And further, that on arrival of the plane in London full control of the disposition of the plane and of the time and services of employees shall be hers to the same extent until and unless the owner directs otherwise."
I see you have yet to change the "Landed at Pwll" from the Wiki! if the find my evidence of the impossibility of that quote, then perhaps you will be persuaded by quotes from other books.
"There at Burry Port, Wales" 20 Hrs. 40 Min by Amelia Earhart Chapter 9 page 113, 1st words.
"Owing to the racing tide, it was decided not to try and take off but to leave the plane at Burry Port and stay at a nearby Hotel for the night." 20 Hrs. 40 Min by Amelia Earhart page 115 2nd paragraph.
this is also proof that they didn't originally intend to come in to Burry Port, but to go to Southampton, where she hoped to become the first woman to cross the Atlantic there!
"The fliers learned to their surprise that they had landed at Burry Port, a small town in South Wales, and not Ireland as they had assumed." 'The Sound of Wings: The biography of Amelia Earhart' Chapter 12, page 139 4th paragraph.
I have uploaded a photo of the gravestone of the pilot Wilmer Stultz (although I don't know where it went!)
It clearly marks the journey as Trepassey to Burry Port.
Thanks again for all that info. By all means go ahead and make all the corrections you wish here, using the references you have mentioned as sources. I really don't think anyone will challenge you. Regards. Martinevans123 (talk) 15:32, 10 June 2025 (UTC)Reply
OK, thank you, I'll change the first two paragraphs of the "Aviation career and marriage" section.
Aviation career and marriage
First woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean in 1928
In 1928, Earhart became the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean in an airplane.
The project coordinators included publisher and publicist George P. Putnam, who later became her husband.
She would be a passenger, with the plane flown by Wilmer Stultz and co-pilot/mechanic Louis Gordon. On June 17, 1928, the crew departed Trepassey Harbor, Newfoundland, in a Fokker F.VIIb/3m named Friendship and came down in the Burry Estuary between the town of Burry Port and the village of Pwll, Carmarthenshire, West Wales, 20 hours and 49 minutes later.[ https://www.forneymuseum.org/News_AmeliaEarhart_2.htm]
They moored to a buoy off the coast of Burry Port, intending to refuel in the estuary and continue to Southampton. However, the fast-moving tide made this impossible, and it was decided that Friendship should come ashore at Burry Port Harbour. It was there that Amelia Earhart officially became the first woman to cross the Atlantic. [20 Hrs. 40 Min by Amelia Earhart page 115 2nd paragraph] [[20 hr. 40 mins by Amelia Earhart
page 114 paragraph 4, third sentence] [The Sound of Wings: the Biography of Amelia Earhart, Mary S. Lovell Chapter 12, Page 139, 4th paragraph, 3rd sentence] [[The Sound of Wings: the Biography of Amelia Earhart, Mary S. Lovell page 140 paragraph 1]
The flight’s duration, adjusted slightly, inspired the title of her book about the expedition: 20 Hrs. 40 Min.
Although Earhart had no prior experience flying a tri-motor aircraft like Friendship, it was originally intended that she would take the controls for part of the journey. In fact, she was named Commander of Friendship by Amy Guest, the plane’s owner at the time. However, thick clouds and persistent fog required the aircraft to be flown solely by reference to cockpit instruments, and Earhart’s lack of experience with instrument flying prevented her from piloting during the flight.[The Sound of Wings, The biography of Amelia Earhart" Chapter 11 page 121][The Sound of Wings, The biography of Amelia Earhart" Chapter 11 page 121 last paragraph]
Slight clarification - The paragraph that starts "They moored to a buoy", the 2nd sentence should read "And It was at Burry Port that Amelia Earhart officially became the first woman to cross the Atlantic by air."
With your permission I'd like to rewrite the entire passage about Earhart's first Transatlantic flight. Her bio up until then is excellent but, considering that this flight would be the turning point in her life, the current passage about the flight is imho, very poor. My version is much more detailed, I'm still making my way through all the citations, but have a read and let me know whether it is acceptable. Here it is-
In early 1928, inspired by Charles Lindbergh's [1] successful solo transatlantic flight in 1927 [Sound of Wings, page 115], American heiress Amy Phipps Guest [2]—daughter of philanthropist and Andrew Carnegie’s [3] business partner Henry Phipps Jr. [4]—announced her intention to become the first woman to cross the Atlantic by air. At the time, she was living in London with her husband, former British Air Minister Frederick Guest [5].
Leveraging her wealth and social connections, Guest assembled a team of aviation professionals to support her endeavour. She hired pilot Wilmer Stultz [6] from Williamsburg, Pennsylvania [7], to lead the flight. In March 1928, Stultz had made headlines for completing the first non-stop flight from New York to Havana, accompanied by Oliver LeBoutillier [8] and passenger Mabel Boll [9], aboard the aircraft Columbia. The previous year, Stultz had also piloted transatlantic attempts for aviator Frances Wilson Grayson [10][11].
Guest also recruited mechanic and co-pilot Louis Gordon [12] from Collin County, Texas [13]. For the aircraft, she acquired a Fokker F.VIIb Tri-Motor from famed explorer Commander Richard E. Byrd [14]. Byrd had initially planned to use the plane for an Antarctic expedition, but when his backer, Edsel Ford [15]—son of Henry Ford [16]—suggested using a Ford Tri-Motor instead, Byrd agreed and sold the Fokker [Sound of Wings, page 114]. Byrd would later serve as a technical advisor for the transatlantic flight. Guest named the plane Friendship to honour the special relationship between the United States and her new home, Great Britain [Sound of Wings, page 113].
However, upon learning of her plans, Guest’s family reacted with alarm. Her sons, Winston [17] and Raymond [18], even threatened to quit Yale and Cambridge respectively. Under family pressure, Guest reluctantly gave up her dream of making the flight herself [Sound of Wings, page 115]. Nevertheless, she remained determined to see a woman achieve the milestone. Instead of flying, she resolved to sponsor the project—and began searching for what she called “the right sort of girl.” The candidate would need to be a pilot, well-educated, well-mannered, physically attractive, and American [Sound of Wings, page 110].
In April 1928, George Palmer Putnam [19]—the publicist and publisher of Charles Lindbergh’s best-selling autobiography WE [20]—caught wind of the planned transatlantic attempt. Curious, he met with his friend Captain Hilton Railey [21] and shared that he had heard Richard Byrd had sold his plane to a mysterious buyer, and that floats were being fitted to the Fokker at East Boston Airport. Determined to get involved, Putnam encouraged Railey to “crash the gate” [Sound of Wings, page 109] and investigate. Railey found Wilmer Stultz in a bar and, catching him in a talkative mood, learned of Amy Guest and the true purpose of the newly outfitted seaplane Friendship [Sound of Wings, page 109].
Putnam and Railey resolved to take on the task of finding the “right sort of girl” on Amy Guest’s behalf. Railey reached out to his friend, Rear Admiral Reginald K. Belknap, in Boston. After hearing the criteria outlined by Guest, Belknap immediately replied, “Call Denison House and ask for Amelia Earhart” [Sound of Wings, page 111].
Upon receiving Railey’s call, Earhart was initially skeptical, but agreed to meet him at his office. The moment she arrived, Railey was convinced he had found the right woman. Almost immediately, he asked her, “How would you like to be the first woman to cross the Atlantic?”[sound of wings page 112]
Amelia wrote later "Under the circumstances... I couldn't say no." [Sound of wings 121].
However, Earhart had conditions before accepting the invitation. She made it clear that the role of a mere passenger held no appeal to her—she wanted the opportunity to take her turn at the controls. Although she lacked experience with multi-engine aircraft and non-visual instrument flying, it was agreed that, weather permitting, she would be allowed to pilot the aircraft for a portion of the journey.[sound of wings page 122]
It was written into her flight contract that Amelia Earhart would hold the title of commander aboard Friendship. She was granted final authority over all matters of policy, procedure, personnel, and any other issues that might arise during the mission—at least until their arrival in London. Both Wilmer Stultz and Louis Gordon would serve as her subordinates during the flight [The Sound of Wings, page 122].
On June 3rd, 1928, after three unsuccessful attempts to take off from the Jeffries Yacht Club [22] in East Boston, the crew of Friendship made critical adjustments to reduce weight. Six five-gallon cans of fuel were unloaded, and backup pilot Lou Gower voluntarily stepped down from the crew to further lighten the aircraft. The fourth attempt proved successful. After 67 tense seconds, Friendship lifted off the water and climbed steadily, heading north on the first leg of its transatlantic journey to, Trepassey, Newfoundland.[sound of wings page 128].
The Friendship finally arrived at Trepassey on June 5th, after poor weather forced Wilmer Stultz to make an unexpected landing in Halifax, Nova Scotia the day before. Earhart later described the arrival at Trepassey as chaotic, likening it to a rodeo, with "maritime cowboys" in small boats aggressively vying to tow the plane, nearly entangling it in ropes and knocking crew member Slim Gordon into the water.[20 hrs. 40 min. page 70]
Stranded by relentless gales, dense fog, and mechanical setbacks, the crew of the Friendship—endured nearly a fortnight of frustrating delays.
Their departure was repeatedly thwarted by unpredictable tides, stormy seas, and sputtering engines, turning what should have been a quick refuel stop into a test of endurance.[20hrs. 40 min. page 73].
When dawn broke clear and brisk over Newfoundland on June 17, and weather reports suggested marginally favourable conditions over the Atlantic, Amelia Earhart insisted they seize the opportunity to take off—despite objections from pilot Wilmer Stultz, who was nursing a severe hangover. After nearly two weeks of delays, Friendship finally took to the skies.
Meanwhile, at Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, the crew of the rival aircraft Columbia remained grounded. Captain Oliver LeBoutillier had reunited with socialite Mabel Boll, who was determined to make her own mark with a transatlantic crossing. However, LeBoutillier refused to risk flying in the still-uncertain weather and chose to wait for clearer skies.
Frustrated and left behind, Boll could only listen for updates as Friendship soared eastward toward the United Kingdom. Furious and disheartened, she accused Earhart’s team of receiving preferential treatment—claiming they had been provided with a more favourable weather report than the one given to Columbia. The accusation was firmly rejected by the local meteorologist, who maintained that both crews had received identical forecasts.
Nevertheless, Friendship had gained the advantage—not by deception, but by daring.[23]
From early in the flight, the crew encountered fog, cloud cover, and poor visibility, forcing pilot Wilmer Stultz to rely entirely on instrument flying. Amelia Earhart, although a licensed pilot, had no experience with non-visual, instrument-only flying, and was therefore unable to take the controls. Instead, she kept the flight log and helped with navigation checks, while mechanic Louis Gordon managed fuel and engine performance.
Several hours into the flight, they spotted the SS America, an ocean liner under the command of Captain George Fried, roughly 75 miles south-east of Cobh, Ireland. Hoping to confirm their position, the crew of Friendship circled the vessel. Captain Fried, recognising the significance of the aircraft, ordered the ship’s name and location to be chalked on the deck to assist the crew. However, before the message could be prepared, Friendship had already vanished into the mist, continuing eastward.[sound of wings page 138][20 hrs. 40 Min]
Critically, the aircraft’s radio had failed early in the flight, leaving them unable to transmit or receive any messages. This failure meant they couldn’t confirm their course, update anyone on their status, or receive weather updates. As a result, their arrival location would be a complete surprise to those on the ground.
After nearly 21 hours in the air, with low fuel and limited visibility due to persistent mist, the crew of Friendship were in urgent need of a suitable landing site. While flying along the coast of South Wales (although they did not know their location at the time), they identified an estuary and a nearby industrial town with a harbour as a potential landing area. The aircraft landed in the Burry Estuary, between the town of Burry Port and the village of Pwll, in Carmarthenshire, Wales.
Upon landing, co-pilot Louis "Slim" Gordon climbed onto the starboard pontoon and secured the aircraft to a large navigation buoy off the coast of Burry Port, using rope kept on board for emergencies or use as a sea anchor. This improvised mooring was the only available option in the area.
Despite their arrival following a transatlantic flight, initial local response was minimal. A few nearby railway workers observed the aircraft but did not approach. Eventually, Norman Fisher, a manager at the Frickers Metal Company in Burry Port, rowed out to the plane. Wilmer Stultz went ashore with him to make contact with their sponsors, who were waiting in Southampton. The original intention had been to refuel in the estuary and continue the journey to Southampton, where the crew’s sponsors—including Captain Hilton Railey and Amy Phipps Guest—were assembled. Earhart and Gordon remained on board the aircraft, as the crew did not consider the flight officially complete at that point.
Several small boats approached the aircraft during this time, but Earhart declined to go ashore, intending to do so only if the flight continued as planned. Later that day, Captain Railey arrived in Burry Port by seaplane, accompanied by Allen Raymond, a reporter for The New York Times. Following discussions regarding the aircraft’s fuel status, the challenging tidal conditions, and ongoing poor visibility, the decision was made to terminate the flight at Burry Port. It would be there, in the small Welsh harbour town, that Earhart’s transatlantic journey officially concluded—securing her place in history as the first woman to cross the Atlantic by air.
Friendship moved under its own power from the navigation buoy to Burry Port Harbour, where the crew were then rowed ashore. A large and excitable crowd had gathered and local police escorted them to the Frickers Metal Company office for safety, where the police awaited reinforcements while the crew were served refreshments.
As the world’s press descended on Burry Port, Amelia Earhart attracted the majority of public and media attention, though she consistently emphasized that the primary credit belonged to the pilots. When interviewed after coming ashore, she remarked: "Bill (Wilmer Stultz) did all the flying—had to. I was just baggage, like a sack of potatoes ... maybe someday I'll try it alone."
Later that evening, the crew travelled by car to the Ashburnham Hotel in nearby Pembrey, where they were able to rest and recover after their historic journey.
The Friendship departed Burry Port Harbour at approximately 11 a.m. on 19 June 1928, beginning the final leg of its journey to Southampton, but not without a final moment of drama. Among the spectators that morning was Sir Arthur Whitten Brown, who—alongside John Alcock—had completed the first non-stop transatlantic flight in 1919. Living in nearby Swansea, Whitten Brown had travelled to Burry Port with his family to congratulate Amelia Earhart and present her with a bouquet of flowers. A boat was dispatched to carry him out to the Friendship, but unaware of his approach, the crew had already begun their departure. As a result, a potentially historic meeting between the first man and the first woman to cross the Atlantic by air was narrowly missed.
At Southampton, the Friendship crew were once again met by enthusiastic crowds. Among those welcoming them was Amy Phipps Guest— the flight’s principal sponsor and owner of Friendship. It was the first time Guest and Amelia Earhart met in person.
American Reception
Upon returning to the United States, Amelia Earhart and the crew of the Friendship were met with widespread acclaim. On July 6, 1928, they were honored with a ticker-tape parade in New York City, a traditional celebration reserved for national heroes. Thousands lined Broadway to celebrate the first successful transatlantic flight by a woman.
Shortly after, the crew was received at the White House by President Calvin Coolidge, who formally recognized their achievement. Earhart became the focus of particular public and media attention. Despite her limited role as a passenger during the flight, her status as the first woman to cross the Atlantic by air captured the imagination of the American public. Newspapers widely covered her story, and she was soon dubbed “Lady Lindy,” a reference to Charles Lindbergh, who had completed a solo transatlantic flight the previous year.
Earhart, Stultz, and Gordon toured several major U.S. cities, including Medford, Boston, Pittsburgh, Toledo, and Chicago, where they were welcomed by civic leaders and large crowds. Earhart received numerous awards and honors during this period.
Her modesty and charisma further endeared her to the American public, and her fame quickly surpassed that of her fellow crewmembers.
The flight marked the beginning of Earhart’s rise to international prominence. With the help of publisher and publicist George Palmer Putnam, she began a successful lecture tour and endorsed various products. Despite her own insistence that the credit belonged to the pilots, Earhart’s visibility in the media helped redefine public perceptions of women in aviation and paved the way for her subsequent solo transatlantic flight in 1932.
Earhart later authored a book about the flight titled 20 Hrs. 40 Min.: Our Flight in the Friendship, with the title referencing the duration of the transatlantic journey. However, according to the flight log that Earhart herself maintained, the actual flight time was 20 hours and 49 minutes. Topeuph (talk) 21:42, 11 June 2025 (UTC)Reply
