by Dan Milton
Saturday morning early, Ernie heard Jeff pull up outside the apartment in his TR-3. On opening the apartment door, Ernie said, “Yesterday the acoustic engineers were able to provide more clarity on the sonar image of the wreck. Come in and take a look at it. I think we may be on to something!”
Jeff, looked at the printout of the image and commented, “Sure looks like a boat to me, and it seems to fit the overall description the boat builder gave us.”
Ernie and Jeff reviewed all the information. They made a detailed list of what they knew for sure. They made a list of the need to confirm unknowns. Then they began to compile the questions.
As they were laying out an overall plan for a four-week discovery trip, they decided to contact Owen and get his input and determine his availability. After about a half hour of trying, they finally reached him by radio at Lake Clark. Ernie briefed him on what they had so far, including the overall plan.
Ernie then said, “Our biggest problem is the financing. Jeff and I just don’t have the money to do it, and neither the Navy nor the University can help. Secondly, we need another diver. Thirdly, what is your availability during any of the four weeks of our search? We figured the best time we could use your help would be mid-July to mid-August this coming summer.”
Owen said, “It sounds like a very aggressive plan. I’m just not sure there’s enough time to make it happen. Your plan calls for searching a limited area based on your sonar image. Because the search space is limited, it might just be possible to get it together by mid-July. I need to contact some people and see if we can get help. Right now, I am pulled up on the beach and talking with ‘the Russian’. Would it be alright if I let him know what you plan and see it he has any ideas?”
Ernie responded, “Yes, that would be great. We will keep working on a plan with the assumption that we will get the funding and the help we need. Let me know what you find.”
“I’ll get back to you as soon as anything firms up.”
Ernie and Jeff continued to work on the details of the plan. They had pizza delivered and worked late into the night. Exhausted, Jeff got into his TR-3 and headed to his place. Just before he left, Ernie said, “I’ll let you know as soon as Owen calls me.”
About a week later Ernie got a call from Owen. His first words were, “I’ve got some good news and some bad news. Which do you want first?”
“Owen, I’m a ‘glass half full’ guy! The good news first...”
“After speaking to ‘the Russian’ about your plans concerning the wreck he became very excited. He said he would be taking delivery of a new sport fishing boat he plans to use on Lake Iliamna for charters. He said he would make it available to us for four weeks at no charge, and that includes the fuel. He said we could give it a ‘shakedown’ cruise for him. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the delivery is not until the end-of-July. Your schedule would have to change by two weeks. It also gets us closer to the stormy season in early September.”
“That will probably be okay. We will rework the schedule to make sure. With the boat and fuel donated, the expenses will be much less. Have you been able to find out anything on a diver?”
“I called Pam Potan. I think I mentioned her to you. She was involved with Alexei when he first came to Alaska. She wanted to be kept informed. I told her your plans. She said that she had been diving for the last ten years in different parts of the country including Alaska. Her boss, the chief pilot, is a diver. She learned so she could keep up with him. She is trying to find out if her flight schedule for the corporation will allow her to take the four weeks off. She said she would get back to me. I told her that it would probably be the month of August. She is anxious to help. That’s all the news for now. I’ll get back to you when I hear more.”
Ernie called Jeff to let him know the good news and the change in schedule. Jeff said, “The pieces are starting to fall into place.”
Later in the week, after an all night studying session, Ernie was about to lie down to get a few hours sleep when the phone rang. He said in a somewhat sleepy voice, “Hello!”
The voice on the other end said, “Ernie, is that you.”
“Yeah...”
“I’ve got some terrific news. I know it’s only 6:00am your time. I’m on the East coast and have only a few minutes before we take off. Oh, by the way, this is Pam—Pam Potan. Owen has told me your plan, and I’m excited. Owen probably told you about my involvement with Alexei. I also flew with Owen when we searched for the wreck. I’m hoping that you can please find a place for me on the team.”
Pam continued, “I spoke to our corporate president, and he likes what you are attempting to do. He told me to change my flight schedule with some of the other pilots so I can work with you for the entire month of August. But, the best news is that he would like to provide whatever funding is needed to make the venture successful. I know this comes out of the blue, and you don’t know him. I have flown for his corporation for the past ten years, and I can speak very highly of him and the organization he runs.”
“I am speechless and that is not normal for me. Owen may have told you that ‘the Russian’ offered to furnish us a brand new boat he purchased recently and the fuel we will need. That will hold down the expenses. Let me have your corporate president’s name and contact information. I’m sure he would like a budget before he commits. Pam, you have made my day! Have a great flight.”
Pam furnished Ernie the contact information he asked for and said goodbye. Ernie immediately called Jeff to relate the good news.
The next weekend Ernie was finally able to get hold of Owen and filled him in on what Pam had to say. Owen said, “That’s terrific. I have rearranged my charter schedule so that I can be available for most of the first week and most of the last week of your plan. Don’t worry about the costs. I am donating the plane, including the fuel, and my time. Captain Boyd was a good friend of mine, as he was to most of the people who live around the lake. I forgot to tell you earlier. The Iliamna Lodge owner will make a cabin available for our use while we are in Iliamna, and he has several cabins in Kokhanok, which he will make available for us during the entire month of August. He won’t charge you anything. Everyone wants to help.”
Ernie said, “Owen, I don’t know what to say except, with everyone pulling for us, we have to find that wreck.”
Owen’s parting comments were, “We will!”
Ernie called Jeff and said, “We need to get together and do a budget for the trip as well as compile a detailed list of what we need to take.”
Jeff said, “It sounds like the trip is a ‘go.’ I’ll be over in an hour.”
Ernie and Jeff spend most of the rest of the day on a budget, which turned out to be a relatively small number since the bulk of the expensive items were being furnished at no cost. They made the first cut of a list of items they would need to conduct a search. Next they put together a preliminary day-to-day list of the activities that would commence once they were on site.
Ernie sent a copy of the budget to the corporate contact address that Pam had given him. A week later he received definite confirmation. The corporation established an account that he could draw on, to cover any expenses. He also learned that the corporate jet would pick Jeff and him up from the private terminal at Sea-TAC Airport around noon on July 28 and fly them to the Anchorage International Airport. He found out that Pam Potan would meet them there.
Ernie left a message for Owen stating their arrival schedule for Anchorage and let Jeff know the plan. They agreed to get together and finish the detailed planning. Their goal was to assemble all the equipment needed and get it shipped by July 1st to Iliamna.
A short time later Ernie received a message from Owen that he would pick them up at the private terminal at 8:00am on the 29th of July and, from there, fly to Iliamna.
It took all of Ernie’s and Jeff’s spare time from classes, studying and working to get their personal gear, and equipment shipped. Fortunately, ‘the Russian’ had told O
wen that his new boat was also being outfitted as a dive boat and would have a compressor and a half dozen dive tanks on board. Because of this, they could cut the equipment that they would have to ship. They managed just to make their target date to send the material to Iliamna. It would go by cargo plane to Anchorage and then by barge, truck and boat to Iliamna. They received assurance that it would be on the dock in Iliamna by July 31st.
Ernie contacted the Lodge at Iliamna to let them know the date they would be arriving and that the equipment had shipped and should arrive by boat before July 31st.
The day finally came for them to leave for Anchorage. Ernie had called a friend with a pick-up truck to help them transport their gear. After Ernie had loaded up, they went to Jeff’s place to pick him up and load his gear. About an hour later they pulled into the private terminal at Sea-Tac and loaded all their gear onto several carts. After checking in, they received directions to the parked corporate jet. It took just a few minutes to stow their personal gear in the luggage compartment and then climbed the boarding stairs.
On stepping inside, they were greeted by Pam. Ernie and Jeff introduced themselves. Jeff said, “I thought we were meeting you in Anchorage?”
Pam said, “The plane we’re on got re-routed. It happened to be passing near my home, so they picked me up on the way. It made it a lot easier.”
On the trip to Anchorage, Pam told them the story of how she met Alexei and their flight from Vladivostok to Anchorage. She also told them how she had met Owen. Ernie filled her in on the overall schedule and what they planned to do to locate the wreck.
After landing in Anchorage, they found a safe place to store their personal gear until the next morning. They then headed to a hotel in town to spend the night. At dinner, they discussed the detailed plan that Ernie and Jeff had put together. Pam had some excellent suggestions which Ernie penciled into a copy of the plan. Shortly thereafter, they called it an early evening since they had to be back at the airport at 8:00am.
Next morning they caught a taxi to the airport. It dropped them off at the private terminal of the Anchorage Airport. At about the same time, Owen was getting his clearance to land. He taxied the Widgeon over to the private terminal and parked it on the pad outside the terminal. Ernie, Jeff, and Pam walked out to meet him as he climbed out of the pilot’s seat. Owen said, “Hello everyone! Hope you all had an enjoyable flight. I understand that we have good weather all day. Let’s get your gear loaded. We’ll then taxi over to the refueling station.” On completion of the refueling, Owen radioed the tower and received permission to taxi and takeoff. A short while later they were heading for Iliamna.
With the skies clear, it made for a spectacular journey. Owen said, “No matter how many times I see Lake Iliamna, it is always breathtaking. A morning like this bodes well for a successful venture.”
Ernie said, “Owen, it’s good to see you again. I’m glad you will be able to help us. Pam, if you haven’t had the opportunity to dive in Lake Iliamna get ready for some crystal clear, but somewhat cold, water. If Owen hasn’t told you, there is an Indian legend about a giant creature in the lake. We also had a run in previously with some of the seals that inhabit the lake. They can be a little disconcerting because of how fast they move in the water.”
Pam said, “Owen filled me in on what to expect. I look forward to it.”
Owen turned around and said, “Be sure to fasten your seatbelts. We’ll be landing in about ten minutes.”
Shortly after they landed on the gravel strip and taxied to the parking apron, the Lodge owner pulled up to the Widgeon in the van. He told them that the equipment, they shipped, had already arrived and was on the dock with a tarp over it. He also mentioned that the boat had radioed and would be coming tomorrow. After loading all their gear into the van, they headed for the Lodge.
When they arrived at the Lodge, Jeff said, “As soon as we’ve unloaded the van I’m going down to the dock to check on the equipment and make sure it arrived undamaged.”
Ernie said, “Great. Let’s all meet for an early dinner, say around 5:00pm. We can discuss tomorrow’s plans.”
At dinner, they discussed the need for an aerial survey of the search site to reorient themselves with the area and map out the order of the underwater searches. The decision was that Pam and Ernie would go with Owen while Jeff stayed and met the boat when it arrived.
Everyone was anxious to begin the search and woke early the next morning. Owen, Pam, and Ernie had a quick bite to eat and then headed for the airstrip. Jeff finished a more leisurely breakfast and then headed to the dock to rearrange the equipment he would load when the boat arrived. He also carried some of their personal gear to the dock.
They took off into the rising sun on a bright day. Ernie was riding in the co-pilot’s seat, and Pam was in the back looking out the opposite window. With no breeze blowing, the lake was as calm as glass. They hoped they would be able to scout the islands near Kokhanok and narrow down the underwater search areas. Everyone was in an excited and expectant mood.
After about 30 minutes of flying time, Owen pointed to his left and said, “We are approaching Kokhanok. I am going to circle the village and then head east to pick up those islands there. I will drop down to about 50 feet above the water. If you spot anything let me know and we can circle back for a second look.
As they came in low through the first chain of islands, Pam couldn’t get over how beautiful they were sitting so pristine in the early morning sun. She commented, “I’m having trouble focusing on the water around the islands. All, I keep focusing on, is the beauty of the islands.”
Owen said, “No worry. In a few minutes that will change, and you’ll only be focusing on the water. I’ll take another pass through the same islands. How are you doing Ernie?”
Ernie responded, “I understand what Pam is going through. These islands are magnificent. I originally had a hard time focusing on the water, but after a little while, I was able to blot out the island and look only at the blue water. I don’t have any idea how deep it is here, but I can see down to a fair depth.”
Owen commented, “With the water this calm, you should be able to see down 45-50 feet.”
As it was getting close to lunch time, Owen, who was looking toward Kokhanok, said, “Let’s land and find something to eat.”
Ernie said, “Sounds great to me... wait a minute... I just saw something to my immediate right. Pam switched to the window on the right side. Owen, swing around and follow the same course. It looked like I could make out what appears to be a mast.”
Owen came back to the original heading, and all three kept their eyes on the area Ernie had mentioned. As they passed over it again, all three said they saw what Ernie had seen, and it sure looked like a mast. Owen said, “Mark it on the aerial survey map as a potential dive site.”
After they had lunch at the General Store in Kokhanok, they resumed the aerial survey. By the end of the afternoon, they had located four more potential dive sites. As time was running out for the day, they decided to head back to Iliamna. This time Owen came in for a water landing as he needed to re-fuel, and the fuel drums were on the dock.
As they landed, Jeff, grinning from ear-to-ear, waved to the arriving plane as he stood on the deck of a gleaming white boat. While Owen and the crew were surveying, the boat had arrived, and Jeff had managed to stow their equipment and personal gear. He had even had time to get a complete orientation on the new boat including a test run. He now felt comfortable with how to operate it.
That night at dinner, Ernie, Jeff, Pam and Owen reviewed the day’s activities. The decision was that Pam and Ernie would go with Owen tomorrow to make a second aerial survey of the islands. Jeff would get the boat’s fuel tanks topped off and drive the boat to Kokhanok.
Early afternoon the next day, as Jeff approached Kokhanok he spotted the Widgeon making several low passes over a group of islands west of the village. On arrival, he tied up and shut everything off. He walked to the General Store to
get the keys to their cabins. He then unloaded some of Pam’s personal gear into the cabin in which she would be staying. Ernie and Jeff, for security reasons, decided they would stay on the boat. Jeff also unloaded some of the equipment to the other cabin they would use as a base camp work area.
Shortly thereafter, Pam and Ernie arrived on the dock. Jeff had heard Owen land and walked down to the dock to meet them. As they walked to the village, they heard Owen take off. Owen had to pick up some charter customers at Port Alsworth. He said he would stop by at the end of the week to see how things were going.
Jeff showed Pam and Ernie the cabins. They dropped off some gear and then headed for the work cabin to discuss how things went with the latest survey and what they hoped to achieve tomorrow.
Ernie said, “We found another ten potential sites. We recorded them on the map. That gives us a total of 15. It may take as much as two weeks to cover the 15 sites unless we find the wreck sooner. Let’s have some dinner and then get a good night’s rest. We will need to be fresh to begin diving on the sites tomorrow.”
Jeff said, “On the way to our first dive site, I can give you both an orientation of the boat’s operation. It’s very simple, but it would be good for all of us to know everything about the operation including the echo sounder, power winches, and the air compressor.”
Ernie and Pam said, “Okay. Let’s eat!”
After dinner, Pam walked to her cabin, and Jeff and Ernie went to the boat dock.
The next morning, as Ernie untied the lines, Jeff got them underway on a course to take them to the farthest island group marked as a dive site on their map.
