14 June 1937

Aviation, , , , , , ,
Amelia Earhart, Fred Noonan and a group of locals pose for photographs with the Electra at Assab, Eritrea, 14 June 1937. (Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections)

14 June 1937: Leg 17. From Massawa, Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan fly their Lockheed Electra 10E, NR16020, 246 nautical miles (283 statute miles/455 kilometers) down the coast of the Red Sea to Assab, Eritrea, to prepare for the next long flight to Karachi, India. They have the aircraft serviced and fueled then await the morning.

On Tuesday, June 14, we moved down the Red Sea from Masawa to Assab to prepare for the long flight along the Arabian coast to India. Assab was nearer our objective than Masawa, offered better take-off facilities, and as well we had a greater supply of 87 Octane gasoline spotted there. Eritrea stretches along the coast of the Red Sea for 670 miles. Our course took us about half that length. Soon we left behind the mountains that bordered the coast-line and bade farewell to everything that was green. Approaching Assab the coast became terribly barren beyond description. . . .

—Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart’s Lockheed Electra 10E, NR16020, being serviced inside a hangar at Assab, Eritrea, 14 June 1937 (Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections)
Great Circle route from Massawa to Assab, Eritrea, 246 Nautical miles (283 statute miles/455 kilometers). (Great Circle Mapper)

© 2019, Bryan R. Swopes

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3 thoughts on “14 June 1937”

  1. Bryan,
    The last photo in your article “8 April 1945” about the Wee Willie is of my father’s crew. He is on the bottom row to the right wearing dark gloves. He is the navigator for this crew. 2nd Lt. Jess Ziccarello (depending on the date). I believe he has the names of the crew.

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