One thing that I am not sure of, maybe just not reading the info correctly.
In the film, the last 10 minutes or so are dominated by the radio operator trying to make contact with AE but she cant hear them, however from what i can determine from the notes about the actual communications AE and Howland could talk to each other, just AE or Howland could not get a bearing on each other, ending in AE changing channels and then loss of contact.
I am assuming there is much dramatisation within the film plot over the loss of signal to AE?
Off to get the book today Chapters has it in!