“THIS IS AMELIA EARHART.”

The voice that floated into the Rock Springs, Wyoming, living room sounded weak and whispery.

Sixteen-year-old Dana Randolph moved closer to his shortwave radio. Dana was fascinated with radios. For years he had studied and worked on them. He had even built his own sets. Just the day before, he had erected a brand-new antenna, one he had designed himself. He hoped the antenna would allow him to pick up radio stations from as far away as New York City, or maybe even London. But he had never expected this!

Sixteen-year-old radio amateur Dana Randolph claimed he heard Amelia’s cry for help. (picture credit 11.1)

“This is Amelia Earhart,” the voice said again. “Ship is on a reef south of the equator. Station KHAQQ.” Then the signal died away.

Dana leaped to his feet. “Hey, Paw!” he hollered. “I got Miss Earhart!”

Dana’s father ran into the room. Together they listened closely to the radio. At first they heard only static. Then the woman’s voice came again from the speaker. She repeated her name and call letters, but as she gave her location, the signal disappeared.

“Everybody wants to know about that,” said Dana’s uncle, who had come into the room while father and son were listening. “Get downtown and report that.”

Dana and his father hurried to the police station. The officer in charge directed them to the Department of Commerce Aeronautical Radio Facility that just happened to be right there in Rock Springs. After hearing Dana’s story, the facility’s radio operator notified navy officials in Washington, D.C. Then all three of them—Dana, his father and the radio operator—rushed back to the Randolphs’ house. The flier’s voice was still coming through the speakers. But the signal was so weak, no one could make out what she was saying.

Hours later, word of the incident reached Itasca. “Unconfirmed reports from Rock Springs, Wyoming state Earhart plane heard,” read the message from the coast guard’s San Francisco station. “Position on a reef southeast of Howland Island. This information may be authentic, as signals from mid-Pacific and Orient often heard inland when not audible on coast.”

Could Dana’s information be true? Was Amelia Earhart out there somewhere, calling for help?