Signals July 6 |
The Signal Identifier number is divided into these elements:
Day |
Time |
Source |
6 |
0606 |
IA |
(July) |
24hr |
List |
- Identifiers in BLUE are TRANSMISSIONS to Earhart.
- Identifiers in RED are reported receptions that are judged to be NOT CREDIBLE.
- Identifiers in BLACK are reported
receptions the credibility of which are judged to be UNCERTAIN.
- Identifiers in GREEN are reported
receptions that are judged to be CREDIBLE.
|
|
145
Identifier |
60606IA |
Z Time/Date |
0606 July 6 |
Local Time/Date |
1836 July 5 |
Gardner Time/Date |
1906 July 5 |
Agency/Person |
Itasca |
Location |
Central Pacific |
Freq (kHz) |
3105 |
Content |
Itasca called Earhart in voice; content unspecified. |
Source |
RADREST.PDF, p. 192 |
Probability |
n/a |
Qual Factors |
n/a |
Credibility |
n/a |
|
146
Identifier |
60610IA |
Z Time/Date |
0610 July 6 |
Local Time/Date |
1840 July 5 |
Gardner Time/Date |
1910 July 5 |
Agency/Person |
Itasca |
Location |
Central Pacific |
Freq (kHz) |
unknown |
Content |
Itasca requested Earhart to send 4 long dashes. |
Source |
RADREST.PDF, p. 193 |
Probability |
n/a |
Qual Factors |
n/a |
Credibility |
n/a |
|
147
Identifier |
60619IA |
Z Time/Date |
0619 July 6 |
Local Time/Date |
1849 July 5 |
Gardner Time/Date |
1919 July 5 |
Agency/Person |
Itasca |
Location |
Central Pacific |
Freq (kHz) |
unknown |
Content |
Itasca again requested Earhart to send 4 long dashes |
Source |
RADREST.PDF, p. 193 |
Probability |
n/a |
Qual Factors |
n/a |
Credibility |
n/a |
|
148
Identifier |
60630IA |
Z Time/Date |
0630 July 6 |
Local Time/Date |
1900 July 5 |
Gardner Time/Date |
1930 July 5 |
Agency/Person |
Itasca |
Location |
Central Pacific |
Freq (kHz) |
unknown |
Content |
Itasca called Earhart in Morse code |
Source |
RADREST.PDF, p. 193 |
Probability |
n/a |
Qual Factors |
n/a |
Credibility |
n/a |
|
149
Identifier |
60640IA |
Z Time/Date |
0640 July 6 |
Local Time/Date |
1910 July 5 |
Gardner Time/Date |
1940 July 5 |
Agency/Person |
Itasca |
Location |
Central Pacific |
Freq (kHz) |
3105 |
Content |
Itasca called Earhart in voice. |
Source |
RADREST.PDF, p. 193 |
Probability |
n/a |
Qual Factors |
n/a |
Credibility |
n/a |
|
150
Identifier |
60700IA |
Z Time/Date |
0700 July 6 |
Local Time/Date |
1930 July 5 |
Gardner Time/Date |
2000 July 5 |
Agency/Person |
Itasca |
Location |
Central Pacific |
Freq (kHz) |
3105 |
Content |
Itasca called Earhart in voice |
Source |
RADREST.PDF, p. 194 |
Probability |
n/a |
Qual Factors |
n/a |
Credibility |
n/a |
|
151
Identifier |
60800IA |
Z Time/Date |
0800 July 6 |
Local Time/Date |
2030 July 5 |
Gardner Time/Date |
2100 July 5 |
Agency/Person |
Itasca |
Location |
Central Pacific |
Freq (kHz) |
3105 |
Content |
Itasca called Earhart in Morse code and voice, requesting her
to send 4 long dashes. |
Source |
RADREST.PDF, p. 195 |
Probability |
n/a |
Qual Factors |
n/a |
Credibility |
n/a |
|
152
Identifier |
60812HD |
Z Time/Date |
0812 July 6 |
Local Time/Date |
2142 HST July 5 |
Gardner Time/Date |
2112 July 5 |
Agency/Person |
Itasca detachment |
Location |
Howland Island |
Freq (kHz) |
3105 |
Content |
Howland heard a weak, unreadable voice signal. |
Source |
RADREST.PDF, p. 196 |
Probability |
0.96 |
Qual Factors |
Howland could have been hearing a west coast aircraft
signal. There is insufficient information to determine the credibility of
this signal. |
Credibility |
Uncertain. |
|
153
Identifier |
60831RL |
Z Time/Date |
0831 July 6 |
Local Time/Date |
0331 EST July 6 |
Gardner Time/Date |
2131 July 5 |
Agency/Person |
Charles L. Russell |
Location |
Dennison, Ohio |
Freq (kHz) |
Unknown |
Content |
Russell informed the U.S. Army Adjutant General, in
Washington, D.C. that he heard a weak voice signal at 0331 EST, from a
station he thought might be Earhart, with call sign “WHAQQ” or “W8AQQ,”
saying “we are 150 miles southeast by 50 miles east of Howland Isle,” and
something about “cold,” “all is well so far,” “we have sent out message from
time to time but no response,” “look for red kite,” and “food supply and
water.” There were sounds of motors and “something similar to ocean sounds,”
and static “blotted out exact words.” The voice sounded like a man, and like
a woman at other times. There also was “another voice heard at times” as if another person was with them. Russell
said his radio was a Sparton "several years of age." |
Source |
MSG9.PDF, p. 438 |
Probability |
3105 kHz: zero; 6210 kHz: 0.00002; 9315 kHz: 0.0000001;
12420 kHz: 0.00000066; and 15525 kHz: 0.0085. |
Qual Factors |
The receiver description is consistent with the Sparton
Model 67 (introduced in 1934) which had shortwave coverage from 5500 kHz to
16,670 kHz. Russell could have heard Earhart on a harmonic of 3105 kHz. The
call sign – WHAQQ or W8AQQ – could be a garble of KHAQQ. The
“third person” heard could have been a harmonic of a commercial aircraft. However,
the position given is quite specific and yet there is no land anywhere near
there, and the airplane could not transmit if afloat. Prior to the first
world flight attempt there was some publicity, including a photo, about
Earhart carrying a kite but there was no kite listed in the Luke Field
inventory and there is no evidence that a kite was aboard for the second
attempt. The content of the message strongly suggests that it is a hoax. |
Credibility |
Not Credible |
|
154
Identifier |
60500YG |
Z Time/Date |
0500 July 6 |
Local Time/Date |
2300 CST July 5 |
Gardner Time/Date |
1800 July 5 |
Agency/Person |
Mrs. Young |
Location |
Willmette. Illinois |
Freq (kHz) |
Unknown |
Content |
Mrs. Young contacted the office of the Commandant of the
9th Naval District (COM9) at Great Lakes, Illinois, saying that
she heard Earhart “on shortwave” saying “We cannot last more than three hours
longer position 42 miles north Howland Island.” COM9 passed the report the
Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) in Washington, DC, and said that he would
check on the report. |
Sources |
MSG9.PDF, pp. 407, 409, and 424; Finding Amelia, p. 184. |
Probability |
Less than one chance in a quadrillion on 3105 kHz. |
Quality Factors |
The propagation conditions on 3105 kHz were such that the
likelihood of reception was virtually zero. There is no land 42 miles north
of Howland. If the plane was there, it would be on water, in which case the transmitter
could not operate. COM9 investigated the report and informed CNO that, based
on Mrs. Young’s reputation as provided by local police, the report was
considered to be absolutely unfounded. |
Credibility |
Not Credible. |
|
155
Identifier |
60835IA |
Z Time/Date |
0835 July 6 |
Local Time/Date |
2105 July 5 |
Gardner Time/Date |
2135 July 5 |
Agency/Person |
Itasca |
Location |
Central Pacific |
Freq (kHz) |
3105 |
Content |
Itasca asked Earhart (presumably in voice) if she had sent up a
flare, and asked her to send another. (Note: this request was sent as a
result of Itasca misidentifying
heat lightening or meteors as flares). |
Source |
RADREST.PDF, p. 196 |
Probability |
n/a |
Qual Factors |
n/a |
Credibility |
n/a |
|
156
Identifier |
60843IA |
Z Time/Date |
0843 July 6 |
Local Time/Date |
2113 July 5 |
Gardner Time/Date |
2143 July 5 |
Agency/Person |
Itasca |
Location |
Central Pacific |
Freq (kHz) |
3105 |
Content |
Itasca called Earhart in Morse code and voice, telling her they
had seen her flares and were proceeding toward her. (Note: there were no
flares). |
Source |
RADREST. PDF, p. 197 |
Probability |
n/a |
Qual Factors |
n/a |
Credibility |
n/a |
|
157
Identifier |
60920IA |
Z Time/Date |
0920 July 6 |
Local Time/Date |
2150 July 5 |
Gardner Time/Date |
2220 July 5 |
Agency/Person |
Itasca |
Location |
Central Pacific |
Freq (kHz) |
Unknown |
Content |
Itasca called Earhart, telling her that her flares had been
seen. |
Source |
RADREST.PDF, p. 198 |
Probability |
n/a |
Qual Factors |
n/a |
Credibility |
n/a |
|
158
Identifier |
61040CV |
Z Time/Date |
1040 July 6 |
Local Time/Date |
0240 PST July 6 |
Gardner Time/Date |
n/a |
Agency/Person |
Unknown |
Location |
Unknown |
Freq (kHz) |
3105 |
Content |
At 1040 GMT (0240 PST) on July 6, COMFRANDIV told the Itasca, and other participants in the search for Earhart, that COMFRANDIV was
checking reports that had been received at 0555 PST on July 3, of signals
heard on 3105 kHz. COMFRANDIV said there was “considerable belief” in one
[unspecified] report which stated that a woman’s voice sent four distress
calls followed by “KHAQQ,” and then followed by a Morse code transmission
saying “225,” then something [garbled] then “off Howland battery very weak
can’t last long” [then something else garbled, possibly “sand” or “bank”.] COMFRANDIV
went on to say “the only banks charted are south and east of Howland,
however, report may have been 225 north northwest of Howland. Investigating
further.” |
Source |
MSG9.PDF, p. 414; Finding Amelia, p. 193 |
Probability |
Unknown, due to lack of signal date/time |
Qual Factors |
There are no specifics – date, time, receiving
agency/person and location – for the signal. There is no explanation
for COMFRANDIV’s 3-day delay in transmitting, or “considerable belief” in,
this vague report. Guessing that the garbled report might have meant the
plane was 225 miles north northwest of Howland amounts to baseless
speculation. There is no land within 400 miles of that point, and it was
impossible for Earhart’s transmitter to operate if the plane was on water. The
phrase “battery very weak” is suspect, since Earhart had no way to know the
state of battery charge. There is no known COMFRANDIV follow-up report on the
results of “investigating further.” The report described by COMFRANDIV
appears to be a hoax. |
Credibility |
Not credible |
|
159
Identifier |
61345IA |
Z Time/Date |
1345 July 6 |
Local Time/Date |
0215 July 6 |
Gardner Time/Date |
0245 July 6 |
Agency/Person |
Itasca |
Location |
Central Pacific |
Freq (kHz) |
Unknown |
Content |
Itasca called Earhart in voice. Details unknown. |
Source |
RADREST.PDF, p. 202 |
Probability |
n/a |
Qual Factors |
n/a |
Credibility |
n/a |
|
160
Identifier |
61400IA |
Z Time/Date |
1400 July 6 |
Local Time/Date |
0230 July 6 |
Gardner Time/Date |
0300 July 6 |
Agency/Person |
Itasca |
Location |
Central Pacific |
Freq (kHz) |
Unknown |
Content |
Itasca called Earhart in voice. The Itasca log does not show the content, but Howland Island heard
the call and reported that Itasca requested Earhart to send 4 long
dashes. |
Source |
RADREST.PDF, p. 202 |
Probability |
n/a |
Qual Factors |
n/a |
Credibility |
n/a |
|
161
Identifier |
61400CB |
Z Time/Date |
1400 July 6 |
Local Time/Date |
1000 EDT, July 6 |
Gardner Time/Date |
0300 July 6 |
Agency/Person |
Mrs. Ernest Crabb |
Location |
Toronto, Canada |
Freq (kHz) |
18630 |
Content |
This reception was on the morning of second day after
Mrs. Crabb heard Identifier 76 above. The local newspaper said: “Scraps of
conversation in the voices of a man and a woman came in this morning on the
short-wave radio of Mrs. Ernest Crabb of Ashdale Avenue. She was tuned in on
the same wavelength, 18,600 kilocycles, on which for two days she believes
she has heard conversation between Amelia Earhart Putnam and her navigator,
Fred Noonan. The conversations, which could not be heard last night or early
this morning, resumed shortly after 10 o’clock.” |
Source |
Toronto Daily Star,
July 6, 1937 |
Probability |
0.003 |
Qual Factors |
18630 kHz is the 6th harmonic of 3105 kHz. The
newspaper reference to 18,600 kHz apparently was Mrs. Crabb’s estimate of the
frequency on her radio dial. She heard this signal on the same shortwave
receiver she used the two previous days. There was a 50,000 watt Japanese
shortwave broadcast station – JZL in Tokyo – at 17,785 kHz, which
could explain why Mrs. Crabb was tuning in that part of the band, and why
occasional Japanese sentences could be heard on 18,630 kHz. Home radios of
the day had poor selectivity on shortwave bands, and random changes in the
propagation path could allow the JZL signal strength at Toronto to rise
enough to overcome the receiver selectivity and be heard together with a
signal from Earhart’s 50-watt transmitter at Gardner. Given the similarity of
this signal to Identifier 41200CC, and the credibility of Identifier 41200CC,
there is no reason to doubt the credibility of this signal. |
Credibility |
Credible |
|
162
Identifier |
61435ML |
Z Time/Date |
1435 July 6 |
Local Time/Date |
0635 PST July 6 |
Gardner Time/Date |
0335 July 6 |
Agency/Person |
Charles Miguel |
Location |
Oakland, CA |
Freq (kHz) |
Unknown, assumed to be “About 86 meters” (3,488 kHz) as
in Miguel’s previous report |
Content |
COMFRANDIV received a report from “amateur Oakland” (a
contextual reference to Charles Miguel, who previously reported an alleged
Earhart signal – 31455ML above), who claimed to have heard “NRUI NRUI
KHAQQ TWO EIGHT ONE NORTH HOWLAND CANNOT HOLD MUCH LONGER DRIFTING NORTHWEST
WE ABOVE WATER MOTORS SINKING IN WATER.” |
Source |
MSG9.PDF, p. 424; Finding Amelia, p. 184. |
Probability |
n/a |
Qual Factors |
It was impossible for the plane to transmit if on water. Parts
of this alleged signal are identical to the phrasing in the signal “281 NORTH
HOWLAND CALL KHAQQ BEYOND NORTH DONT HOLD WITH US MUCH LONGER ABOVE WATER
SHUT OFF,” heard at Wailupe the previous day and widely reported in the
press. COMFRANDIV (MSG9.PDF, p. 436) investigated and found that this report
was false and that Miguel’s reputation was “extremely dubious.” Miguel
clearly was a hoaxer. |
Credibility |
Not credible |
|
163
Identifier |
6xxxxKV |
Z Time/Date |
Time unknown. Date apparently July 6 |
Local Time/Date |
Time unknown. Date apparently July 6 |
Gardner Time/Date |
Time unknown. Date apparently July 6 |
Agency/Person |
Radio amateur station K6NTV |
Location |
Maui Island, Hawaii |
Freq (kHz) |
Unknown |
Content |
The Coast Guard station in San Diego CG, San Diego, told Itasca at 03:40 PST, July 6: Following
received from amateur station W6BGH “station K6NTV at Maui reports hearing
mans voice from Earhart plane calling Itasca with a strong signal. Itasca does not
seem able to make contact. If Itasca desires work through K6NTV he will be listening for her call and shift to 75 meters to answer her on.” |
Source |
MSG9.PDF, p. 415 |
Probability |
n/a |
Qual Factors |
W6BGH was Karl Pierson, in Los Angles, who has been shown
in this catalog to be a hoaxer. A United Press (UP) wire story of July 6 [Altoona,
PA, Mirror, p.11] said the signals
were heard by Maui amateur station K6KLV, who reported the matter to Maui
amateur station K6NTV, who relayed it to Karl Pierson. The report provides
neither frequency, nor time, nor date, nor any other details of the alleged
call to Itasca. According to a UP
story of July 7 [Abilene, TX, Reporter-News,
July 8, 1937, p.2], unexplained “peculiar conditions” prevented Maui hams from reaching authorities in
Honolulu, so they reported directly to Pierson. This explanation is
implausible. Neither is the claim of being able to answer Earhart on “75
meters.” The 75-meter amateur band extended from 3500 kHz to 4000 kHz, and
there was no reason to expect Earhart to listen for signals in that band. |
Credibility |
Not credible. |
|
164
Identifier |
70330TN |
Z Time/Date |
0330-0340 July 7 |
Local Time/Date |
2030-2040 MST July 6 |
Gardner Time/Date |
1630 July 6 |
Agency/Person |
W. H. Tippin, amateur radio operator W5SFQ |
Location |
5 miles NW of El Paso, TX |
Freq (kHz) |
3105 |
Content |
Tippin claimed to have heard pairs of dashes on 3105,
repeated at intervals for ten minutes, apparently responding to the request
by Honolulu Columbia Broadcasting station KGMB the previous night, for
Earhart to send two dashes if she was on land, and three in on water. |
Source |
Abilene, TX, Reporter-News,
July 7, 1937. |
Probability |
Zero. Nearly the entire propagation path from Gardner to
El Paso was in daylight. |
Qual Factors |
The propagation conditions on 3105 kHz were such that it
was impossible for Tippin to have heard a signal from Gardner on 3105 kHz. No
stations in the central Pacific heard the alleged signals, nor did COMFRANDIV
in San Francisco, using two high-gain rhombic antennas. |
Credibility |
Not credible. |
|
165
Identifier |
70700TN |
Z Time/Date |
0700 July 7 |
Local Time/Date |
0000 CST July 7 |
Gardner Time/Date |
2000 July 6 |
Agency/Person |
W. H. Tippin, amateur radio operator W5SFQ |
Location |
5 miles NW of El Paso, TX |
Freq (kHz) |
3105 |
Content |
Tippin said he heard a woman’s voice “on Miss Earhart’s
frequency of 3105 kilocycles.” He further said “The signals were not strong
enough to read. They came a half minute at a time over a period of ten
minutes.” |
Source |
El Paso, TX, Herald-Post,
July 7, 1937 |
Probability |
0.000000016 |
Qual Factors |
The reception probability was extremely low. Earhart’s
transmitter was the only plausible central Pacific source of voice signals on
3105 kHz, but no central Pacific station heard the signal, nor did COMFRANDIV
at San Francisco, using two high-gain rhombic antennas. |
Credibility |
Not credible |
|
166
Identifier |
70747KB |
Z Time/Date |
0747-0907 July 7 |
Local Time/Date |
2117-2237 HST July 6 |
Gardner Time/Date |
2047-2207 July 6 |
Agency/Person |
Mr. Stanley, Radio station KGMB |
Location |
Honolulu |
Freq (kHz) |
3105 |
Content |
KGMB received telephone reports from radio amateurs on
Oahu and Maui who said they intermittently heard a “rippling carrier right on
3105 kcs,” from 2117 to 2237 HST. One of the amateurs said that it sounded
like a motor driven generator rather than a direct current source. KGMB also
received calls from amateurs in Los Angeles and Whittier California, who
heard a similar signal at 0122 PST (0622Z on July 7). |
Sources |
MSG9.PDF, p. 453; Finding Amelia, p. 193 |
Probability |
Signal from Gardner: 0.001 at Hawaii; one chance in a
trillion at Los Angeles/Whittier. Nicaraguan station YNN3 at Moyogalpa (3105
kHz, 50 watts): one chance in a billion at Hawaii; 0.0003 at Los Angeles and
Whittier. |
Qual Factors |
The engine-driven Electra DC generator would not have
produced a rippling effect on the transmitted signal. The reported rippling
was more likely due to ionospheric multi-path interference. The Nicaraguan
Morse code station at Moyogalpa was the most likely source for the signal
heard in California, which was not concurrent with the signals heard in
Hawaii. Although Earhart’s transmitter was the most likely source of the
signals heard in Hawaii, there was no plausible reason for her to key the
transmitter intermittently during such a long period without sending dashes
or voice. It is possible that the amateurs in Hawaii were also hearing the
Nicaraguan station. There is not enough evidence to decide whether the
signals came from Gardner. |
Credibility |
Uncertain |
|
167
Identifier |
71125HD |
Z Time/Date |
1125 July 7 |
Local Time/Date |
0055 HST July 7 |
Gardner Time/Date |
0025 July 7 |
Agency/Person |
Itasca detachment |
Location |
Howland Island |
Freq (kHz) |
3105 |
Content |
Two long dashes were heard, “with weak voice in
background.” |
Source |
RADREST.PDF, p. 213. |
Probability |
0.5 (Gardner); less than one chance in a quadrillion for
a signal from the west coast. |
Qual Factors |
This appears to be a continuation of the pattern of
dashes heard by various stations after the KGMB broadcast. Earhart’s
transmitter was the only plausible source of dashes and voice signals in the
central Pacific. |
Credibility |
Credible. |
|
168
Identifier |
71210ML |
Z Time/Date |
1210 July 7 |
Local Time/Date |
0410 PST July 7 |
Gardner Time/Date |
0110 July 7 |
Agency/Person |
Charles Miguel |
Location |
Oakland, CA |
Freq (kHz) |
Unknown |
Content |
Claimed to hear Earhart saying “NRUI – NRUI –
CALLING FROM KHAQQ ON CORAL SOUTHWEST OF UNKNOWN ISLAND. DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG WE WILL . . (here the voice faded) . . KHAQQ – KHAQQ. WE ARE O.K.
BUT A LITTLE . . (here the voice faded again).” |
Source |
Oakland Tribune,
July 7, 1937, p. 1. |
Probability |
0.000000000001744 (approximately two chances in a
trillion) |
Qual Factors |
No central Pacific stations heard this signal, nor did
COMFRANDIV’s special monitoring station using two high-gain rhombic antennas.
There was virtually no chance of hearing a signal from Gardner in Oakland at
this time. Speculation that Earhart was on a coral island in the Phoenix
Group had been in the press for days. The claimed content of this alleged
signal is virtually identical to that in Identifier 71430ML below, that Miguel
also claimed to have heard. Miguel was a proven hoaxer, as shown previously
in this catalog. |
Credibility |
Not Credible |
|
169
Identifier |
71220HD |
Z Time/Date |
1220 July 7 |
Local Time/Date |
0150 HST July 7 |
Gardner Time/Date |
0120 July 7 |
Agency/Person |
Itasca detachment |
Location |
Howland Island |
Freq (kHz) |
3105 |
Content |
A weak carrier, with modulation, i.e. voice, was heard. |
Source |
RADREST.PDF, p. 214 |
Probability |
0.5 (Gardner); 0.0000000000035 (west coast). |
Qual Factors |
This signal appears to be similar to Identifier 71125HD, heard
at Howland. Earhart’s transmitter was the only plausible source of voice
signals in the central Pacific, other than Itasca. |
Credibility |
Credible |
|
170
Identifier |
71230LC |
Z Time/Date |
1230 July 7 |
Local Time/Date |
0730 EST July 7 |
Gardner Time/Date |
0130 July 7 |
Agency/Person |
Thelma Lovelace |
Location |
St. Stephens, New Brunswick, Canada |
Freq (kHz) |
15525 |
Content |
Thelma was listening to shortwave on her DeForest-Crosley
radio sometime before 8 a.m. as her husband was getting ready for work. While
tuning around a frequency where she usually heard a program of Japanese music every morning, she heard a
voice, loud and clear, saying “Can you read me? Can you read me? This is
Amelia Earhart. This is Amelia Earhart. Please come in.” Earhart then give
her latitude and longitude, which Thelma wrote in a book, and continued: “we
have taken in water, my navigator is badly hurt; (repeat) we are in need of
medical care and must have help; we can’t hold on much longer.” |
Source |
Correspondence with TIGHAR in 1991; List of Frequencies,
7th Ed, International Telecommunications Union, Bern, March 1937. |
Probability |
0.0004 |
Qual Factors |
Thelma told TIGHAR that she was unable to find the book
in which she wrote Earhart’s position. However, her radio still exists, and a
relative provided photos to TIGHAR. There were three Japanese shortwave
broadcast stations within the radio’s tuning range: JZK (15160 kHz), JUU
(15330 kHz), and JZL (17785 kHz), which implies thatthe signal Thelma heard was on a
harmonic of 3105 kHz, near one of those stations. JZK and JUU were close to
15525 kHz (the 5th harmonic). But JZL was closest to 18630 kHz
(the 6th harmonic), which was outside the radio’s tuning range. Therefore,
15525 kHz must have been the frequency on which Thelma heard Earhart. The
propagation conditions were consistent with occasional loud and clear
reception. The content of Thelma’s report is generally consistent with that
of a credible Earhart signal heard on the same frequency by Dana Randolph at
Rock Springs, Wyoming, on July 4. (Identifier 41500RH above). |
Credibility |
Credible |
|
171
Identifier |
71430ML |
Z Time/Date |
1430 July 7 |
Local Time/Date |
0630 PST July 7 |
Gardner Time/Date |
0330 July 7 |
Agency/Person |
Charles Miguel |
Location |
Oakland, CA |
Freq (kHz) |
Not given (3105 assumed) |
Content |
Miguel said he heard a feeble voice, that could have been
from either a man or a woman, saying “NRUI ...NRUI...KHAQQ calling ... on a
coral reef southwest of an unknown island ... we are OK,” then the message
faded out “sputtering.” |
Source |
New York Herald-Tribune,
July 8, 1937. |
Probability |
Less than one chance in a quadrillion. |
Qual Factors |
No central Pacific stations heard this signal, nor did
COMFRANDIV’s special monitoring station using two high-gain rhombic antennas.
There was virtually no chance of hearing a signal from Gardner in Oakland at
this time. Speculation that Earhart was on a coral island in the Phoenix
Group had been in the press for days. Miguel was a proven hoaxer, as shown
previously in this catalog. |
Credibility |
Not credible. |
|
172
Identifier |
80245FZ |
Z Time/Date |
0245 July 8 |
Local Time/Date |
1615 HST July 7 |
Gardner Time/Date |
1545 July 7 |
Agency/Person |
Manuel Fernandez |
Location |
Hilo airport, Hawaii |
Freq (kHz) |
1420 kHz |
Content |
Fernandez said he heard Earhart and Noonan calling the Itasca and asking them to rush
assistance as they could only last a short time longer. He also said he heard Itasca answer and tell them to hold
out a while longer. |
Source |
MSG10.PDF, pp. 484 and 486 |
Probability |
n/a |
Qual Factors |
The transmissions Heard by Fernandez were from the March
of Time program being broadcast by local radio station KHBC. |
Credibility |
Not credible |
|
173
Identifier |
80540HS |
Z Time/Date |
0540 July 8 |
Local Time/Date |
2240 MST July 7 |
Gardner Time/Date |
1840 July 7 |
Agency/Person |
Ray Havens |
Location |
Conrad, Montana |
Freq (kHz) |
3105 |
Content |
Havens claimed that he heard a radio message from
Earhart’s plane at 2240 MST. He said he heard a man’s voice give a position
and say “All’s well.” Havens said that a few minutes later he heard another
message “Position 173 west longitude and 5 south latitude. Okay, but help
needed. KHAQQ,” and called the Great Falls, MT, Tribune so that, he said, someone could be notified who could
quickly tune to 3105 kHz. Luke Wright, of the paper’s editorial staff, was
called at home. He tuned his receiver to 3105 kHz and said they he heard a
voice, presumably a man’s, but could not distinguish the words. |
Source |
Billings, MT, Gazette,
July 8, 1937; Helena, MT, Independent,
July 9, 1937. |
Probability |
Less than 1 chance in a quadrillion. |
Qual Factors |
The reported time was two minutes after Gardner sunset at
ground level, but the western part of the propagation path was still sunlit
at ionospheric altitude; consequently, signal absorption loss virtually precluded
reception at Conrad. No station in the central Pacific heard these signals;
nor did the COMFRANDIV special monitoring station at San Francisco. If a
signal from Gardner could be heard in Conrad, it also would be heard by at
least one of the 6 FCC airport stations in Montana, all required to listen
continuously on 3105 kHz. The position Havens reported was near Gardner, in
the Phoenix Islands, but the theory that Earhart was in that area had been in
the press for days, and Havens could have picked the coordinates off a map. The
man’s voice that Wright heard was most likely from an aircraft talking to one
of the FCC airport stations in Montana. |
Credibility |
Not Credible |
|
174
Identifier |
80710HD |
Z Time/Date |
0710 July 8 |
Local Time/Date |
2040 HST July 7 |
Gardner Time/Date |
2010 July 7 |
Agency/Person |
Itasca detachment |
Location |
Howland Island |
Freq (kHz) |
3105 |
Content |
Hearing weak continuous wave (CW) signals. |
Source |
RADREST.PDF, p. 218 |
Probability |
0.89 (transmitter at Gardner); 0.0009 (transmitter in
Nicaragua) |
Qual Factors |
It was possible that Howland was hearing the Nicaraguan
Morse code station on 3105 kHz, at Moyogalpa. It also is possible that the
weak CW signals were dashes coming from Gardner, but the report is too vague
to be sure. |
Credibility |
Uncertain |
|
175
Identifier |
80718HD |
Z Time/Date |
0718 July 8 |
Local Time/Date |
2048 HST July 7 |
Gardner Time/Date |
2018 July 7 |
Agency/Person |
Itasca detachment |
Location |
Howland Island |
Freq (kHz) |
3105 |
Content |
Heard “Weak radiotelephone signals. Talk of Earhart.” |
Source |
RADREST.PDF, p. 218 |
Probability |
0.89 (Gardner); 0.00000045 (west coast) |
Qual Factors |
Explicit mention of “Earhart” suggests she was
transmitting. Earhart was the only plausible central Pacific source of voice
transmission on 3105 kHz. |
Credibility |
Credible |
|
176
Identifier |
90200MS |
Z Time/Date |
Sometime between 0200 and 0500 Z, July 9 |
Local Time/Date |
Sometime between 1800 and 2100 PST, July 8 (Monsees
recollection) |
Gardner Time/Date |
Sometime between 1500 and 1800, July 8 |
Agency/Person |
Arthur Monsees |
Location |
San Francisco, CA |
Freq (kHz) |
Apparently 6210 kHz. |
Content |
Monsees said he heard a Morse code message – “SOS KHAQQ EAST HOWLAND LIGHTS
TONIGHT MUST HURRY CANT HOLD” – sent twice. |
Source |
NY Herald Tribune, July 9, 1937, p.4, and Monsees correspondence with TIGHAR, November, 2000. |
Probability |
Less than one chance in a quadrillion during the period. |
Qual Factors |
The nearest land east of Howland is Christmas Island, at
a distance of about 1200 miles, which Earhart could not have reached with her
remaining fuel. Hence “east Howland” would mean the plane was on water; but
the transmitter could not operate in that case. Monsees told TIGHAR the Morse
code was sent at about 8 words per minute, and was “sloppy” but readable,
“almost solid copy,” and “receiving conditions were excellent.” However,
neither Earhart nor Noonan could send Morse code even at a modest speed. Furthermore,
sending Morse code at 8 words per minute using the transmitter push-to-talk
button would require pushing the button about 40 times per minute, which
would be very difficult. And, Monsees’ description of the reception
conditions is not consistent with the propagation conditions that existed at
the time. |
Credibility |
Not credible. |
|
177
Identifier |
90300AD |
Z Time/Date |
0300 July 9 |
Local Time/Date |
2100 CST July 8 |
Gardner Time/Date |
1600 July 8 |
Agency/Person |
Mrs. Joe Arnold |
Location |
Okmulgee, Oklahoma |
Freq (kHz) |
Unspecified |
Content |
Mrs. Arnold and her daughter said they heard a shortwave
radio message shortly after 9 p.m. in which a woman’s voice, weak but
distinguishable, repeated the call letters KHAQQ and said: “We’re suffering
but holding on. Couldn’t see Howland Island. This is Amelia Earhart calling
the Itasca.” Mrs. Arnold said they
heard only parts of the transmission because of static and interference. |
Source |
Okmulgee Times,
July 9, 1937; Radio Index Magazine,
May 1937; Radio Index Magazine,
November 1937; March Of Time radio program script. |
Probability |
Less than one chance in a quadrillion on 6210 kHz
(Earhart’s day frequency) and all harmonics up to 24840 kHz. |
Qual Factors |
No stations in the central Pacific heard this signal, nor
did COMFRANDIV’s special receiving station at San Francisco. Propagation
conditions virtually precluded hearing a signal from Gardner. However, there
was a March Of Time radio theater
broadcast on Oklahoma City station KOMA the evening of July 8. The script
contains phrases closely matching those reported: “KHAQQ calling Itasca – KHAQQ – Amelia
Earhart – calling Itasca –
we must be right near you, but cannot see you,” and “SOS . . . SOS . . .
can’t hold out much longer.” The evidence suggests Mrs. Arnold and her
daughter were hearing the March Of Time broadcast. |
Credibility |
Not credible. |
|
178
Identifier |
90300RD |
Z Time/Date |
0300 July 9 |
Local Time/Date |
2100 CST July 8 |
Gardner Time/Date |
1600 July 8 |
Agency/Person |
Mr. And Mrs. George Roland |
Location |
Schulter, Oklahoma (8 miles south of Okmulgee, Oklahoma) |
Freq (kHz) |
Unspecified |
Content |
The Rolands said they heard a voice which said “Amelia
Earhart, SOS, calling SOS. Can’t last much longer.” Like the Arnolds in
signal 176 above, they said they could hear only a part of the message
because of static. |
Source |
Okmulgee Times,
July 9, 1937; Radio Index Magazine,
May 1937; Radio Index Magazine,
November 1937; March Of Time radio
program script. |
Probability |
Less than one chance in a quadrillion on 6210 kHz
(Earhart’s day frequency) and all harmonics up to 24840 kHz. |
Qual Factors |
No stations in the central Pacific heard this signal, nor
did COMFRANDIV’s special receiving station at San Francisco. Propagation
conditions virtually precluded hearing a signal from Gardner. However, there
was a March Of Time radio theater
broadcast on Oklahoma City station KOMA the evening of July 8. The script
contains phrases closely matching those reported by the Rolands: “Amelia
Earhart – calling,” and “SOS . . . SOS . . . can’t hold out much
longer.” The evidence suggests the Rolands also were hearing the March Of Time broadcast. |
Credibility |
Not credible. |
|
179
Identifier |
90712HD |
Z Time/Date |
0712 July 9 |
Local Time/Date |
2042 HST July 8 |
Gardner Time/Date |
2012 July 8 |
Agency/Person |
Itasca detachment |
Location |
Howland Island |
Freq (kHz) |
3105 |
Content |
Weak radiophone signal |
Source |
RADREST.PDF, p. 221 |
Probability |
0.97 |
Qual Factors |
The reception probability suggests a much stronger signal
would be heard if it originated at Gardner. It is possible Howland was
hearing a signal from a west coast aircraft. Absent details of content, this
signal cannot be assessed as coming from Gardner. |
Credibility |
Uncertain |
|
180
Identifier |
90800FS |
Z Time/Date |
Sometime between 0800 and 1400 July 9 |
Local Time/Date |
Sometime between 0000 and 0600 PST July 9 |
Gardner Time/Date |
Sometime between 2100 July 8 and 0300 July 9 |
Agency/Person |
Frank Freitas |
Location |
20 miles east of Yreka, California |
Freq (kHz) |
Unspecified |
Content |
Freitas called the local telephone office in Yreka,
claiming he heard voice signals coming from the Earhart plane and recognized
the voice of Amelia Earhart, having heard it before. He claimed she said the
plane was on a reef 200 miles directly south of Howland and that both were OK
and the plane had one wing broken. |
Source |
MSG10.PDF, p. 529 |
Probability |
3105 kHz: less than 1 chance in a quadrillion, at all
times; 15525 kHz: 0.0001
at 0000Z, decreasing to 0.00000002 at 0600Z. |
Qual Factors |
Freitas did not give the frequency on which he allegedly
heard Earhart. The propagation conditions virtually precluded reception on
3105 kHz. Reception on 15525 kHz (a plausible frequency if Freitas was tuning
the nearby shortwave broadcast band) was feasible, albeit it uncertain,
during the period. However, the nearest land directly south of Howland was
more than 600 miles away. The theory that Earhart was on a coral reef had
been in the press for several days. This report appears to be a hoax. |
Credibility |
Not credible |
|
181
Identifier |
90844HD |
Z Time/Date |
0844 July 9 |
Local Time/Date |
2214 HST July 8 |
Gardner Time/Date |
2244 July 8 |
Agency/Person |
Itasca detachment |
Location |
Howland Island |
Freq (kHz) |
3105 |
Content |
Weak voice signal. |
Source |
RADREST.PDF, p. 221 |
Probability |
0.73 |
Qual Factors |
The reception probability suggests a much stronger signal
would be heard if it originated at Gardner. It is possible Howland was
hearing a signal from a west coast aircraft. Absent details of content, this
signal cannot be assessed as coming from Gardner. |
Credibility |
Uncertain |
|
182
Identifier |
10xxxxUN |
Z Time/Date |
Unknown, apparently July 10 or 11 |
Local Time/Date |
Unknown time on July 10 |
Gardner Time/Date |
Unknown |
Agency/Person |
Unspecified radio amateur |
Location |
Callao, Peru |
Freq (kHz) |
1400 |
Content |
The reporting person claimed to have heard an Earhart
message stating position “23 grados al oeste de la isla de Howland,” and also
stated “frequency 1400 kilocycles 19 meters” according to All-America Cables,
Inc, presumably in Peru. The position translates to “23 degrees west of
Howland Island.” |
Source |
MSG10.PDF, p. 535 |
Probability |
n/a |
Qual Factors |
The stated position makes no sense. 23 degrees would be a
distance of about 1400 miles. The frequency 1400 kilocycles (kHz) is in the
standard broadcast band and suggests the signal heard was part of a March Of Time broadcast. The “19
meters” mention may refer to the 19 meter shortwave broadcast band, 15100 kHz
to 15350 kHz, and might suggest a March
Of Time broadcast had been heard concurrently with a broadcast on 1400
kHz. It is not plausible for the alleged signal to have originated at Gardner;
a plane from the USS Colorado searched the island on July 9, and found no evidence that the plane was
there. |
Credibility |
Not credible |
|
|