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Newly Discovered Footage of Amelia Earhart Surfaces

** Amelia Earhart with her Lockheed Electra**
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A previously unseen three-and-a-half-minute film of Amelia Earhart, shot by John Bresnik in 1937, has been discovered after sitting in his son's possession for decades.
  • Labeled "Amelia Earhart, Burbank Airport, 1937," the authentic footage is being released as "Amelia Earhart's Last Photo Shoot" alongside an 80-page book.
  • While experts confirm the footage's authenticity, there is debate on whether it was shot in March or May of 1937, prior to her ill-fated attempt to circumnavigate the globe.
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Almost 80 years after Amelia Earhart’s disappearance in 1937, we are getting what appears to be one final look at the famous aviator. The three-and-a-half minute film that was found is said to be shot by John Bresnik, the brother of Al Bresnik, Earhart’s personal photographer. It was discovered by John’s son and went unseen while it sat in his father’s office until his death in 1992, according to a report by the Associated Press.

The box that the film was kept in was labeled “Amelia Earhart, Burbank Airport, 1937” and suggested it was taken before her final departure.

A downloadable version of the film, called “Amelia Earhart’s Last Photo Shoot,” is being released by The Paragon Agency along with an 80-page book of the same name that documents her around-the-world journey that was tragically cut short.

While experts believe that the footage is authentic, some speculate it was shot in March during her first attempt to circumnavigate the globe instead of May, as suggested by Richard Gillespie, executive director of the International Group For Historic Aircraft Recovery.

Regardless of the date, it’s no doubt that this is a rare glimpse into the life of the aviation hero.

Watch some of the found footage in the film here.

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