A 17-person research expedition backed by Purdue University and the Archaeological Legacy Institute is underway in the South Pacific to investigate a mysterious object beneath a lagoon at Nikumaroro Island. The team aims to determine whether the shape is the remains of the Lockheed Electra 10-E aircraft flown by legendary aviator Amelia Earhart, who vanished alongside navigator Fred Noonan in July 1937.
The expedition vessel, the Marin Mainiku operated by the Kiribati National Shipping Line, departed Tarawa, the capital of Kiribati, on Wednesday for the 830-mile journey across the Pacific Ocean. Led by Richard Pettigrew, executive director of the Archaeological Legacy Institute, the team expects to arrive at the remote coral atoll to begin extensive remote sensing and underwater recovery operations.
The Mystery of the Taraia Object
The core of the investigation focuses on the “Taraia Object,” an indistinct shape identified in satellite imagery within the island’s lagoon in 2020. Purdue University researchers subsequently confirmed that aerial photographs dating back to 1938 also captured the same object, though its exact identity has remained unconfirmed for decades.
Upon arrival, the team faces challenging logistics, including navigating a narrow opening in the surrounding reef originally created by the British in 1963 during the last period of human habitation on the island. Once onshore, researchers plan to divide into groups to establish a staging area, deploying advanced marine technology.
- Initial video and still documentation of the lagoon site.
- Remote magnetometer and sonar surveys to map the anomaly.
- Deployment of an underwater hydraulic dredge to carefully remove sediment.
- Land-based walk-over surveys to check for washed-up debris along the shoreline.
Decades of Theories and Searches
Earhart and Noonan disappeared on July 2, 1937, near the end of their ambitious attempt to circumnavigate the globe at the equator. After departing Lae, Papua New Guinea, bound for Howland Island to refuel, the twin-engine plane lost radio contact and vanished. This prompted what was then the largest-scale search ever conducted by the U.S. government.
One prominent theory suggests that Earhart and Noonan successfully landed their aircraft on the flat coral reef surrounding Nikumaroro-situated about 400 miles southeast of Howland Island. Proponents believe they survived briefly as castaways before the aircraft was swept into the lagoon. They point to historical evidence, including radio bearings converging on the island, human skeletal remains discovered in 1940 matching Earhart’s physical stature, and 1930s artifacts such as a woman’s shoe, a compact case, and a freckle cream jar.
However, the expedition has also drawn skepticism from other researchers in the field. Independent aircraft recovery specialist Ric Gillespie has previously expressed doubt that the Taraia Object represents actual aircraft wreckage, suggesting instead that the shape may be a fallen tree from the atoll.
A Historic University Connection
Purdue University maintains a deep historic link to the missing aviator. Through the Amelia Earhart Fund for Aeronautical Research, the Purdue Research Foundation originally funded the Lockheed Electra “Flying Laboratory” used in her final journey. Earhart had also served as a career counselor for women and an advisor to Purdue’s Department of Aeronautics starting in 1935.
University officials noted that if the wreckage is successfully identified and recovered, discussions with the government of Kiribati-which maintains sovereign control over Nikumaroro-will be necessary to determine the future custody of any discovered artifacts. The university has aspirations to eventually return pieces of the historic aircraft to Purdue.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Amelia Earhart disappear?
Amelia Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan disappeared on July 2, 1937, while attempting to fly around the world at the equator.
What is the Taraia Object?
The Taraia Object is a visual anomaly located in the lagoon of Nikumaroro Island, first spotted via satellite imagery in 2020 and visible in archival aerial photos dating back to 1938.
Who is organizing the current expedition?
The expedition is a joint effort between Purdue University, the Purdue Research Foundation, and the Archaeological Legacy Institute (ALI).
Where is Nikumaroro Island located?
Nikumaroro is a remote, uninhabited coral atoll in the Phoenix Islands of Kiribati, located about 1,800 nautical miles south of Hawaii.
What methods will researchers use to examine the object?
The 17-person team plans to use drones, sonar, magnetometers, and an underwater hydraulic dredge to safely uncover and identify the submerged anomaly.
