Winter Park native Marc Hagle recently returned to WESH 2 studios in Orlando after taking part in a Purdue University and Archaeological Legacy Institute expedition to the remote Taraia Peninsula on Nikumaroro Island. The mission was launched to investigate a visual anomaly spotted in satellite images of a lagoon on the island, which some researchers believed could be the wreckage of Amelia Earhart’s 1937 aircraft.

Expedition background

Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan vanished in July 1937 while attempting the final leg of their around‑the‑world flight, heading from Papua New Guinea toward Howland Island. Their disappearance has spurred countless searches, and the Purdue team hoped the “Taraia Object” might finally provide a clue.

What the team found

According to Hagle, the team approached the anomaly from the backside of the peninsula. Archaeologist Rick Pettigrew was the first to step onto the site. “It turned out to be a tree,” Hagle said, noting Pettigrew’s disappointment after five years of dedicated research.

While the discovery was not the hoped‑for aircraft fragment, Hagle emphasized that the experience was invaluable and that the search is far from over.

Why the search matters to Winter Park and beyond

Hagle believes the evidence still points to Earhart and Noonan having reached Nikumaroro. “There’s too much evidence—radio broadcasts, physical objects found on the island—to dismiss the possibility,” he explained. He added that a secondary mission is already in planning, underscoring the ongoing commitment of local volunteers and scholars to solve this historic mystery.

The expedition highlights the spirit of curiosity and perseverance that residents of Winter Park bring to national and international projects. It also showcases how local expertise can contribute to worldwide research efforts.

Looking ahead

Hagle and his fellow explorers plan to return with additional equipment and a refined search strategy. Their next steps will focus on deeper underwater surveys and further analysis of artifacts already recovered from the island.

For Winter Park readers, the story serves as a reminder that even the most distant historical puzzles can engage our community, fostering a sense of purpose and connection to the broader tapestry of American exploration.

Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.