NavList:

There are TWO very different theories for the plane being in that area.

The oldest one is based on a report that an Australian army patrol found a twin-engined plane while patrolling through the jungle during WW2.  There were some written markings on their map with notes, it is claimed, described features that, it is claimed, are consistent with her plane, Dave has made several trips to the area and has found no evidence to support his theory,

The second, and much more bizarre, theory is that the plane crashed into the water just offshore of Buka (just east of Bougainville), and that plane has been found and  it is similar to her plane. I have been arguing against this theory since it came up and even argued with its author, Snavelly,  at the Earhart conference in 2018.  He has dived on the wreck and claims that it must be hers because it has, twin engines and a twin tail. He is soliciting for a lot of money to further his search. 

BUT, there were many different twin-engine, twin-tailed planes operating in that area during WW2, both Japanese and American.  In fact, the list of Japanese airports shows both an airport and a seaplane base at Buka! You know, THAT BUKA!  Maybe not such a mystery after all. I have demanded that Snavely make one short dive equipped with a tape measure to measure the wingspan and the mystery would be over since those other planes have much longer wingspans than her's. He refused to do this or to reveal the measurement (I suspect he has it) because then he would be done for. What do they need $200 K for? One dive with a tape measure to measure the spacing of the tails is all that is needed, max cost, $200! Snavely has already found the plane which is the biggest cost in other SEARCHES. And it has been worked for 10 years and still NO measurements? It's a scam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

No amount of coral concretions can make the wingspan lengthen by ten feet!

 finally got around to looking at this basic data on the planes. I figured that others had done it and that the Electra was so close in dimensions to the other possible aircraft that it would take careful measurements of the wreck in order to make a determination. BOY WAS I WRONG!

From Wikipedia:


Specifications (Hudson Mk I)
Lockheed A-29 Hudson.svg
Data from[citation needed]

General characteristics

Crew: 6
Length: 44 ft 4 in (13.51 m)
Wingspan: 65 ft 6 in (19.96 m)
Height: 11 ft 10 in (3.62 m)
Wing area: 551 sq ft (51.2 m²)
Empty weight: 12,000 lb (5,400 kg)
Loaded weight: 17,500 lb (7,930 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 18,500 lb (8,390 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Wright R-1820 Cyclone 9-cylinder radial engines, 1,100 hp (820 kW) each
Performance

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Specifications (B-34 Lexington)
3-side-drawing of a PV-1 VenturaPV-2 Harpoon
Data from[citation needed]

General characteristics

Crew: 6
Length: 51 ft 5 in (15.7 m)
Wingspan: 65 ft 6 in (20 m)
Height: 11 ft 10 in (3.6 m)
Wing area: 551 ft² (51.2 m²)
Empty weight: 20,197 lb (9,161 kg)
Loaded weight: 31,000 lb (14,061 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 34,000 lb (15,422 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial engines, 2,000 hp (1,491 kW) each

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testing pressurization.[31]
Specifications (Electra 10A)
Lockheed Model 10 Electra.svg
General characteristics

Crew: two
Capacity: ten passengers
Length: 38 ft 7 in (11.8 m)
Wingspan: 55 ft 0 in (16.8 m)
Height: 10 ft 1 in (3.1 m)
Wing area: 458 ft² (42.6 m²)
Empty weight: 6,454 lb (2,930 kg)
Loaded weight: 10,500 lb (4,760 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior SB, 450 hp (340 kW) each

----------------------------------------------Let's see.

The Electra had a wingspan of 55 ft, 0 inches; the Ventura's is 65 ft., 6 inches; and the Hudson's is also 65 ft., 6 inches. How long would it take for someone armed with only a tape measure to distinguish an coral incrusted Electra from the other two planes? The same is true of the length, there is a difference of 14 FEET between the Electra and the others, they are almost 50% LONGER!!!!! 38 feet versus 51 feet.

This is too much for me to swallow that a diver, even without a tape measure, wouldn't be able to describe the wreckage to that level of precision and either prove in or out the wreckage. I now believe that Snavely is in the same league as Gillespie.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Japanese_Navy_bases_and_facilities