Researchers for The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR), led by founder Ric Gillespie and veteran archaeologist, Dr Tom King, returned to the USA from the month-long expedition with several significant artifacts but still no indisputable proof that pioneer pilot, Amelia Earhart, and navigator, Fred Noonan, actually landed and died on remote Nikumaroro. 

"What we really need is an aircraft part with a serial number or Amelia's bones - preferably both," Dr King said. "What we have is more solid evidence that we are in the right place. At the least, that's reason enough to keep plugging away." TIGHAR has chartered NAI'A during August and September in 1998 for a return search expedition to Kiribati. 

The team is currently analyzing aircraft aluminum found on the island as well as a campfire in the same place that a shoe identical to the kind Amelia wore was found. Could this be the basis of stories from the island's first settlers about finding a white man and woman's bones and discovering signs someone had "bivouacked for the night"? And what of the latest revelation about an engine being airlifted from Nikumaroro's reef flat back in the 70s? Our lips are sealed - but only until the ABC Television Turning Point documentary premieres, tentatively scheduled on June 19. After that, look in our website for a detailed expose of NAI'A's Amelia Adventure. 
 

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