The disappearance of Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan has been a big interest of mine for more years than I care to remember. I do look in at the TIGHAR website from time to time, and I've read Gillespie's book. My own feeling, for what it's worth, is that Earhart and Noonan did come down on, or very near to, Gardner Island (now known as Nikumaroro) as a result of damage caused to their Lockheed Electra's communication system during their take-off from New Guinea. I don't for one moment accept that they were taken prisoner by the Japanese, etc., etc., and so forth. As far as I'm aware, they could send but not receive r/t messages, and as a result became hopelessly disoriented. Anyway.
Gillespie is obviously convinced that Earhart and Noonan came down on Gardner Island and has spent a fortune trying to prove it, so far without success. I doubt if he ever will. It does seem possible that his various expeditions did find evidence that "someone" had lived for a while and then died on Gardner, but who that "someone" was, he has never proved. I have also read that it's been claimed that Gillespie had actually found the remains of Earhart and Noonan and/or their aircraft, but had hushed it up so he could continue to receive finds from his sponsor(s). Frankly, I do not believe this. What I might possibly believe is that, not unlike the efforts to find the 'buried treasure' of Oak Island, Gillespie has become somewhat infatuated with his beliefs. I may be doing him a disservice in thinking this, but I would suggest that after so many years of finding nothing worthwhile (like solid evidence regarding Earhart and Noonan) he might just think about calling it a day. But then, I've never been obsessive about anything. Otherwise, I'd say 'good luck' to the guy - I like an adventurer and I have to say I quite like Gillespie.
Graham
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Your Opinion of Ric Gillespie and His Search for Amelia Earhart
What is your opinion of Ric Gillespie head of TIGHAR? I read his book "Finding Amelia" and certainly thought he seemed legitimate and that the people associated with TIGHAR had very solid credentials. I have also heard him described as a self-serving quack and somebody basically interested in soliciting rich supporters for his investigation into Amelia Earhart's disappearance. What is your opinion of him?
c.d.
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