Interesting historic things about Miami - relates to 2-2-V-1 study

[Andrew M McKenna]

Does she have the original negative?

amck

[Ric Gillespie]

Does she have the original negative?

Unfortunately no.

[JNev]

So much to wish for.  We have to be grateful for what was found and what it might tell us, 77 years is a long time and this is remarkable, whatever we learn.

Sometimes I think many of us get so focused on solving the disappearance that we forget the value of filling in the many details that was Amelia's life and that of others around her during this historic time.

We may find more answers about the window covering here, or we may not.  But what we have for certain is another glimpse into the flight through an interesting man's eyes because he was able to take pictures while at his own interesting work wth the blimp.  And now we have the touchstone of his descendants.

Part of me just has to appreciate the greater story now and then.  Glad ya'll went after he photos.

[Ric Gillespie]

For history's sake I would say your trip was not a bust at all.

Indeed.

Of course we still don't know whether the print will yield new information but the way we were able to track down and get access to the best existing image is a classic example of TIGHAR's research capabilities.
• A TIGHAR member and Forum lurker, entirely on his own initiative, spotted the Leonard Albasi/Gill Family collection of photos in the University of Miami archive during an on-line search for anything relating to Earhart in Miami.
• Another TIGHAR member and active Forum contributor, entirely on his own initiative, hired a student at the university to look at the collection.  The student took some photos from which we were able to see that the photos were of interest.  The TIGHAR member then paid to have the university send hi-res copies of the photos.
• From the hi-res photos it was apparent that one of the photos showed the freshly installed patch on a day prior to the June 1 departure but it was also apparent that the negative had been scanned incorrectly and it was not all clear whether the university had original material or copies.
• A research trip to Miami was clearly needed and TIGHAR members responded with contributions that made the trip possible.
• The trip to the archive revealed that the best the university had was a copy-negative of the  original print.  The resolution of this 3rd generation image was not sufficient to extract new information.
• The research team correctly reasoned that the name of the collection implied that a married daughter of Leonard Albasi held the original photos.
• Forum researchers quickly located the daughter. A phone call from TIGHAR's executive director connected with the daughter's husband who said that the daughter had given the photos to her own daughter.  He agreed to pass along the TIGHAR phone number and a request that his daughter, Mr. Albasi's grandaughter, call us.
•  The daughter/grandaughter phoned that same day. She confirmed that she has the original prints and she was familiar with TIGHAR's investigation.  TIGHAR's credibility led her to agree to loan this treasured family item.

None of us could have done this on our own but the combination of TIGHAR's network of talented volunteer researchers, our willingness to follow up on hunches, our members who are willing to fund needed on-site research, and TIGHAR's high and credible public profile combined to give us access of never-before tapped resources. 

[JNev]

That's the best part of what TIGHAR is about I think, well said.

[Jeff Lange]

That's the best part of what TIGHAR is about I think, well said.

Hear Hear!!! I fully agree with Jeff!

[Ric Gillespie]

Just heard from Jonell Gill.  The photo is on its way to Jeff Glickman.  He should have it Monday.

Incidentally, both Jonell and her father told me that they had originally offered Albasi's photos to the Smithsonian but they were not interested.

Purdue has the Darwin Fueling photo as a decent size print.  Dunno what generation.  We'll need special permission for Jeff to go there and take a max-res copy photo. I have a call in to the head of Special Collections. We'll see how that goes.

[Monty Fowler]

Just out of curiosity, and not knowing the innards of a 10-E intimately, what might the mechanic be working on in the several shots where the nose hatch is open?

LTM,
Monty Fowler, TIGHAR No. 2189 ECSP

[Ric Gillespie]

Just out of curiosity, and not knowing the innards of a 10-E intimately, what might the mechanic be working on in the several shots where the nose hatch is open?

That's probably the Pan Am instrument technician working on the Sperry Gyropilot (autopilot) which was giving them fits.  The guts of the GyroPilot were up in the nose.

[Ted G Campbell]

Ric,
Let us know what is needed $ wise to chase down this lead. I am ready to contribute.
Ted Campbell

[Ric Gillespie]

Let us know what is needed $ wise to chase down this lead. I am ready to contribute.

Thanks Ted.  Dunno yet.  Stand by.

[Hal Beck]

Ric,

Has Jeff Glickman had a chance to examine Jonell Gill's photo yet?

I know you're loathe to try to explain Jeff's high-tech photo analysis methods, but while we wait for Jeff's full report on the photos he's examined, hyperspectral analyses, etc, maybe Jeff could provide you with a brief description of the methods used; that might give some of us a little time to do our homework to better understand the analysis methods he is using on patch photos.

[Ric Gillespie]

Has Jeff Glickman had a chance to examine Jonell Gill's photo yet?

Yes. Jeff briefed me yesterday. The original print provided by Jonell is much better than the 3rd generation negative we saw in Miami but it's still not as good as Miami Herald photo. No new information on the rivet lines.  The lighting angle does, however, make the edges of the individual skins more visible. He should be able to answer the question of how close the aft edge of the patch was to Station 320.


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[Monty Fowler]

The original print provided by Jonell is much better than the 3rd generation negative we saw in Miami but it's still not as good as Miami Herald photo.

That's to be expected, even if it is unfortunate. Those were basically snapshots, taken with a 1930s version of the point and shoot cameras. Still worth the trip, though, since now these photos are available to the wider public.

LTM,
Monty Fowler, TIGHAR No. 2189 ECSP