Tim---
Several of us EARLY on in the still pics of the video that Richie and Jeff Victor were using, were saying that there was 'possible' aircraft wreckage. A certain member even called Ric to have him look at the 'gear with the squiggley'. So it appears that there may be some aircraft wreckage in a debris frield that was videoed in 2010. We were told the coordinates were not available due to some technical malfunction with the system. So, even though it appeared the debris field existed, its location wasnt known.
Now, 2 years later, you are saying that "none of them could have beeen brought home by the KOK because at the time of the Niku VII expedition no-one recognized the existance of this debris field as a possibility, and therefore no effort was made to find it again and explore it further."
Sir I respectfully disagree with you. Richie, Jeff, and others 'spotted' multiple targets, and I would think that with their locations being near each other, that would constitute a 'debris field.' This WAS recognized, not only by members here, but surely others as well. It was discussed in DC, it was the only underwater video we had of the location.
So---it was recognized, but yes, apparently no effort was made to find it again. Well, maybe so, with the initial AUV, and side scan mapping of the KOK. But it wasnt found, so other AUV/ROV searches were employed. You were there, and can speak better than the rest of us.
I assume that you were familiar with the still pics from the 2010 video, before you sailed. So I would also assume, as a sponsor, you may have been able to 'suggest' looking at possible locations of the 2010 video targets, which I assume was attempted. Guessing that things in the 2010 video and 2012 video dont match up. But saying no one recognized the existance of a debris field, IMHO contradics the efforts of many members, old and new.
Tom