Communications

New York

Division Communication Superintendent

Pacific Division

Alameda

In reply to your telegram of July 6 requesting a complete written report on our activities in connection with the above flight, I am submitting a preliminary report, pending further detailed information from our Island stations.

The first information we had regarding this flight was on Friday, July 2, in the late afternoon at which time, several of the newspaper reporters from the Sand Francisco Bay Area called our Alameda office, asking if we had any information regarding the flight. This was the first indication we had that the flight had been or was being made, as previous to this, we had received no advice whatsoever that the plane had departed from New Guinea. Upon receipt of a confirmation that the flight had actually started and was at that time reported overdue, we immediately set up continuous watches at Midway, Wake and Honolulu on 3105 and 6210 KC. Saturday night, I personally was at Midway and because we had our own flight in that area during that time, I assisted the station staff in maintaining a watch. Nothing was heard at Midway on Saturday night that could definitely be identified as signals from the Earhart plane. On Sunday morning about 5:30 a.m., local time at Mokapu, Mr. Paulson stated he heard signals in the vicinity of 3105 KC, although the frequency could not be accurately determined and on which he obtained an approximate bearing of 210 degrees. The signals Mr. Paulson heard were, undoubtedly, carrier signals modulated with voice although he could not understand the voice part of it. Although it is true several of the domestic lines use frequencies close to 3105 KC, it is doubtful if these signals would have carried to Honolulu at this particular time of the day, the time then being 8:00 a.m. Pacific Standard Time. Usually at this time, stations on the West Coast have changed to day frequencies. I believe the signals heard by Mr. Paulson were from the Itasca. This information was passed on to the Coast Guard at Honolulu for whatever it was worth and we continued to listen on the two frequencies used by the plane.

Arriving at Mokapu Sunday, I spent most of Sunday night at the radio station and we set up a watch on 3105 KC at the DF and also at the receiving station. At 7:30 p.m. local Honolulu time, the broadcast station KGMB arranged a special broadcast to the plane on their broadcast frequency, requesting the plane to transmit four long dashes on 3105 KC if they heard KGMB broadcast. Immediately after the broadcast, Mr. Ambler and myself both distinctly heard four dashes on 3105 KC. We are certain of the frequency because the Coast Guard Cutter, Itasca, had previously set their transmitter on this frequency in an effort to contact the plane. Shortly before, we had taken

All of the above information was turned over to the Coast Guard officials at Honolulu with emphasis being made at the time that there was nothing definite in what we had heard because of no identifying signals of any nature being received. While it would appear there may have been some connection between the dashes and the KGMB broadcast, we could not state definitely that the signals were from the Earhart plane.

I am sure that if we had been advised of the departure from New Guinea, we could have been of some assistance during the flight in observing bearings although it is doubtful if we would have had any success in transmitting these bearings to the plane. I was informed in Honolulu by the Coast Guard that two-way communication was impossible and that apparently the plane did not hear the Itasca at any time during the flight. It might have been possible, however, for the plane to listen to one of the Honolulu broadcasting stations and thus receive the bearings that could have been taken. I understand the plane was not equipped to operate on 500 KC and for that reason the Itasca was unable to take bearings on it.

In the event further information is received from the Island stations in connection with this flight that would further amplify this report, I shall arrange to forward this information to you immediately.