TIGHAR

Amelia Earhart Search Forum => Radio Reflections => Topic started by: Andreas Badertscher on March 02, 2010, 04:07:18 AM

Title: FAQ: Bettys sketch book / Radios and rising waters
Post by: Andreas Badertscher on March 02, 2010, 04:07:18 AM

I've just read the "Bettys sketch book" page and it's comments.
Appearantly AE talks about rising water etc. Maybe I'm confused. Does it not sound that they crash landed on the ocean and the plane slowly started to sink? Or was it the incoming tide?

Title: Re: Bettys sketch book
Post by: Ric Gillespie on March 02, 2010, 06:04:33 AM

The plane's radio could not transmit if the plane was floating in the ocean, so if the radio calls were made at all the plane had to be on land but threatened by rising water. That describes perfectly the situation other evidence suggests - that the plane was landed on the dry reef at Gardner Island (now Nikumaroro). The rising water mentioned in Betty's Notebook probably refers to a rising tide.

Title: Re: Bettys sketch book
Post by: Andreas Badertscher on March 02, 2010, 06:11:00 AM

Thanks Ric
That's what I thought but it's clear now.
I wish you and your team succes with the upcoming trip to Niki!
andy

Title: Re: Bettys sketch book
Post by: Tim Collins on March 02, 2010, 06:41:50 AM

Have you been able to match the timing of Betty's transcript telling of rising water with your recreated tide tables?

T

Title: Re: Bettys sketch book
Post by: Ric Gillespie on March 03, 2010, 12:36:50 PM

Of course, we don't know for sure which day Betty heard AE but everything seems to fit best on Monday, July 5th  - and yes, the tide was coming in during the broadcast on that day.