TIGHAR

Amelia Earhart Search Forum => Radio Reflections => Topic started by: Sheila Shigley on December 19, 2010, 10:32:32 PM

Title: High incidence of "3" in Betty Klenck's transcription
Post by: Sheila Shigley on December 19, 2010, 10:32:32 PM
I'm curious about the high incidence of the number "3" in Betty's report - in order, the "3-phrases" are:

58 338
South 391065 Z or E
fig 8 - 3. 30 500 Z
3E MJ3B
Z 38 Z 13 8983638
S309 165E {in brackets}
3.15
3Q rd 36
J 3
3630
38-3
3
30

Amelia's transmit frequency of 3105 of course comes to mind.  In addition to the 22 instances of "3" itself, there are 8 instances of "8," and 4 instances of "38."  I realize that the "S309 165E" has been proposed as a position; perhaps the other "3" instances are fragments of this position, repeated (and transcribed only partially)?
Title: Re: High incidence of "3" in Betty Klenck's transcription
Post by: Ric Gillespie on December 20, 2010, 06:10:58 AM

S309 165E {in brackets}

 I realize that the "S309 165E" has been proposed as a position; perhaps the other "3" instances are fragments of this position, repeated (and transcribed only partially)?

If the "9" in "S309" was actually a "5" (a very common problem in radio transmissions), then the implied lat/long was 3° 05" South, 165° East.  Those happen to be the exact coordinates where the USS Ontario was ordered to be on station at the halfway point from Lae to Howland.  Earhart and Noonan might logically have had that information but almost nobody else did. 
Title: Re: High incidence of "3" in Betty Klenck's transcription
Post by: h.a.c. van asten on April 26, 2011, 02:09:06 AM
Ontario was prescribed take position 165-06´-E / 03-09´-S , end of chord no.7 , start of chord no.8 as by William´s gr.c.plan for in reverse sense flight of July 2.
Title: Re: High incidence of "3" in Betty Klenck's transcription
Post by: Ric Gillespie on April 30, 2011, 09:12:32 AM
Ontario was prescribed take position 165-06´-E / 03-09´-S , end of chord no.7 , start of chord no.8 as by William´s gr.c.plan for in reverse sense flight of July 2.

William's prepared his maps for Earhart well before the first attempt.  On March 14, 1935 - three days before the departure of the first world flight attempt - USS Ontario reported "Ontario crossed 180th meridian enroute to plane guard station latitude 03 05 South, longitude 165 East for Earhart flight."  For the second attempt Ontario was ordered to return to the same station.

Ontario's actual position on the evening of June 2 (June 1st Itasca time) when Earhart was scheduled to fly over was a bit different.  According to the ship's deck log for 8 p.m. her position was 2° 59' 30" South, 165° 18' East.