NORTON SEARCH DOCUMENTARY FILM PROJECT
Prepared: August 6, 2009
On February 16, 2009 at approximately 7:45 AM my close friend Captain Robert “Bob” Norton, his wife and 5 others went missing in the jungles of Venezuela. Bob has been serving there as a missionary pilot to the Indigenous Indians for the past 8 years and was on a emergency medical flight from Karum to Betel in his plane.
The Venezuelan Civil Protection and the Indigenous Indians immediately began searching for them in the dense jungle.. As they began their physical search there, we pulled together a team consisting of engineers, pilots, medical professionals, search experts and computer analysts here in the U.S. We contacted GeoEYE and Digital Globe to get current satellite images of the areas where we believed the plane went down. We also began working with an organization that specializes in finding missing aircraft called Missing Aircraft Search Team (M.A.S.T.). Together we developed a search plan with a prioritized, zone by zone, analysis of where the plane might have gone down. It has been more than 5 months and we continue to work together to try to find the missing plane and it’s occupants. We have also sent down pieces of technology (i.e. GPS Transponder, GPS Tracker, and a digital camera) for the Venezuelan ground search team to assist with the search effort.
At this point in the search, we have decided to produce a documentary about the search effort and about the work that Captain Norton was doing. We are doing this to raise awareness about the search and to help keep the search efforts going. We are looking for sponsors for this documentary. I plan to return to Venezuela in September to film the work being done by the Indians and to film and interview members of the Civil Protection to show the incredible work that has been done there. I will also be filming some of those who have been helped by Captain Norton through the past 8 years. We currently have a little over $2500 in the search account at OCI, which is enough to send the ground search team back into the jungle for a month. We need to raise additional funds for the camera equipment and other gear needed for the trip down in September. If you are interested in helping in anyway please contact me directly or send your tax deductible donations marked “Bob Norton Search” to:
Outpost Centers International
5340 Layton Lane
Apison, TN 37302
Tel: 423.236.5600
Thank you so much for your support in this challenging search effort. Proceeds from the documentary will be used to continue the search effort.
Also, if you want to see pictures and updates from the search effort go to the discussion board “Finding Bob Norton” on Facebook or tag me as a friend on Facebook.
Bob Edwards
206 Lind St., McMinnville, TN 37110
Cell 423.280.8217 / Home 931.474.2477
