Many months ago I started conducting research on the "White Bird". Much like some of you, I have developed a passion for ship and plane wrecks, along with anything else of historical significance that has been lost to the world. This "hobby" is one of the biggest influences that I can credit to "Clive Cussler".

While reading Sea Hunters II, I was surprised to learn that Dr. Cussler and members of his NUMA team had landed at the airport; a mere 60 miles from my home, on 3 separate occasion’s enroute to a sparsely populated area to conduct a search for "The White Bird".

One of my favorite activities I use to free my mind of the day to day stresses of my job is research. I will research anything that I take an interest in. I have watched a TV show or read a book on a specific subject and have spent the next 2 months researching it just to appease my curiosity. This was no different when I first read about "l'Oiseau Blanc"...The White Bird. I considered this as a special research project since it was supposedly lost so close to my location. I will not get into my research details but I had moderate success. In a round about way I was able to discuss my findings with Dr C.

A few months later I was contacted by Dr Cussler again and was asked to provide some area specific information for him and his team. This was a lengthy process but I was beside myself with excitement to actually be helping Clive. This was something I had imagined for years...never thinking it would ever really happen. We conversed back and forth for the next few months regarding the various information. During this whole process, he had mentioned that he "might" try for the "White Bird" in the Spring after the snow had departed but before the trees had sprouted leaves....I could only hope.

Now during this whole mind blowing experience, my biggest wish was to, at the very least, meet Clive or whoever arrived for the search, or maybe even run a few errands for them....something....anything would be fine.

Two days after the Hunley burial in SC, I was at work and decided to check my e-mail, which I do from time to time. I opened my account and there, in black and white, was a message from Craig Dirgo. I couldn't believe it. He provided a number and asked me to give him a call...which I promptly did.
I will be vague on the details here but in a "nut shell" he asked if I would be available during the next week to help "him" with the search. He would be the only one available for the search and he was counting on my help......Can you believe that.?? I couldn't.

We ironed out the details over the next few days and finalized with a time to meet at a specific location.
On the 29th, I was heading down the road in my new (used) Jeep Wrangler I had purchased just the day before. I was on cloud 9. I arrived at 7am and met with Craig for a cup of coffee and a quick bite of breakfast before we were to meet the pilot.
My first impression of him was that he was a very no nonsense, down to earth, all around good guy. He was very friendly from the start and made me feel like I had known him for years. We discussed the vast research material he had brought along and shortly after, departed to meet the pilot.

We boarded the Cessna 182 and headed in the direction of the search grid. We spent several hours in the air doing a lane search over what we had hoped to be an impenetrable swamp/bog area, which would have explained why the wreckage had never been found. What we had hoped to be a thick dense swamp turned out to be a vast open marsh. The whole area is labeled as a Maine Protected Area and the marsh I am talking about is water up to about 8 feet deep with a layer of thick mossy grass on top which is impossible to walk on, or drive a boat through. I had previously borrowed an ARGO, which is a 6 wheeled all terrain vehicle that floats and is perfect for that type of area.

Well because of the fact that the terrain was not what we were expecting, we were able to do a thorough Arial throughout the day and were also able to go to Round Lake, which is the area of the last supposed sighting, from there we took a heading directly towards New York City, which was the original destination, we followed this to the coast without luck.

This is a good example of how 95% of all searches go. You narrow down your options by eliminating the possibilities. I had hoped for 4 days of searching, what we got was 1 day. Was I disappointed? Not in the least. This has opened up a new door for me for which I am still thanking my lucky stars. I was able to get all of my books signed by Craig. I was able to hear a lot of stories from his experiences and was able to discuss theories with someone that is at the top of the NUMA ladder. This will be an experience I will never forget.

I was told that this is a very rare thing for Clive to do, (invite me to help).

From what I have been told, they are inundated with requests to help out or volunteer. I simply offered a tidbit of info and was at the right place at the right time. I never once "asked" to help.

As you may have noticed, I left most of the "details" out of this, which I promised to do. I do have a few pictures which I will be posting in about 2 days when I get them back. I hope this post urges some of you to hit the books and libraries to research a historical item near you. Trust me; you never know what may happen.

My good friend Tony has been kind enough to post some very good background info on the White Bird in this same thread.

Any questions, feel free to send me a pm or email.
Take care
Mike

That's sooo cool!!!! You must have almost fainted when you saw the email meeting Craig or anyone from Clive's team. I would get my books signed too!! I thought i was happy when I found out I was getting a free book signed from someone but this is nuts!! t: c: B)

What an AWESOME experience! Thank you for sharing it. :)

Awesome Numa_D! you must be soooooo happy. my hats off to you. ;)

This is utterly jaw-dropping!
Great stuff! And well done, Mike!
th:

You've done us proud Mike, We appreciate you letting us know about your adventures. Keep us posted if you get anymore emails and phone calls!

:rolleyes:

Way too cool. What an adventure. Keep us all posted you lucky duck!! :)

loren

Now that is something to be proud of.Cool story.
Congratulations Mike.

Lucky duck. You got to do something that might well change the course of history.

Mike, I am awed. I believe I will be looking around old southeast Texas for lost stuff now. maybe my luck will pan out too.

Peggy :rolleyes:

Mike i am green with envy course its not easy being green :P

hope they call on you again for other adventures and you can report back to us on the success or failure of the searches w:

That is awesome Mike :)

And if you're a member of the Clive Cussler Collector's Society, you can read the full article and see photos in our next newsletter. For information on how to join, see:

http://www.cusslersociety.com/

Mike, a first class experience and adventure. Hats off to you enjoying and sharing such a glorious day. I do believe that the trip will in some way help to explain the planes dissapearance sometime in the furture. WELL DONE SIR!

to be able to be part of something so cool is something to be proud of. Hats off to you and what you can do with this w: