In 1998, forensic anthropologists Karen Burns and Richard Jantz analyzed measurements of the bones included in the British file. Using late 20th century forensic tools and techniques they concluded that the skeleton appeared to be consistent with a white female of Earhart’s height and ethnic origin. In 2015, British graduate student Pamela Cross and Australian anthropologist Richard Wright took issue with Burns and Jantz. In a paper published in the Journal of Archaeological Science they argued that the original 1941 British findings were more likely correct. Their study, titled “The Nikumaroro bones identification controversy: First-hand examination versus evaluation by proxy — Amelia Earhart found or still missing?” can be purchased at Science Direct.

Karen Burns died in 2012, but in response to the 2015 Cross/Wright critique, Richard Jantz undertook a quantitative analysis of the Nikumaroro bone measurements using the latest software and new forensic information about Amelia Earhart’s physique obtained by TIGHAR with the cooperation of Photek Forensic Imaging, the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, and Purdue University Special Collections. His newly released paper, “Amelia Earhart and the Nikumaroro Bones – A 1941 Analysis versus Modern Quantitative Techniques” is the result.

Dr. Jantz’s study stands in stark contrast to the evidence presented in the July 2017 History Channel special “Amelia Earhart – The Lost Evidence.” Shortly after the show aired, the lost evidence – a photo said to show Earhart and Noonan in Japanese custody – was revealed to be neither lost nor evidence when it was found to have come from a Japanese tour book printed in 1935 – two years before the flyers disappeared. The show was withdrawn from re-broadcast and a promised investigation by the History Channel has, so far, not materialized.

December 15 marked the 73rd anniversary of the disappearance of iconic Big Band leader Major Alton G. “Glenn” Miller on a 1944 flight from England to Paris. In terms of public familiarity, it’s an aviation mystery second only to the Earhart disappearance and, like the AE enigma, proposed answers to the riddle range from the ridiculous to the rational. The most credible research suggests that the UC-64 Noorduyn Norseman carrying Miller came down in the English Channel due to either weather or friendly fire.

We’re taking this a step at a time. We are raising funds to be used to cover Phase One. The purpose of Phase One will be to determine whether what appeared to be the wreck of a C-64 Noorduyn Norseman snagged, and briefly raised, by a fisherman trawling in the English Channel could possibly be the aircraft in which Miller was lost on December 15, 1944. If the informant’s account is found to be not credible, or the reported location is beyond the realm of possibility based on the known facts of the case, or the location is not specific enough – we’ll write a report and leave it at that. If Phase One finds that further research is warranted we’ll proceed with a possible research trip to England next year. A later search expedition would only be contemplated if it looked like there was a reasonable chance of locating and identifying the wreck.

Our ability to move forward depends entirely upon contributions to the Glenn Miller Research Fund. Please go ahead and contribute what you can now. We’ve made a great start. We’ll include a further progress report in the spring issue of TIGHAR Tracks.