Background
Long, Elgen Marion was born on August 12, 1927 in McMinneville, Oregon, United States. Son of Harry E. and Berniece Elsie (Tooney) Long.
explorer business executive airline pilot
Long, Elgen Marion was born on August 12, 1927 in McMinneville, Oregon, United States. Son of Harry E. and Berniece Elsie (Tooney) Long.
Student, University California, Los Angeles, 1946-1947; AE, College San Mateo, 1961.
He is also known for his "Crash and Sink" theory explaining the disappearance of Amelia Earhart. Elgen has devoted over thirty-five years of research explaining what happened on the last leg of Amelia"s flight and determining where her Lockheed Electra could have crashed into the sea. The book was first published 1999 by Simon and Schuster and has since enjoyed worldwide distribution and sales.
lieutenant is considered by many to be the definitive work on Amelia Earhart"s last flight, and Captain Long is the originator and leading proponent of the book"s "Crash and Sink" theory.
Long believes that relatively near to Howland Island, the electra ran out of fuel and Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan ditched at sea. Movie rights to the book were purchased for Fox Searchlight Studios and Captain Long was hired as technical consultant for the major motion picture titled Amelia (2009).
The screenplay was written by Ron Bass. Filming of the epic movie was under the direction of Mira Nair mainly at sites in Canada and South Africa.
Amelia was released in late 2009.
Captain Long received worldwide acclaim in 1971 when he flew solo around the world over both the North and South Poles setting fifteen world records and firsts. Long was the first man to have crossed Antarctica alone via the South Pole. He was also the first to use inertial navigation in crossing the Antarctic Continent.
A Navy veteran who flew in seaplanes throughout the Pacific during World World War II, Elgen retired as Senior Boeing 747 Captain from The Flying Tiger Lincolnshire in 1987, after serving for over forty years as pilot, examiner, instructor, radio operator and navigator.
With a lifetime of aviation experience behind him he has devoted most of his retirement years to researching and writing about Amelia Earhart"s last flight. He has led two expeditions to the mid-Pacific Ocean where Earhart disappeared, and in 2006 participated in a search that attempted to locate Amelia"s downed aircraft on the ocean floor near Howland Island.
Not inclined to sit-and-rock in his chair at home, Captain Long is still working to help further efforts to locate Amelia"s downed plane.
Served with United States Naval Reserve, 1942-1946. Member National Aeronautical Association, American Polar Society, Royal Canadian Airforce Association, Airline Pilots Association, Institute Navigation (awards committee), Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Coronado Cays Yacht Club, Explorer's Club.
Married Marie Katherine Kurilich, May, 12, 1946. Children: Donna Marie Weiner, Harry Elgen.