::My understanding - and I have seen NO photograph which shows it, that it had orange upon the top of the wings inset from the edges as was the pattern used by PAA.  Under any circumstances such would be quite visible. If they landed on the reef they could not have sent messages. The reef is shown in photos from Gillespies book and it shows quite distinct differences in depth. (the density of the photo varies with the depth of the water). The chances of the Electra landing in shallow water with the gear down and not flipping over are slim, a conventional gear, know known rudely as a "tail dragger" is very prone to nosing over when undue breaking or drag is induced (witness AE flipping her Vega at NAS Norfolk some years before), the chances of it landing on such an uneven surface while exposed are equally slim.

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