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The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR) is an American nonprofit organization based in Pennsylvania. It was founded by Richard Gillespie in 1985. According to TIGHAR's Federal Tax Exemption Form 990 for Non Profits, the organization's mission is to "promote responsible aviation archaeological and historic preservation".[1]
Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan
TIGHAR has long been involved with the search for Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan[2][3] and advocates the theory that Earhart and Noonan landed on Gardner Island, now known as Nikumaroro.[4][5][6]
In 2012, TIGHAR was searching for clues around the Kiribati Islands using sonar equipment with the help of the State Department and undersea explorer Robert Ballard.[7]
Ballard led a 2019 expedition to locate Earhart's Electra or evidence that it landed on Nikumaroro as supposed by the Gardner/Nikumaroro hypothesis. After days of searching the deep cliffs supporting the island and the nearby ocean using state of the art equipment and technology, Ballard did not find any evidence of the plane or any associated wreckage of it. Allison Fundis, Ballard's Chief Operating Officer of the expedition, stated, “We felt like if her plane was there, we would have found it pretty early in the expedition.” Although Ballard maintains that the plane or significant portions still exist and will eventually be found, TIGHAR argues that the Electra has been "broken up" by the surf and other harsh environmental elements.[8][9]
Glenn Miller
In January 2019, it was reported that TIGHAR would investigate Glenn Miller's disappearance.[10] Per a BBC report, TIGHAR's interest in Glenn Miller was inspired by a fisherman's claims that he caught a plane wreck in his nets, then released it. Although TIGHAR has failed to independently corroborate the claims to date, and have not seen or verified the wreck, they maintain that there is a possibility that the reported debris could be associated with Glenn Miller. "These things often start with stories", says TIGHAR Executive Director Ric Gillespie.[10]
References
- ^ "The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery". tighar.org. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
- ^ Wootson, Cleve (November 2, 2016). "Amelia Earhart didn't die in a plane crash, investigators say. This is their theory". Washington Post. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
- ^ Walker, Kenly (July 12, 2007). "Group Hopes To End Amelia Earhart Mystery". CBS News. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
- ^ Lori Van Pelt (2006). Amelia Earhart: The Sky's No Limit. Tom Doherty Associates. p. 215. ISBN 978-0-7653-1062-0. Retrieved 2013-06-08.
Executive Director Ric Gillespie has visited the island of Nikumaroro in the Phoenix Island group seven times since 1989.
- ^ Osborne, Hannah (June 21, 2017). "Search for Amelia Earhart: Dogs to Help Solve Mystery by Hunting for Pilot's Remains on Uninhabited South Pacific Island". Newsweek.
- ^ Fortin, Jacey (June 27, 2017). "Amelia Earhart's Disappearance Still Captivates Searchers, 80 Years Later". New York Times. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
- ^ Dolak, Kevin; Hughes, Dana (March 20, 2012). "Hillary Clinton Welcomes Amelia Earhart Exhibition and Renewed Discovery Effort". ABC News. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
- ^ Cohn, Julie (2019-10-14). "The Amelia Earhart Mystery Stays Down in the Deep". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-12-01.
- ^ "TIGHAR". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2019-12-01.
- ^ a b "Team to probe Glenn Miller 'crash site'". 14 January 2019 – via www.bbc.com.
