Well that sure is interesting especially as I will likely be meeting some of the aeradio operators of the time on Monday (funeral unfortunately).
The Australians got their 200Mhz DME operational in the '50s and before that there were a number of 'RACON' installations in the Pacific. Racon was developed from, or modified, WWII IFF kit. Racon from 'radar beacon'. If Pan Am were not using it I dont know who was as Pan Am and TEAL were pretty much the only regular operators in the south west Pacific and I dont think TEAL went past Samoa.
Pan Am used their Pacific routes to test new developments, for example SELCAL.
If the Australian 200Mhz DME were available it seems likely Pan Am would have been using it on that route. Same applies to Racon.
Richard Ogg being the pilot may be a bit of embroidery to the yarn, although Mr Evetts did not say it was Ogg just that the Faleolo pilot later ditched, was there more than one B377 ditching?
Last edited by John Hill; 16th Aug 2013 at 20:40.