14 Facts About Elgen Long

Elgen Marion Long was a distinguished American aviator, author, and researcher who achieved numerous notable milestones in aviation.

Elgen Long is well-regarded for his research into the disappearance of Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan.

Elgen Long developed the "Crash and Sink" theory, which provides an explanation for their mysterious disappearance.

Navy veteran who navigated seaplanes across the Pacific during World War II, Elgen Long retired in 1987 after a distinguished career with The Flying Tiger Line, where he was a Senior Boeing 747 Captain.

In January 1949, while working as a navigator for Alaska Airlines, Elgen Long was redirected to a British Royal Air Forceb ase in Aden, Yemen.

In 1971, Elgen Long flew solo around the world over both the North and South Poles in a Piper Navajo, setting fifteen world records and firsts.

Elgen Long was the first man to have crossed Antarctica alone via the South Pole.

Elgen Long was the first to use inertial navigation in crossing the Antarctic Continent.

Elgen Long gave his prognosis on Earhart's fate and the positive condition her aircraft would be in, in the deep sea.

Elgen Long co-wrote Amelia Earhart: The Mystery Solved with his wife Marie, published in 1999.

Elgen Long is the originator and leading proponent of the book's "Crash and Sink" theory explaining Amelia Earhart's disappearance.

Elgen Long theorised that the Electra ran out of fuel and ditched at sea relatively near to Howland Island, the atoll Earhart was attempting to reach.

Movie rights to the book were purchased for Fox Searchlight Studios and Elgen Long was hired as technical consultant for the film Amelia.

Elgen Long led two expeditions to the mid-Pacific Ocean where Earhart and Noonan disappeared, and in 2006 participated in a search that attempted to locate their downed aircraft on the ocean floor near Howland Island.