Amelia Earhart's Freckle Cream Discovered on South Pacific Island Sheds Light on Mysterious Disappearance
The Huffington Post | by Tara Kelly
Posted: 06/01/2012


A jar of anti-freckle cream found in the South Pacific may provide another clue in the mysterious disappearance of Amelia Earhart’s 75 years ago, Discovery News reports.

Famed as the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, Amelia Earhart vanished during an attempt to circle the world’s equator. Later declared missing and eventually dead, many believed her plane ran out of fuel and crashed into the ocean.

But now historians say the jar could provide further evidence to support the theory that Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan may have landed the plane and survived as castaways on the uninhabited island of Nikumaroro in the republic of Kiribati.





The jar was discovered by The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR) who made the connection between Earhart's dislike for her freckles and the identical glass jar used by Dr. C. H Berry's Freckle Ointment, a cream sold in the early 20th century used to help fade freckles.

The theory also gained support from Secretary of State Hilary Clinton in March when she encouraged scientists and historians to continue the search the full story behind Earhart's disappearance.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/01/amelia-earhart-freckle-cream_n_1562762.html?

I was gonna post the exact same thing, but you beat me to it.

Nevertheless, this is interesting, and I await for the DNA results to come back. Perhaps it could help crack one of the biggest unsolved mysteries of all time.

Always have been fascinated by the TIGHER expeditions, and this sounds like yet another great development. Like others, interested in seeing what turns up, but out of all the explanations regarding her disappearance, Nikumaroro seems to be the one I've bought into most.

Thanks for the post. When I first read the headline, I thought it was a joke.

wold she have even packed something like that,for such a trip? well..i guess.....you know us women! :)

First, let me say I think it would be pretty cool if the mystery is solved.

However-

the first thing I noticed is that even thought the shape and size of the jars is the same, One is clear, the other is white. So can they know for 100% sure the clear jar contained freckle cream?

First, let me say I think it would be pretty cool if the mystery is solved.

However-

the first thing I noticed is that even thought the shape and size of the jars is the same, One is clear, the other is white. So can they know for 100% sure the clear jar contained freckle cream?

Hopefully (it's never a given) manufacturing records of some sort exist that could lend credence to the theory. Perhaps this style of jar was only sold to the company that manufactured the freckle cream? Or if the cream company manufactured the jars themselves, that would make trying to determine the contents simpler.

That is what I was thinking also. Just not sure if there would be company records after all these years. Of course now, we know the importance of those records- this is a perfect example, not so sure if they did back then though.

First, let me say I think it would be pretty cool if the mystery is solved.

However-

the first thing I noticed is that even thought the shape and size of the jars is the same, One is clear, the other is white. So can they know for 100% sure the clear jar contained freckle cream?

It's possible that the manufacturer changed its packaging at some point or other.

That said, unless the clear jar can be conclusively determined to have held freckle cream at one time (and perhaps even if it can), I think we need to cast a skeptical eye here. I applaud TIGHAR's persistence in attempting to solve this nagging mystery, but it seems like they make a "major discovery" every few years that ultimately never amounts to much.

Well, all the discoveries were of 1930s American manufacture. If genuine, and not planted, what else would they be doing there?

Well, all the discoveries were of 1930s American manufacture. If genuine, and not planted, what else would they be doing there?

I think that's the general hypothesis, but all possibilities should be examined. Especially depending on where they found it, and whether it would have any tangible connections to Earhart, etc. I'm assuming that since they've leaked their discovery to the press, however, that it's pretty far along the evidence chain.

While the freckle cream is a valuable find, I'm really hoping their upcoming expedition to try and find the Lockheed Electra turns up something good. That Navy photo from the late 30s has always intrigued me. Would be nice to get some sort of remnant of the plane as a smoking gun to finally put an end to them mystery.

However-

the first thing I noticed is that even thought the shape and size of the jars is the same, One is clear, the other is white. So can they know for 100% sure the clear jar contained freckle cream?

When I was a kid we used to go hunting for old bottles in the area around an abandoned coal mine. Over time if exposed to the sun colored bottles--even white ones like the ones in the picture--can turn clear. Those white bottles were popular in the 30s and we found a number of the them both still white and sunbleached.

So if this checks out, can it be assumed the UM witness was full of it? http://www.newsweek.com/mystery-amelia-earhart-solved-fragment-fallen-plane-identified-280856

So if this checks out, can it be assumed the UM witness was full of it? http://www.newsweek.com/mystery-amelia-earhart-solved-fragment-fallen-plane-identified-280856

Always thought that lady was full of it.

British colonial officers found a woman's skeleton on Nikumaroro in 1939. Now remnants of her plane are turning up there. It's the only scenario that makes sense, IMO.

There are several witnesses that say they saw Amelia as a prisoner on Saipan. Even WW2 soldiers found Amelias briefcase and some claimed they watched US Military officials set Amelias plane on fire.

She was according to officials taken to a hospital under Japanese occupation on Mili Atol. Where Doctors and nurses were sworn to secrecy. Soon after she was sent to a Saipan prison

Where she spent up to five years when she and Noonan were killed in 1942

There are several witnesses that say they saw Amelia as a prisoner on Saipan. Even WW2 soldiers found Amelias briefcase and some claimed they watched US Military officials set Amelias plane on fire.

She was according to officials taken to a hospital under Japanese occupation on Mili Atol. Where Doctors and nurses were sworn to secrecy soon after she was sent to a Saipan prison

Where she spent up to five years when she and Noonan were killed in 1942

Yeah, I was referring to all of this...particularly the guy who said he saw the plane intact, then on fire.

What happened to the skeleton? Can it be tested against photographs/dental records/DNA of surviving relatives? And why hasn't it been?

The most telling evidence of her survival to me is the reports of people hearing her transmit on the radio directly after she went missing . There were no shortage of people claiming to hear her calling for help and the thing is most of these people did not even know she was missing at the time. Once the rescue efforts failed all reports of amelia"s distress calls were dismissed as hoaxes which is absurd

There is a video on the site that can not be named called Amelia Earhart on Saipan - The Eyewitness Accounts

Good Video and very detailed and interesting.

Skeleton lost? http://www.guerrillaexplorer.com/mysteries-of-history/amelia-earhart/amelia-earharts-lost-skeleton/

This is almost in the DB Cooper category for me. I mean, on one hand, it would be nice to know what happened. At the same time, the world needs mystique, mystery, and legend.

There are several witnesses that say they saw Amelia as a prisoner on Saipan. Even WW2 soldiers found Amelias briefcase and some claimed they watched US Military officials set Amelias plane on fire.

She was according to officials taken to a hospital under Japanese occupation on Mili Atol. Where Doctors and nurses were sworn to secrecy. Soon after she was sent to a Saipan prison

Where she spent up to five years when she and Noonan were killed in 1942

I've never seen the episode or heard this theory. Why would US military officials set her plane on fire?

I've never seen the episode or heard this theory. Why would US military officials set her plane on fire?
Can you imagine how embarrassing for United States govt ? She was a national hero . One of the biggest celebrities of the time and they a. Could not locate her even though she crash landed and lived and b. she was taken by our enemies of ww2. If this is what happened they obviously would conceal it at All cost

I've never seen the episode or heard this theory. Why would US military officials set her plane on fire?

I think this makes about zero sense. If she had been located--and especially during wartime--she would've been absolutely extracted. If the Japanese had captured this world-renowned American woman, they would've waged a psychological operations campaign against U.S. forces and the American civilian populace that would've made Tokyo Rose pale in comparison.

I think this makes about zero sense. If she had been located--and especially during wartime--she would've been absolutely extracted. If the Japanese had captured this world-renowned American woman, they would've waged a psychological operations campaign against U.S. forces and the American civilian populace that would've made Tokyo Rose pale in comparison.

^This.

The most telling evidence of her survival to me is the reports of people hearing her transmit on the radio directly after she went missing . There were no shortage of people claiming to hear her calling for help and the thing is most of these people did not even know she was missing at the time. Once the rescue efforts failed all reports of amelia"s distress calls were dismissed as hoaxes which is absurd

I agree with this. Quite compelling. The young girl (at the time) who provided the greatest detail of the transmissions died very recently.

Ric Gillespie may be on the right track but he always comes across as too desperate to have his claims accepted. If he finds a toothpick on the island it's an Amelia Earhart Toothpick.

The plane burning and journals being found and destroyed also make little sense. Why would the US army try to cover that up? It's doubtful they would, regardless of embarrassment in not being able to find her. Same goes for the Japanese allegedly shooting Earhart-- as Meg stated, they would have used that to their full advantage. Amelia Earhart was and still is so famous she would have been recognizable. She would have been extremely useful to use as a pawn for some sort of gain. It makes no sense that they would simply shoot her.

The partial skeleton they've found should be tested if it can be and isn't too deteriorated. They're going to have to come up with concrete evidence if they really want to prove that this indeed is Amelia Earhart. Otherwise, I'm not buying into it just yet.

I agree with this. Quite compelling. The young girl (at the time) who provided the greatest detail of the transmissions died very recently.

Ric Gillespie may be on the right track but he always comes across as too desperate to have his claims accepted. If he finds a toothpick on the island it's an Amelia Earhart Toothpick.
Right and if you really look into the reports there were a hundred or so different reports from people saying they heard the transmissions . So by no means was the young girl the only one to hear this.
As far as Gillespie being too over eager I see what your saying . Keep in mind he has to continue to get funding for his searches so he is desparate to produce something

Eaten by coconut crabs? http://www.ameliaearhart.com/about/viewheadline.php?id=1259

Great movie suggestion! http://www.cracked.com/blog/4-insane-conspiracy-theories-that-need-their-own-movie/

Recent article. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/will-search-for-amelia-earhart-ever-end-180953646/?no-ist The Travel Channel series Expedition Unknown unearthed human bones under a house which by some chance might belong to Amelia Earhart or Fred Noonan, but provide no update on tests as to the age, race, gender, or whether the bones are of more than one individual!