[crusadersoldier]

Interesting ... I thought that they had made it to the vicinity of Howland Island. If that is their wreckage, it would mean that they flew back well over 1000 miles to have crashed in that spot. Being so low on fuel, I am not sure if this is even possible.

[BenKenobi]

Perhaps they sprung a leak on the way and radioed, and Howland managed to pick up the distress.

Would fit with the evidence. She never said where she was, only that she was having difficulties.

What I find intruiging is the cast away, that they were unable to contact anyone from where they were.

[tanknetter]

Interesting ... I thought that they had made it to the vicinity of Howland Island. If that is their wreckage, it would mean that they flew back well over 1000 miles to have crashed in that spot. Being so low on fuel, I am not sure if this is even possible.

It would also mean that they flew back in radio silence.

IOW, highly (even exceedingly) unlikely.

The better possibility is that the submerged aircraft that looks so much like a Lockheed 10E Electra is either a Lockheed PV1/2 Ventura/Harpoon, or C-45 that crashed during WWII. Could even be a B-25 Mitchell, or any one of a variety of Japanese aircraft, depending on the distinguishing features being observed (twin tails).