A peer-reviewed article on the Edmund Fitzgerald storm was published in the Bulletin of the @ametsoc.org by Hultquist et al. in 2006. Free access available via the link below. 2/2 🧪

Ten months before he passed in 2023, I got to see Gordon Lightfoot perform in Richmond, Virginia.

Postponed a handful of times over a few years, I was glad to see the man behind this and many other masterful songs perform live.

Yet, nothing carried the weight more than the tribute to the Fitz.

While debris was found and recovered, including life rafts and both of the Edmund Fitzgerald's lifeboats, no crew members were ever found. She had taken all 29 crew with her to the bottom of Lake Superior. 37/

The Arthur M Anderson came about to search for the Fitzgerald and any survivors. The William Clay Ford also voluntarily left safe harbor in Whitefish Bay to participate in the search.

They were eventually joined by USCG aircraft and a USCG helicopter. 36/

There are recordings on YouTube of the conversation between the USCG and the Arthur M Anderson as the Anderson reported the Fitzgerald missing and the USCG asked if the Anderson could go back out to look for her. 35/

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zp9s...

At 8:32PM, the Arthur M Anderson made contact with the US Coast Guard to report that the Edmund Fitzgerald was missing, and may have suffered a casualty.

At 9:00PM, the USCG asked the Arthur M Anderson if they could turn around and go back to search for the Fitzgerald. 34/

From 7:20 to 8:30, the Anderson tried in vain to reach the Fitzgerald on VHF-FM radiotelephone. There was no response.

The Anderson then contacted the SS William Clay Ford, anchored in Whitefish bay, to see if they could see any sign of the Fitzgerald.

There was none. 33/

Although lights on the shore 20 miles away and the lights of a vessel 19 miles away could be seen, there was no sign of the Edmund Fitzgerald, which should have been approximately 10 miles ahead of the Arthur M Anderson. 32/

The Anderson next checked her radar at 7:20PM. There was no radar contact with the Edmund Fitzgerald.

At the same time, a snow squall lifted, and visibility greatly improved. 31/

"We are holding our own" was the last transmission ever sent by the Edmund Fitzgerald.

"And later that night when his lights went outta sight, came the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" 30/

7:10 PM EST:

ANDERSON: "Oh, by the way, how are you making out with your problems?"

FITZGERALD: "We are holding our own."
29/

7:10 PM EST:

ANDERSON "There is a target 19 miles ahead of us, so the target is 9 miles on ahead."

FITZGERALD "Well, am I going to clear?"

ANDERSON "Yes, he is going to pass to the west of you."

FITZGERALD "Well, fine." 28/

At 7:00 PM EST, the Anderson advised the Fitzgerald that she was 10 miles ahead and 1- 1.5 miles left (east) of Anderson's heading.

At 7:10 PM EST, the Anderson advised the Fitzgerald of lake traffic 9 miles ahead of the Fitzgerald. 27/