The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR) recently found a clue that can solve the mystery behind Amelia Earhart's disappearance.
Amelia Earhart's disappearance is considered as one of the world's biggest mystery. Earhart is believed to be disappeared during her quest to circle the globe. She was flying her favorite twin-engine plane with her navigator Fred Noonan.
However, TIGHAR reported some new evidence that may help people to solve this mystery. These details indicate that the adventurous and fearless aviator survived for some time as a castaway on a remote island. The non-profit foundation discussed about the new details and came to this conclusion: Earhart and Noonan failed to find their next stopping point - Howland Island - because of low fuel. They, however, landed on an island which is now known as Nikumaroro Island.
They tried to send radio distress signals and charged the batteries using the remaining fuel. "Amelia Earhart did not simply vanish on July 2, 1937," Richard Gillespie, executive director of TIGHAR, told Discovery News. "Radio distress calls believed to have been sent from the missing plane dominated the headlines and drove much of the US Coast Guard and Navy search." He also added "When the search failed, all of the reported post-loss radio signals were categorically dismissed as bogus and have been largely ignored ever since."
According to this report, Amelia and her navigator Fred Noonan stayed in Nikumaroro Island for some days. Their aircraft was on its wheels and on land for a few days after the disappearance. Some Pacific islanders discovered a few artifacts years ago which confirm this conclusion.
Among the discoveries were the remains of a purported cosmetic jar, identical in shape to the ones used by Dr. C. H Berry's Freckle Ointment, which was marketed in early 20th century. "It's well documented Amelia had freckles and disliked having them," TIGHAR researcher Joe Cerniglia told Discovery News.
The artifacts discovered by the Pacific islanders include broken glass artifacts (showing evidence of secondary use as tools for cutting or scraping); large numbers of fish and bird bones found in or associated with, ash and charcoal deposits; and bone fragments and dried fecal matter that might be of human origin. A partial skeleton of a castaway was also discovered in 1940. "Unfortunately, the bones and artifacts found in 1940 were subsequently lost," Discovery News quoted Gillespie as saying.
TIGHAR researchers are planning to go back in July to Nikumaroro Island where Earhart and Noonan are believed to have spent their last days. They will take submersibles with them to detect the famous aircraft.
