I believe the notebook and that the "158/338" was given to Amelia by Fred as the heading to fly (if this number was given by Amelia over the radio it was after the landing and after whatever injuries suffered by Fred in the landing...at which point he was almost incoherent).So it is my opinion (humble, of course) that she was on an island(unknown to her by name...but having on it a wrecked ship, referred to as something that sounded to Betty as the" New York " but which we believe to have been the Norwich City) and that she had flown a heading of 158 to get there.What she actually flew, or what her compass read doesn't matter. That would have depended on the wind and what heading she had to hold to maintain the correct track over the ground/sea.
In the air, Fred was okay, and he could have given her new bearings/headings(they are different) every few minutes as long as he determined that they were on the 158/338 that he believed would get them to the nearest land.
So sitting there with the tide comming in, 'transmitting in the blind', trying to get word out while she could and hearing no answer...she did what she could and repeated what she knew: that was the heading that she 'tracked' to get her where they were.
It should have been good enough to save her, if there were not so many "opinions " against her.
And don't overlook that as far as what hours she could transmit...even 8 or 10 inches above the water at 1500 rpm, which is what it takes for the generater to"kick in", the prop is picking up a considerable spray that envelopes the whole engine...I doubt she was running the engine at the same time she was transmitting...doubt you could have heard Fred talking across the cabin to her over the mike...
If the prop is touching the water at all, it is about impossible to develope enough power to move the airplane especially if it is in danger off floating off the reef.
I have flown to a boat in trouble and helped the people on board to safety while the authorities were still talking to them on the radio about what kind of equipment they had onboard...two different worlds, I know, but I have little patience for conversation and theories when people are trying to stay alive..
As for knowing where she was, all she knew was there was something under her she could land on while she still had gas...and the charts,judging from what the Navy planes determined, were not accurate.
Even to me, this reads as kind of grumpy !?!
Don't mean to be!
Goes with being useless old guy...
Message to Self ; We're not saving lives, here, just solving mysteries and its supposed to be fun!
Bill (proud to have a number now !!)
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