Anyone following decades of the Hinkler 'debate' will know that the two outstanding antagonists were Ted Wixted with close connections to the Queensland Museum and Roy Bettiens ex-RAAF. The latter took such exception to the Wixted theories and manner of treating history that he wrote a massive privately published and circulated book known colloquially as THE BETTIENS TOME. In aviation history terms it was the slanging match of the decade
Those excessively precious about their 'evidence' might profitably revisit the Wixted/Bettiens conflict to get a perspective on how pettiness, rancour and vitriol can blot out reason. Or simply lose the ability to weigh up probability
and on balance concede that unknowns outweigh knowns.
Just two queries relevant to the Hinkler crash site investigation. How much had the wreckage been gone over by souvenir hunters and scavangers before the man from the ministry had a look? And why is not entirely conceivable that Mussolini ordered that no blame for the accident be attributable to Hinkler?