The childhood, career, and achievements of Elgen Long.
Elgen M. Long was born August 12, 1927 in McMinnville, Oregon. He married Marie K. Kurilich May 12, 1946 in Los Angeles, California. They had two children, Donna Marie and Harry Elgen Long. After 57 years together, Marie passed away June 20, 2003. On January 17, 2011, Elgen Long married Kay N. Otto at Incline Village, Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
Winner FAI Gold Air Medal Outstanding Sports Pilot in the World; The Institute of Navigation Superior Achievement Award as practicing Navigator; Airline Pilots Association Award For Outstanding Airmanship; Franklin Harris Trophy for first solo flight around-the-world over both Poles; NAA 2004 Crystal Eagle Award for Lifetime Achievement in Aviation; Holder of 15 aviation World Records and Firsts. 2009, FAA, The Wright Brothers "Master Pilot" award for fifty years of dedicated service in Aviation Safety. In 2012 he was inducted by the Oregon State Board of Aviation into the Oregon Aviation Hall of Honor.
Graduate, Marshfield High School (GED 1946) Coos Bay, Oregon. U.S. Navy 1942-1946. Attended Aviation Radio School, Aerial Gunnery School, Advanced Aviation Radio School, Radar Bombing, and Aerial Navigation School. Elgen received an AA degree in Aeronautics, from the College of San Mateo, California, and studied Aircraft Accident Investigation at the University of Southern California and the Norton AFB Crash Laboratory.
Airline Pilot Accident Investigator 1957; U. S. Department of Transportation Accident Prevention Counselor 1971; Senior Captain B-747, Pilots Review Board FTL 1987; Accompanied former FAA Administrator, Admiral Donald Engen, as Flight Training Specialist for his 1988 Peoples Republic of China Tour and Airline Safety Review. Expedition Leader 2002 Earhart Aircraft search mission, WID Search Advisor during 2006, and 2009 Catalyst II missions.
1942-46 Over 100 U.S. Navy combat missions in seaplanes during World War II as Radioman and Navigator, including Howland Island patrols where Amelia Earhart disappeared. 1947-1987 Radioman, Navigator, Captain, Instructor and Check-Pilot for Flying Tiger Line. A 60 year flying career that totaled nearly 45,000 hours without accident or violation. In 1970, he and his wife, Marie, began an over 40 year investigation of Earhart�s disappearance at Howland Island.
(FAA) Airline Transport Pilot, Flight Navigator, Flight Radio Operator, Aircraft Powerplant Mechanic. (FCC) Radio Telegraph Operator with Aeronautical Endorsement, Extra- Class Radio Amateur W7FT. (British Board of Trade) Air Transport Pilots License.
International Society of Air Safety Investigators; Marine Technology Society; American Radio Relay League; National Aeronautics Assoc.; Air Line Pilots Assoc. (ret.); American Polar Society; Old Antarctic Explorers Assoc.; �Fellow� Explorers Club.
After 35 years of interviewing over 100 witnesses and examining nearly 25,000 pages of documents and reports, no credible evidence has been found to change the Navy�s 1937 conclusion: Her fuel exhausted, Earhart was forced to ditch her plane into the sea near Howland Island. Elgen and Marie�s book, Amelia Earhart: The Mystery Solved, summarizes the findings and is published by Simon and Schuster. Visit Elgen�s website at www.ElgenLong.com for more information.
Missions are being planned for an underwater search in the waters near Howland Island where the missing plane is lying on the ocean floor waiting to be discovered.
When Earhart�s Lockheed Electra is found remotely operated vehicles will accomplish a careful forensic analysis of the site before recovery of the plane is made. After recovery, Earhart�s plane will be restored and displayed as an artifact of our American heritage.
