Amelia Earhart's Plane Debris Possibly Located in Western Pacific

By The Maritime Executive 08-20-2012 09:55:06

The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR), which has been investigating the infamous Amelia Earhart plane crash for years, have recently discovered what is thought to be pieces of her plane in the waters off Nikumaroro island in Kiribati – a southwestern Pacific republic.

The underwater mission began on July 12th and used an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) and a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) to man the operation. Hours of high-definition data was produced. The famed Lockheed Electra aircraft was not immediately identified due to a harsh marine environment and technical difficulties.

Upon return from the expedition at July’s end, the research team reviewed and analyzed the newfound material, looking for debris and evidence that is 75 years old. An exciting debris field was indeed identified.

The site contains multiple objects that appear consistent with the interpretation of a photo of Nikumaroro's western shoreline. Shot just three months after Earhart's disappearance on July 2, 1937, the photo revealed an apparent man-made protruding object on the left side of the frame. Forensic imaging analyses of the picture found the mysterious object consistent with the shape and dimension of the upside-down landing gear of Earhart's plane, reports Discovery News. The photo shows what appear to be four components of the plane: a strut, a wheel, a worm gear and a fender. In the debris field there appears to be the fender, possibly the wheel and possibly some portions of the strut.

A screengrab from underwater video shows a semicircle at top (the fender?) and a round object off to right. Could they be remnants of Earhart's plane?

Recovery is the next step. In the meantime, another investigation into a little jar recovered on Nikumaroro in a previous expedition might provide further circumstantial evidence that Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan made an emergency landing on the island's flat coral reef and eventually died there as castaways.

Traces of mercury inside the jar led researchers to believe that it once contained Dr. Berry’s Freckle Cream. Mercury was used in ointments was for bleaching the skin. Dr. C. H Berry's Freckle Ointment was marketed in the early 20th century as a concoction guaranteed to make freckles fade – which Amelia openly wanted. However, TIGHAR admitted it is not possible to link the ointment pot directly to Amelia Earhart.

The jar was found broken in five pieces and showed signs of having been used as a cutting tool. Therefore, the jar does seem to have been associated with a castaway who died there. The final question is who.