Post-loss Radio Messages--Overview

World press reported many post loss radio signals like that heard by Nauru Radio published in the 5 July 1937 Canberra Times. (Courtesy: Australian Newspapers Beta Service)

A complete exposition and analysis of all reported radio contacts with the lost aircraft is to be found in Finding Amelia, by Ric Gillespie; the book contains a wealth of primary sources in a research library on a companion DVD.

• Betty’s Notebook. Notes taken by a teen-age girl in July of 1937 while listening to a short-wave radio.
• Dorothea Garsia Diary, Nauru, 1934-1938.
• The Pan American Airways Memos describe the efforts Pan Am made to take bearings on signals apparently coming from the downed aircraft.
  • Wake Island.
  • Midway.
  • Summary by G.W. Angus.
  • K.C. Ambler's report.

Technical considerations

Bearings taken after July 2 suggest that a transmitter was operating in the Phoenix Islands.

• Harmony and Power: Could Betty Have Heard Earhart on a Harmonic?
• Radio Direction Finder Analysis.
• The Radio Riddle.
• Post-Loss Signal Statistics with Tide Information.
• Post Loss Radio Signals (October 2000).
• WE-13C Transmitter Harmonic Power Output.

Battery Life

"Both batteries were rated at 85 ampere-hours. If both were at full charge on arrival at Niku -- a reasonable assumption -- there would have been enough charge for about 90 minutes of transmission time. The total transmission time required for all of the credible post-loss signals is 451 minutes."

Related material

• Finding Amelia--a book-length study of all available post-loss radio messages.