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TIGHAR
Earhart Project Expeditions
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NIKU
I: September/October 1989 |
- Vessel: M/V
Pacific Nomad, 115 ft dive excursion vessel
- Port of Embarkation: Suva, Fiji
- Destination: Nikumaroro (formerly Gardner Island) and McKean Island, uninhabited
islands in the Phoenix Group, Republic of Kiribati.
- Operations: General survey and evaluation of islands as possible landing sites
of the Earhart flight.
- Artifacts Recovered: McKean Island – nothing. Nikumaroro – several pieces of aircraft
debris found in abandoned Gilbertese village at west end.
- Results: McKean
Island eliminated. Nikumaroro identified as worthy of further investigation.
See TIGHAR Tracks Volume
5, #3; Volume
5, #4; Volume
5, #5 for details.
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NIKU
II: October/November 1991
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- Vessel: R/V Acania, 125 ft research vessel.
- Port of Embarkation: Honolulu, Hawaii
- Destination: Nikumaroro
- Operations: Side-scan
sonar search of atoll perimeter. Onshore search of eastern beach area
for possible campsite reported seen in 1944. Excavation of small grave
on southern arm of atoll. Further examination of abandoned village at
west end.
- Artifacts Recovered:
Sonar search negative. Search for campsite negative. Grave found to
contain bones of an infant. Remnants of shoes found near grave site.
Additional aircraft debris found in village.
- Results: Shoe
remnants are consistent with shoes worn by Earhart. Some aircraft debris
is consistent with WWII B-24 (probably brought from Sydney Island).
Other aircraft debris is not consistent with any known WWII type and
is consistent with Earhart’s Lockheed Model 10E Special.
See TIGHAR Tracks Volume
7, #4; Volume 7, #5; Volume
8, #1 for details.
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Solomons Research: December 1995 |
- Vessel: open launch
- Port of Embarkation: Gizo Island, Solomon Islands
- Destination: Waghena Island, Solomon Islands
- Operations: Interview former residents of Nikumaroro. (Nikumaroro was originally settled by
Gilbertese islanders under British authority in late 1938. The colony
was abandoned and the residents resettled to the Solomon Islands in
1963.)
- Results: The people’s
folklore includes a story that the first work party on Nikumaroro in
1938 found the bones of a white man and woman, identifiable as such
from the remnants of clothing and shoes they wore.
- TIGHAR Tracks articles about this expedition: Solomon
Islands Expedition
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NIKU
III Preliminary, Jan., Feb. 1996 |
- Vessel: M/V Matagi Princess II, 85 ft. dive excursion vessel.
- Port of Embarkation: Taveuni, Fiji
- Destination: Nikumaroro
- Operations: Update
logistical data in preparation for NIKU III. Try again to locate campsite
on eastern beach with help of newly acquired photographic evidence.
- Artifacts Recovered:
Additional aircraft components from abandoned village.
- Results: Logistical
data gathered. Search for campsite successful, but site proved to be
associated with the Gilbertese settlement. Additional artifacts found
in village are consistent with Earhart's aircraft.
- TIGHAR Tracks
articles about this expedition: The
Niku III Preliminary Expedition, Preliminary
Findings, Part Number
40552.
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NIKU
III: February/March 1997 |
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The Kanton Mission: February 1998 |
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NIKU IIIIP: July 1999 |
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Niku IIII: September 2001 |
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Niku VP: July/August 2003 |
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Niku V: July/August 2007 |
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Niku VI: May/June 2010 |
- See Niku VI for details about this upcoming expedition.
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