Read Online Amelia Earhart by W. C. Jameson - Free Book Online Page B

confusion exists today over whether or not Noonan held military rank during the around-the-world attempt. A letter from the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations dated December 29, 1960, dealing with the Earhart disappearance referred to “Commander Noonan, her navigator.” Other references to Noonan in the Earhart literature refer to him as Captain Noonan, and some insist he was a reserve officer in the U.S. Navy. Still others suggest Noonan may have been assigned to active duty prior to the flight with Earhart and was, in fact, under orders from the U.S. military. While a provocative suggestion, it has never been proved.

• 15 • Reenter Putnam
    G eorge Palmer Putnam was ubiquitous at the Oakland airport. From time to time he received visitors who appeared to be officials or dignitaries of some kind whom he would escort to the hangar where the Electra was being worked on. On those occasions, Putnam would order all of the mechanics and technicians out of the building and tell them not to return until he informed them it was all right to do so. Even Earhart was instructed to leave on occasion. During these mysterious visits, the aviatrix would generally retreat to the coffee shop and visit with Noonan and Mantz.
    Once as he was passing by the table where the three sat in conversation, young Robert Myers overheard Earhart ask of Noonan and Mantz whether they knew who the visitors were and what they thought Putnam was up to. Neither of the two men had any idea.
    During one visit to the airport, Myers walked up on Earhart, Noonan, and Mantz as the latter was showing the aviatrix some camera gear and providing basic instructions on aerial photography.
    On another visit to the airport, Myers observed Putnam grow exceedingly angry with his young son because he “had not washed up well enough.” Putnam yelled at the boy and then hit him. On one other occasion when Myers was seated in the coffee shop near Earhart and Noonan, he heard the aviatrix state, “I don’t care what they tell you, Fred. There is something going on and they are not telling you and they are not telling me. [Putnam] won’t tell me a thing and I know he is up to something. He won’t even talk to me anymore.”
    Referring to a number of government officials who had been coming and going at the airport, Earhart asked Noonan whether he knew who they were. He didn’t. Given the growing and suspicious nature of such activities, Earhart offered Noonan an opportunity to back out of the flight. He declined.
    At one point when Robert Myers was in the coffee shop, Earhart told him she needed to tell him something. According to Myers, Earhart said, “I am on a very secret and dangerous mission and I want you to tell someone if you hear that anything happens to Fred or me, tell your mother or someone else.” Earhart made Myers promise he would.
    Later, as Myers was leaving the coffee shop, he spotted Putnam screaming at his son and hitting him again. The offense committed by the boy that angered Putnam this time had to do with leaving the parked car, where he had been instructed to remain. Putnam saw Myers watching him. He pushed his son aside and advanced toward Myers, an angry snarl on his face. On reaching Myers, Putnam asked him what they had told him in the coffee shop. Myers walked away, with Putnam screaming at him to stay away from the airport.
    In what seems like a far-fetched account, Myers reported that as he was walking home along the road, hoping to hitch a ride, a car approached and he stuck out his thumb. As the vehicle neared, it picked up speed. A moment later, Myers recognized the car as the black Hudson owned by Putnam. Putnam was behind the wheel and was aiming at the youth standing on the side of the road. Myers jumped into an adjacent ditch just in time as the car sped by. When he crawled out of the ditch, he watched as Putnam turned the Hudson around for a second attempt at running him down. At