Note: Wilkins prepared these instructions for the 1934–35 flight, which was to leave from Snow Hill Island. Once they reach the Ross Ice Shelf, Wilkins instructs Ellsworth and Balchen to look for Byrd’s ground parties. The instructions were found among Sir Hubert Wilkins’s papers. He may have recalculated the course and positions for the 1935 flight, but if he did, those instructions have been lost. On the other hand, he may have simply used these instructions and had Hollick-Kenyon and Ellsworth start fifteen minutes earlier (which they did), to allow for the extra distance from Dundee Island.
The compass course will be practically constant during the whole flight. 190° for the first twelve hours and 200° for the remainder. The sun’s bearing to the true course will change from 171°—three hours out and to thirty-two [when] twelve hours out. At the time when the course is in the middle of the unknown area the position line is parallel to the course. Any observed altitude difference will then give a direct indication of distance off the course.
In order to have the line of position parallel to the course around eight hours out the sun will have to be about 30° west of north or 2:00 P.M. local time. The corresponding longitude to eight hours is 91° West or six hours and five minutes. To obtain the correct takeoff time, eight hours is deducted from 2015 GCT [Greenwich Civil Time] giving 1215 GMT or eight hours, seventeen minutes local time in Longitude 57° West.
For the first three-and-a-half hours the route lies along the eastern side of Graham Land and Palmer Land, already explored by Sir Hubert Wilkins on December 20, 1928. This part gives good opportunity to check the ground speed and navigational data. After crossing Stefansson Strait and entering Hearst Land the coastline between Hearst Land and Charcot Land can be located as to the direction and approximate latitude. Between the fifth and eighth hours out the direction of the extended Queen Maud Range should be seen. (If islands exist to the south and west of Charcot Island, these should also be seen.)
If no indication of land has been seen out toward the eastern side of the course, the course can then be laid more southerly; the mountain range picked up and the direction and character of it determined. Between the eleventh and twelfth hours out the southernmost end, as reported by Amundsen and Byrd, should be located if the course and speed has been maintained. About thirteen hours out the Rockefeller Mountains should bear to the north and the crevassed area described by Amundsen and Byrd should be seen on the horizon to the southwest. Shortly afterwards the ridges in the Barrier [Ross Ice Shelf] from the southeast, leading into the Bay of Whales should be picked up and Byrd’s camp located. Thirteen hours out the Tractor Party of Byrd’s expedition should be seen.
Up to the eighth hour of the flight the crew of the plane should be able, in case of a forced landing and unable to continue by air, to reach the coastline by traveling on the barrier. The farthest distance they will be away at any time from the coast up to the eighth hour will be 300 miles. From the eighth hour onward they must depend upon the facilities of the Byrd expedition in case of a forced landing.
|
GMT |
Hour |
Lat. S |
Long. |
Course |
Mag. Var. |
Mag. Course |
Sun Bearing |
|
0817 |
Start |
64°25' |
57°00' |
202° |
-14° |
188° |
196° |
|
0917 |
1 |
66°25' |
59°00' |
204° |
-17° |
187° |
|
|
1017 |
2 |
68°23' |
61°21' |
206° |
-19° |
187° |
|
|
1117 |
3 |
70°19' |
64°11' |
209° |
-22° |
187° |
171° |
|
1217 |
4 |
72°11' |
67°33' |
212° |
-25° |
187° |
|
|
1317 |
5 |
74°00' |
71°41' |
216° |
-29° |
187° |
|
|
1417 |
6 |
75°42' |
76°49' |
221° |
-34° |
187° |
122° |
|
1517 |
7 |
77°16' |
83°13' |
227° |
-39° |
188° |
|
|
1617 |
8 |
78°39' |
91°16' |
235° |
-46° |
189° |
|
|
1717 |
9 |
79°45' |
101°15' |
245° |
-52° |
193° |
76° |
|
1817 |
10 |
80°28' |
113°10' |
256° |
-63° |
193° |
|
|
1917 |
11 |
80°45' |
127°06' |
270° |
-80° |
190° |
|
|
2017 |
12 |
80°28' |
141°02' |
284° |
-93° |
191° |
32° |
|
2117 |
13 |
79°45' |
152°57' |
296° |
-100° |
196° |
|
|
2217 |
14 |
78°39' |
162°56' |
305° |
-105° |
200° |
3° |