Nungesser: Unsolved Mystery

The previous thread about Lindbergh reminded me that French ace Charles Nungesser (along with Francois Coli) disappeared while trying to fly across the Atlantic from Paris to New York. They were supposedly sighted by US Navy ships off Newfoundland. I occassionally see a reference that they may have flown as far as Maine. A friend once told me that she saw something about it on the American TV show "Unsolved Mysteries" sometime ago. All she remembered about it was that some old-timer many years ago discovered an aircraft engine in the woods in Maine. At the time the Paris newspapers reported the flyers had made it to New York, but of course they never showed. Shortly thereafter,Lindbergh made his historic flight. Can anyone add to this Nungesser mystery?
Best Wishes,
Gary Jacobs

[Ira_Silverman]

Gary:

Rather than go into great detail (and this is a looong story), please try www.tighar.org and look up "Operation Midnight Ghost." You'll find it very interesting.

Tighar is "The International Group for Historic Aviation research." They have undertaken extended expeditions to locate Nungeser & Coli, Amelia Earhardt, etc. and are very forthcoming with their results.

VBR,

Ira

I like to read Ace diaries, I was wondering if you know what Aces wrote diaries and what Aces didn't that way I know which ones to look for. And maybe where I might find them, I live in Ohio. Thanks

Dear Ira,
I followed your advice and checked-out the website you suggested. You're right- it was very interesting. I wonder how history would view things if Nungesser and Coli are ever found? The site also had some interesting info on WW2 German planes supposedly hidden away late in the war. They had done that earlier at the close of WW1.Thanks again for the info- I owe you one.
Best Wishes,
Gary

Dear Paul,
It is probable that most of the aces of WW1 kept diaries as it was a more fashionable thing to do in those days, and modern methods of recording one's experiences did not exist or were not practical for everyday use. However, I would think that most of them wound up in the hands of their descendants, collectors, museums, or were just lost to history. Some sources that I know of would be Univ.of Texas @ Dallas, Wings Over the Rockies Museum in Denver, the Smithsonian, Wright-Patterson AFB Museum in your homestate, and I am sure there are many others.In Europe, I would try the RAF Museum in the UK,the Musee de l'Air in Paris, and the Deutches Museum and BundesArkiv in Germany. How accesssible these collections are to us amateurs, I cannot say. Also I understand that many of the articles in the Cross & Cockade Journal and the Over The Front publications as well as Neal O'Connor's Aviation Awards Series (five volumes) dealing with German aviators were all based on either personal interviews or a pilot's diary. Finally, there are many people on this Forum who have extensive knowledge. Some of those who have been personally helpful to me are Amy,Hannes Tager,Ira Silverman,Reinout Hubbers,and Soderbaum. They are always willing to check something out and give you the facts. Plus you might make some new worldwide friends. Good Luck & Best Wishes,
Gary