Our research has corrected many myths about Earhart and the world flight and brought to light a library of previously unknown historical documents that clarify and expand our understanding of what happened.
Exactly right, Mr. Gillespie, sir. The
body of knowledge that TIGHAR has unearthed and accumulated regarding Earhart and Noonan is enormous, and continues to grow to this very day. If all of it were printed out and bound into books, that
alone would fill a fair-sized room! The recent combing through the Pan Am archives in Miami did not yield any smoking guns, but that in and of itself adds to the overall body of knowledge about Earhart and Noonan's fate.
The problem with public perception is ... A stack of papers is a yawner for most people. Something they can physically see, touch, smell, whatever, is much, much more credible in their minds. That's just human nature, no matter how much we may rail against it at times.
So yes, I'm hoping that we can make a valid, scientific case that 2-V-1-1 was on our favorite Electra, and could only have come from there. I am willing to trust whatever TIGHAR finds, because I trust TIGHAR and its methods. Whether the public at large will feel the same is out of TIGHAR's control.
LTM,
Monty Fowler, TIGHAR No. 2189 ECSP
P.S. - In today's Internet age where everyone can be an instant expert on anything and everything, the problem of finding "independent experts with impeccable credentials" is more and more difficult. Anyone with a computer and Photoshop can claim to be a photo analysis expert, at least to the extent that their proof and argument, no matter how ridiculous on its face, will make sense to a certain segment of the population at large.
I, for example, and the world's leading expert on gnomons. If you don't believe me, check out my extensive listing of web publications, Wikipedia entries and PowerPoint presentations, all on-line and free for the taking by anyone who has a mind to. *cough*