NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: Fred Noonan Criticized
From: Roger Connor
Date: 2016 Jun 15, 06:30 -0700
From: Roger Connor
Date: 2016 Jun 15, 06:30 -0700
Hi Bruce,
As the author of the exhibit panel in question, I'll note the constraints of the format didn't leave much room for nuance, but it is meant to imply that, while employed with Pan Am, Noonan was a navigator - and only a navigator - and didn't need to touch the radio equipment. The reflection is more on Earhart who, as pilot in command, either needed a competent radio operator on board or needed to be one herself. I've written a bit further on the topic here:
http://blog.nasm.si.edu/aviation/amelia-earhart-and-the-profession-of-air-navigation/
My one regret with that piece is that I didn't touch more on Ed Musik's work with the S-42 in trailblazing air routes to Australia.
Regards,
Roger
