Major breakthrough in the search for Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart disappeared while attempting to fly around the world The disappearance of Amelia Earhart has captivated the world for almost a nine decades now. Earhart was attempting to become the first woman to fly around the world when he plane disappeared in 1937. She was close to Howland Island in the Pacific Ocean at the time. No trace of Earhart or navigator Fred Noonan have ever been found. It has led to outlandish speculation and conspiracies as to what could have happened to the duo – including one theory their plane had been discovered on Google Maps. Last year, it emerged scientific analysis revealed a series of hidden letters and numbers etched onto an aluminium panel that washed up on Nikumaroro Island in the western Pacific. The island is located close to where Earhart went missing. Amelia Earhart’s Lockhead Electra at take-off It prompted a wave of excitement that scientists could have cracked one of the 20th century’s most enduring mysteries. Sadly though, it appears those hopes have now been dashed. Analysis of the panels suggest they did not belong to Earhart’s Lockhead Electra plane, instead they are said to be from a WWII aircraft that crashed six years later. However, all hope is not yet lost. Experts are now analysing a new image they think shows an engine cover buried underwater close to Nikumaroro that could have come from Earhart’s plane. Ric Gillespie is executive director of The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR), which has led The Earhart Project for more than three decades. This panel was previously thought to be from Amelia Earhart’s plane SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Speaking to the MailOnline, he said a forensic imaging specialist was currently analysing an underwater picture taken during an expedition to Nikumaroro in 2009. Ric explained: “There is an object in the photo that appears to be a Lockheed Electra engine cowling. “The similarity to an engine cowling and prop shaft was not noticed until years later and the exact location was not noted at the time, which meant attempts to re-locate the object were unsuccessful.” Even if the forensic analysis revealed the engine cover is from Earhart’s plane, it still wouldn’t solve the mystery of what happened to the 39-year-old. It could though rule out some theories, including a long-held belief that Earhart and Noonan landed and eventually died on Nikumaroro. TIGHAR had hoped the aluminium panels would support their theory. It has also been considered that the piece of metal, that was discovered in 1991, was a patch that was added to Earhart’s aircraft when repairs were made in Miami during her ill-fated round-the-world flight attempt. Amelia Earhart was trying to reach Howland Island But scientists last year discovered letters and numbers that could not been seen by the naked eye. The letters and numbers ‘D24’, ‘XRO’ and either ‘335’ or ‘385’ were found on the panel, which is known as 2-2-V-1. It is now thought they are in fact manufacturing code. Gillespie added: “Our forensic imaging specialist Jeff Glickman is still working on his final report, but it is looking like 2-2-V-1 is from the upper wing surface of a WWII Douglas C-47. “Disappointing after all these years and so many promising similarities to the patch on Earhart’s Electra, but science is what it is.” The experts concluded the letter D as well as AD on another part of the panel, were stampings from the manufacturing process. They also discovered US company Alcoa, which has been manufacturing aluminium since 1888, stamped some of its sheets with ‘ALCLAD 24S-T’. This is what they believe was on the panel. When Earhart’s Lockhead was constructed, the aluminium sheeting was stamped with ALC24ST. She did however have a panel from a year later. Trending It is thought the panel was from a Douglas C-47