Expedition sets out to solve Earhart mystery

An expedition to test the theory that aviator Amelia Earhart survived the crash of her airplane 75 years ago and died a castaway on a desert island left Hawaii on July 3.

The University of Hawaii research ship left Snug Harbor in Honolulu without fanfare under somber, drizzling skies at the start of a 26-day trip, including eight days at sea each way to Kiribati, in the central Pacific.

Richard Gillespie, the leader of the International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery mission, said they would use technology not previously available to try to learn the fate of the pioneering aviator.