Marty,
Concerning your Dec. 11 post "By what means was this info sent?". All I could find is on page 206 of Long's book as follows-"Thursday, July 1, the Itasca sent the ship's 1200 IST(Itasca Ship Time) weather report and Howland Island's 1300 HST(Honolulu) weather and upper-air observations combined into one message to Earhart at Lae.". As Ric and Long state, Earhart was already en route to Howland. Quoting Long, also from page 206, "On Tuesday and Wednesday, June 29 and 30, the Itasca exchanged messages about weather and communications with Earhart while they waited for word of her departure from Lae.". Page 210 of Long reveals the Itasca radiomen sent weather reports by CW (Code) on 7500 kilocycles at 25 and 55 minutes after the hour WHEN THEY FOUND OUT SHE WAS IN FLIGHT. NMC San Francisco told them to slow down the Morse code speed to ten words per minute for Earhart. Quoting from Long, page 206, for Thursday, June 24, "The Itasca's regular 1300 IST weather report was combined with Howland Island's 1200 HST weather and upper air observations into one message. The surface wind at Howland Island was out of the east at 15 mph, and the wind aloft at 10,000 feet was blowing out of the east at 34 mph.". Unless otherwise proven wrong, I think Earhart could have learned of some of the data that was in the Itasca's regular weather reports prior to her departure from Lae. I do not have factual information to answer your other question posted on Dec. 11, and I quote you "If by voice, what evidence do you have that she received it?".
Concerning your three questions posted on Dec. 13, "What did they know and when did they know it?, as I said in the preceding paragraph and quoting myself, "Unless otherwise proven wrong, I think Earhart could have learned of some of the data that was in the Itasca's regular weather reports prior to her departure from Lae.". Concerning your second question posted on Dec. 13, and I quote you, "What were the real winds like when they had to make decisions about how to fly their course?", I do not know if Earhart was aware of this information. But as I have indicated twice previously herein there are the Itasca regular weather reports.
Concerning your third question posted on Dec. 13, and I quote you, "What evidence do you have to answer either of those questions?", I have responded to the third question in the preceding paragraph.
Thanks, Marty.
Jeff
Member 3396S