The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald

was anchored in Whitefish Bay. FORD replied to ANDERSON that his signal was good. CAPT Cooper stated he then tried to call the Coast Guard at Sault Ste. Marie on Channel 16 and was told to shift to Channel 12, but received no follow-up. Cooper then called several other ships in the area but none were able to detect the Fitzgerald on radar. CAPT Cooper called the Coast Guard again and expressed concern for the FITZGERALD. CAPT Cooper stated that the Coast Guardsman told him to watch out for a 16-foot boat. Ten minutes later, he called the Coast Guard at Sault Ste. Marie again, "I am very concerned with the welfare of the Steamer EDMUND FITZGERALD. He was right in front of us experiencing a little difficulty. He was taking on a small amount of water and none of the upbound ships have passed him. I can see no lights as before and don't have him on radar. I just hope he didn't take a nose dive." This time the Coast Guard tried calling FITZGERALD without result. Search and Rescue plans were then activated. ============ The first Coast Guard aircraft, an HU-16, was launched at 2206 after a minor delay to put flares on board, and was on scene at 2253. An HH-52, fitted with a Night Sun, an externally mounted, remote controlled, focusable, 3.8 million candlepower, Xenon arc searchlight, was launched at 2223, and was on scene at 0100, 11 November. A second HH-52 was launched at 2249 and was on scene at 0005, 11 November. A Canadian C-130 was launched at 0037. Three vessels, the NAUGATUCK, the Cutter WOODRUSH and a Coast Guard patrol boat responded and began to search the area. At approximately 2100, 10 November, the Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard Group Sault Ste. Marie, MI, requested the Steamer ANDERSON, which by then had reached Whitefish Bay, to reverse course and assist in the search. ANDERSON turned around and was on scene at approximately 0200. At approximately 2230, the Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Group Sault Ste. Marie contacted the U. S. vessels WILLIAM CLAY FORD, WILLIAM R. ROESCH and BENJAMIN F. FAIRLESS and the Canadian vessels FRONTENAC, MURRAY BAY, HILDA MARJANNE and ALGOSOO, which were anchored in or near Whitefish Bay, and requested that they get underway to assist in the search. Of these, only the WILLIAM CLAY FORD (Ford Motor Co.) and the HILDA MARJANNE (Upper

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