Hackman, C. Douglas, 1964-1965, 1967
Page 100
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Transcription
Hachman, C.D 1967 Field Notes March 31 Sa'd & Midway Island, Up at 0700 and directly are to OOD + base security to check onto the island. Then to Mr. Tennyson Industrial Relations, Room 209 in the Administration Building to attempt to line up a seat on Saturday a log flight to Honolulu. He knew all about me (the Kindle had warned him that I might not have orders) and was very accommodating. He took the set of encrypted orders I had written up on SI letterhead from yesterday phone call with Dr. Kyle + told me to be at the terminal before 12 noon tomorrow in order to check in. Returned to BOQ to find that Dr. Kyle had called. I called him back + learned that a telegram had been sent from the contracting agency to verify the orders + had sent only copies to several addresses, as well as to the CO of the zone. I called Mr. Tennyson + told him of this. I then picked up binoculars + camera + walked to the run-off area near the end of the runway to check on the ducks, shorelarks + snails there. Mainly just killing some time. Returned from run-off area at 2:00 p.m. + was almost back to the BOQ when someone called + there was George Young in a pickup truck. We went out at night + got some specimens but had to quit because it got so darn cold. We were both chatting away around midnight + finally said heck with it. We had several interruptions but mostly - people checking to see if we belonged on the runway area at night. Each one turned in his light - except I could just sit there while birds ran in all directions like mad. We finally quit from cold + frustration. April 1 Up at 7:45 am, met George at 8:30 am + we then made the rounds for several hours: Hospital, Security, etc. And at 10:45 we went out along the beach near the dugout and in a total of 44 Black-footed Albatrosses in 1 hour 1 minute before exhausting the local supply. George said that were the only pros around so we shookred off. In all I helped George pick up about 130 samples. Could have had many more if they had Hachman, C.D 1967 Field Notes April 1 Sa'd & Midway Is. Took luggage over to air terminal + checked in a 9am before going out to work the Black-foot population. I understand personnel leaving the island should check-in as early as possible in the morning. Not to do so is to risk being stamped dumped off of the flight. The Northwest Atlantic plane was late as usual so George + I killed some time by eating a couple of hotdogs at the chiefs club + then watching several innings of a soft-ball game. The plane arrived at 3:10 about 2 hours late. It took off again for Honolulu at 4:45 p.m. The plane flew at 12000 feet + hit a little rough weather for about 45 minutes. Whole trip was cloudy + overcast. We passed by some towering cloud formations - several higher than the plane. Arrived in Honolulu at approximately 10:20 pm + took about 1 hour to get off plane + then through U.S. Customs. Miscellaneous: Somewhat must have been an enormous ray apparently bashing in the shallow portion of the lagoon near Easter Island as the plane took off. Saw one red albatross strike (Lanyon) by the left wing tip shortly after take-off about 100 feet off the ground.