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This report is from R.M. Hansen, Operator in Charge, Wake Island.
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Transcripts
C
O
P
Y
July 10, 1937
Division Communications Supt.
Communications
Alameda
Operator in Charge
Communications
Wake
EARHART FLIGHT -- Wake Deductions
In accordance with your radio request of July 8, 1937,
for a written report on Wake's activities in connection with the Earhart
flight, I wish to submit the following:
On July 3, 1937 at 2146 GCT, we opened a listening watch for KHAQQ on
6210 KC. As per instructions just received from Hono1ulu-Alameda (KC-HG).
We had a plane at this time but managed to get along with one circuit
receiver while using the other to maintain this listening watch on 6210
KC. Until around sundown when the plane landed. At this time, the listening
watch frequency was changed to 3105 and back to 6210 and then back to
3105 for the rest of the night. During the day, both 6210 and 3105 KC
proved very dead, indeed. Shortly before sundown signals around 6210
began to come in but nothing that resembled those from the plane were
heard and as we had been advised that 3105 was the ship's night frequency
and as this frequency was beginning to show signs of life about this
time, we shifted to 3105 permanently at 0633 GCT. Up to 1105 nothing
had been heard that resembled the plane and we closed the listening watch
temporarily to open the circuit. At 1150 we resumed watch on 3105 after
Honolulu had advised that they had been hearing a series of weak signals
all night on 3105. At 1210 several fones were noted in the vicinity of
3105. At 1215 heard an intermittent fone of rather wobbly characteristics;
which I at first mistook to be a self-excited signal -- voice modulated
with male voice altho unreadable thru QRN. This station came in at exactly
10 degrees higher on the 1496 dial than C5 using the 'E' coils which
appears to be 3105 KC plus or minus a gnat's eyelash or two. Called Honolulu's
attention to this signal immediately. At 1240 GCT, PN at HNL advised
that the USCG wants us to concentrate all our efforts on getting a bearing
on KHAQQ even if only an apex or doubtful one, so closed circuit and
station guard on 3105 KC to open DF. At 1330 opened DF and QSO'ed KNBF
and KNBH from there using C6 both ways. Got lined up on 3105 using 'C'
coils at 92-95 degrees detector dial and kept and unfruitful vigil until
1524 then KNSF advises listen quick 3105 KC. Wake and Midway both listen.
Unhear any type of signal this vicinity. KNBH says hears OK but too CRJ
to get any QTE. KNBF takes a few QTE shots on this signal. At 1540, he
says he gets 213.5 appx at 1530. Only signal audible this vicinity of
spectrum at Wake is an xtal fone too high on dial and way off 3105 KC
and bearing spectrum at Wake is an xtal fone too high on dial and way
off 3105 KC and bearing 75 degrees true from Wake. At 1600 GCT advised
KNBH that we going close DF now as have to open for our own ship departure
at 1830. Says OK. At 1612 close df (now July 4th).
Owing to the fact that we were busy with our ship and a1so that neither
6210 nor 3105 KC are any good during the daylight hours, we did not open
a listing watch on KHAQQ until 0600 GCT July 5th. (The evening of the
same day local time). At this time Baxter opened on 3105.
Division Supt.
Earhart Flight, Wake Deductions
Page 2
Considerable QRN at this time and no sigs resembling KHAQQ at or near
3105, KIKF, code station near 3105 comingin QSA3 with QSB. At 0620, KNBF
called C2 and advised us to have man at DF and at RECR station and one
at hotel radio listening for KGMB, for 0630 GCT test. Shortly previous
to this time, we had been advised by Honolulu that KGMB was to act as control
station during the night's activities. At 0628, I opened the DF listening
watch with Johnson at the new high-powered hotel super and Baxter at the
receiving station. The only signal audible at the DF up to 0321 was KIKF.
At this time Honolulu said OK to QSK until 1100 GCT and the DF amd receiving
station watch were closed altho a listening guard was maintained at the
BCL super by either Baxter, Johnson or myself individually or collectively
until sequence time. At 0945 GCT, I got a bit curious and turned on a 1496
on 3105. At 0948 a phone signal of good intensity and well modulated by
a voice but wavering badly suddenly came on 3105. While the carrier frequency
of this signal did not appear to vary appreciably, its strength did vary
in an unusually eratic manner and at 0950, the carrier strength fell off
to QSA2 with the wavering more noticeable than ever. At 0952, it went off
completely. This signal was also heard by Johnson whose attention I called
to it at the time as its peculiar characteristics and coincident frequency
of 3105 appx made it very noticeable under the circumstances. At 1045 listening
watch on 3105 was stopped and the circuit watch openend. Immediately after
sequence, it was decided that BH, BF, and BI would start a DF watch immediately
using C6 for QSO from the DF as on the previous night. Accordingly at 1212,
I opened the DF guard on 3105 KC; at 1223 a very unsteady voice modulated
carrier was observed at 94.5 degrees (5 degrees up from C5) on the detector
dial using 'C' coils (3105 KC appx). This transmission lasted until 1236
GCT. I was able to got an approximate bearing of 144 degrees. In spite
of the extreme eccentricity of this signal during the entire length of
the transmission, the splits were definite and pretty fair. Inasmuch as
the Wake inner system was not recently calibrated in this sector, I used
past C5 curves and considerable sinosidual curve juggling of my own in
arriving at the corrected bearing of 144 degrees true appx. At the time
I believed this bearing to be reasonable accurate and I am still of that
opinion. After I obtained the observed bearing, I advised Midway to listen
for the signal. (couldn't raise HNL). He apparently did not hear it. This
signal started in at a carrier strength of QSA5 and at 1236, when the transmission
stopped it had gradually petered out to QSA2 during the intervals when
it was audible. The characteristics of this signal were identical with
those of the signal mentioned as being heard the previous night on the
1496 at the receiver station with the exception that at the DF the complete
periods of no signal occurred during shorter intervals. See attached radio
sent to Honolulu for description details. While no identification call
letters were distinguished in either case I was positive at that time that
this was KHAQQ. At this date, I am sti11 of this opinion. The rest of that
night was spent uneventfully at the DF and at 1630 GCT, I closed the DF.
As on the previous day, Local time, no attempt was made to stand any listening
watch on 3105 KC or 6210 KC, and at 0700 GCT, July 6, 1937, it was impossible
to do anything much owing to the presence over and near Wake of a severe
electrical storm. Also KGMB reception which had on other nights been good,
was very poor on this night. On the following night, no attempt made to
stand any watches on 3105 or 6210 as the CG had apa apparently piled at
least three of their phones on 3105 KC and kept them going almost constantly.
From then to now, I have been QRL with our own planes, monthly report,
SGL troub1es, 14A troubles, etc. I have at hand several pages of radio
DF and station 1ogs which I shall forward next flight as I want to make
them up in triplicate. There in not the slightest question in my mind that
the signals I have reported on could have been those of a maladjusted GC
phone, because (1) the abnormal and unusually erratic characteristics of
these signals as compared to the steady operating CG phones. And (2), the
fact that
Division Com.
Supt. Earhart Flight -- Wake Deductions
Page
3
no CG boats were, to the best of my knowledge, anywhere near the line
of the Wake DF bearing of 144 degrees appx. Hoping this report will meet
with your approval, I remain
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