Bonjour from France!

First of all, let me introduce myself. My name is Renaud Dudon and i am a lawyer in the civil life.

In 2000, I was a member of TIGHAR for a year on the initiative of Charles F. Sivert, with whom we carried out a short, unsuccessful search for the famous “Gremlins” found by your association in the Maine woods.

Perhaps you have some rememberance of this, Ric. It was a long time ago.

Unfortunately, I was unable to establish any link between this object and any equipment in France. I was even met with outright hostility to my research from certain 'knowledgeable' and well-authorized circles in the field of historical aviation in our country. I never did find out why the mention of the TIGHAR didn't ring true in their ears, and why the doors remained closed.

Occasionally, if you wish, we could talk about this subject, but that's not the primary reason for this message.

Since then, I've always kept an eye on your research and investigations, particularly on the Forum. I must say that your way of reasoning and humble approach to these mysteries calls for a certain respect. Of all those who claim they know how and why Nungesser and Coli disappeared, TIGHAR is the only organization to have, in my opinion, attempted an approach that is both scientifically and pragmatically based.

I've studied this disappearance a little with my limited resources. Many authors in France have come up against this persistent mystery. If I can help a little, I'd be glad to.

Of course, the veil of the unknown cannot be opened so easily, even in the eyes of the researcher who adopts suitable method.

Thanks for reading ! 

Back in mid-february, TIGHAR put out two e-mails regarding the forum upgrade; I understood that it would happen by the end of February.  I haven't noticed any differences (at least on the forum side).  Just curious if the upgrade did happen.

Randy Jacobson

One can hope that there are more drawings done by M. Soulier
adr

https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6568023j/f29.item.r=LevasseurL'Aeronautique

Very interesting. thx.
adr

I was Googling for something else, and ran across this article, from about three weeks ago, on the topic of Tony Romeo and the sonar image:

Thomas Curwen. "How Explorers Found Amelia Earhart's Watery Grave: Or Did They?" Los Angeles Times, March 26, 2024, republished online at the Arizona Daily Sun (Flagstaff) website.

https://azdailysun.com/news/nation-world/how-explorers-found-amelia-earharts-watery-grave-or-did-
they/article_be25a8c8-ebbf-11ee-b098-43524eefd573.html

I added it to my Earhart bookmarks and will read it sometime eventually later but not now.  "Crashed and sank" not my theory.

Unfortunately, the website https://www.avionslegendaires.net/avion-militaire/levasseur-pl-4/ says unequivocally that no PL 4 has survived their decommissioning (except the one that may still be sitting on the floor of the Mediterranean ...). But the French ministry of Armed forces (even though they do not know in what circumstances) has salvaged 195 blueprints from the Levasseur company, which are available online at https://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/fr/article.php?larub=407&titre=plans-de-constructeurs-aeronautiques-sur-des-appareils-civils-et-militaires-xxe-siecle-
Just in case you did not notice, one is the side view of the internal arrangement of a PL 8 (apparently not l'Oiseau blanc, but the second "postal" PL 8, which, according to Wpd, "was built [in 1928 and] equipped with a Hispano-Suiza 12M 375 kW (500 hp) engine. Flown in 1928, the PL.8-02 was intended as a long-range record breaker but modified as an air mail carrier"): https://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/fr/ark:/40699/s0062cad8b3f3722/62cad8b400a1d
That may give some ideas. However, the caps (or lids) do not seem to be other than an ordinary type... Sorry I do not find how to make a reduced image suitable to be included here, but someone will soon find how to do that, if showing this blueprint appears of some interest.

here is the jerry can.
adr

Ric-

Note the sealing mechanism on a World War II jerry can.  Fancy glass beer bottles use a similar mechanism.  The latch exerts pressure along the centerline of the lid.  Gasket around the periphery of the lid. Holds pressure, No vapor leaks, at least in principle.  No threads on the lid.

adr

Lorraine Dietrich engines are not hard to find, but just an engine does not show us what we need to see. We think we might have the cap from the filler neck of the water reservoir (aka header tank) that sat on top of the engine.

I imagine you've already seen this Ric, but just in case...  https://www.skoda-storyboard.com/en/press-releases/skoda-museum-presents-an-extraordinary-exhibit-the-w12-aircraft-engine-by-laurin-klement/