David, I am not doubting your assessment that a tag existed. What I am saying is that if the metal tag from AE's aircraft can be shown beyond reasonable doubt to have existed in New Britain, then Gregs hypothesis is then bilgewater.
It wouldn't need the physical tag either. If the U.S. unit that received it sent an interrogatory signal to HQ with the tag details that is on file in the archives then that would be conclusive proof in my book.
The discovery of that, if it were to occur, would be stunning and as I've previously said, trigger a major investigation for which you and your benefactors would need to Lawyer up. I was privy to the machinations that went on after Ballard discovered Titanic, all the way to Camerons movie. The discovery of AE's resting place would trigger the same storm in my opinion.