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One of the most influential aviators of the modern age of aviation is also linked with a decades-old mystery. Amelia Earhart, a record-breaking pilot and one of the most notable female pilots in history, disappeared over the central Pacific Ocean while attempting a circumnavigational flight with navigator Fred Noonan. Numerous theories have surfaced over the years, including that the pair crashed on an island and their bodies were eaten by large crabs, but one group of underwater archaeologists has revealed sonar images that may finally answer one of the greatest modern mysteries.
Deep Sea Vision, a marine robotics company based in Charleston, South Carolina, has pursued the missing aircraft using the "Date Line Theory," originally theorized in 2010 by former NASA employee and amateur pilot Liz Smith. This theory contributes the 87-year-old disappearance to forgetting to turn back the calendar one day as Earhart and Noonan flew over the International Date Line. Smith felt that Noonan had miscalculated the celestial star navigation and forgot to turn the date back from July 3 to July 2 as they flew over the line, creating a westward navigational error of 60 miles. Deep Sea Vision believes a sonar image discovered westward of Earhart's projected landing point is the missing aircraft.
DSV's CEO Tony Romeo, a private pilot, and his brother Lloyd Romeo felt the theory was plausible. The brothers believed that after 17 hours of flying, it was possible that the exhausted Noonan had made a mistake flying over the International Date Line and the area the pair flew over had never been searched. Romeo was not surprised the missing aircraft had been found intact."We always felt that she [Earhart] would have made every attempt to land the aircraft gently on the water, and the aircraft signature that we see in the sonar image suggests that may be the case," Romeo said. "We're thrilled to have made this discovery at the tail end of our expedition, and we plan to bring closure to a great American story."The DSV team includes a group of experts who have proven that meticulous efforts and modern technology could accomplish the task of finding Earhart's missing Lockheed Electra 10-E. Over 90 days, the team searched 5,200 square miles of the floor of the Pacific Ocean, more mileage than all other previous searches combined. The HUGIN 6000, an autonomous underwater submersible, is the most capable system in the world and can reach full ocean depth. DSV added additional improvements to the submersible, modifying the side scan sonar to search 1,600-meter-wide swaths instead of the standard 450 meters. Changes were made possible by the DSV President of Operations, Craig Wallace, who was recruited from the sonar manufacturer to help with the expedition.Photos from Deep Sea Vision
The expedition team launched from a small island in the Pacific Ocean, roughly four days from where the discovery was made. Each dive with the sonar equipment took roughly two days and collected several terabytes of data by scanning the sea floor. The deep-water sonar, nicknamed Miss Millie, dives for approximately 36 hours and only returns to the surface when a battery swap is needed. The international team was working around the clock to analyze the imagery with software being written as the mission continued. Due to the amount of data collected, reviewing the imagery can take days to finish. The discovery was made near the end of the expedition, serving as a testament to the accomplishments of the team in the unwavering pursuit of an answer for an 87-year-old mystery.
Since Earhart and Noonan disappeared in 1937, the speculations and conspiracies ran rife, often overshadowing the major accomplishments of the pilot and woman pioneer. Earhart was an icon for women, through her spirit and determination in aviation and in promoting women's rights. DSV believes the team is one step closer to obtaining closure. All information, like the exact location, is confidential. Romeo is optimistic about the find but admits to an internal debate on whether to release the sonar image to the public. Other prominent figures are working to confirm the findings, including Dorothy Cochrane, the Aeronautics Curator at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum."We are intrigued with DSV's initial imagery and believe it merits another expedition in the continuing search for Amelia Earhart's aircraft near Howland Island," Cochrane said. Uncovering the mystery of Earhart's disappearance is one of many projects for Romeo and DSV. The investment to launch the company has led to other exciting projects and the team has already concluded a project in the Pacific, which has yet to be announced, and the team has provided technology for another long-term project in Australia.
According to NBC News, the sonar image was taken about 100 miles from Howland Island, about halfway between Australia and Hawaii.
"Well, you'd be hard-pressed to convince me that's anything but an aircraft, for one, and two, that it's not Amelia's aircraft," Romeo told NBC's TODAY show in an interview. "There are no other known crashes in the area, and certainly not of that era in that kind of design with the tail that you see clearly in the image."
The end to an 87-year-old mystery could be close. According to NBC News, the team is planning to return to the site this year or early next year to take better pictures of the site. Then, a confirmation is needed to finally solve what happened to Earhart and Noonan. This recent discovery could finally reveal the truth of one of the greatest mysteries in aviation history.