.....In the interview she says that she brought back "a part" of AEs plane during a trip in 1986 to Howland and Baker Islands. She said that she found it in the water and not on land and immediately recognized it as a part from a 10E (she said something to the effect of being the only person who can recognize a 10E part)......
Not to be too glib, but she sure must be one
terribly amazing person! I have an awful lot of time in Twin Beech's and MU2's (not to mention a host of smaller singles and twins) ...and, barring a few notable and obvious exceptions, I doubt that I could absolutely positively identify a randomly found part of either of those types. I might be able to say 'Gee, that looks a lot like this part or that part', but I would not have the guts to claim such mastery as to eliminate any and all other possibilities.
Unless the 'part' she found is a labeled corner of the Weight & Balance paperwork or some similarly tagged placard...I'd not put much faith in this claim.
I hope she was not as absolute if indeed she
did repeat this claim to the family. Would seem, in my opinion, to be terribly cruel to do so.
...TB
<edited for really bad typing skills>