KG6FAA
Ham Radio in Paradise
Andersen Air Force Base
Guam 1951 - 1953
This was Amateur Radio Station
KG6FAA in 1952. Of Course, I'm biased, 
but
I considered it to be one of the top "Ham" stations in
the world. Located on Andersen Air Force Base, at the northeast
tip of the island of Guam, the station's mission was to gather
military service personnel's messages from all over the Far East
and send them, along with the messages from Air Force personnel
on Guam, to the United States. This was a free service. The usual
"traffic load" would be at least 100 messages sent to,
and received from the States daily, but during the holiday
seasons that number soared. All stateside traffic was handled on
CW (Morse code). The station also functioned as a
"back-up" for the usual military nets in case of
emergency. KG6FAA served its purpose well.
The station equipment featured a
Collins 310-B driving one of two modified military BC-610
transmitters. The Chief Operator could select for his receiver a
Hammarlund Super-Pro, a National HRO, or, as shown here, a
Collins 75-A2, with an RME DB-22A Preselector. But the real star
of the station was a three-curtain rhombic antenna, up 90 feet in
the air and aimed 47 degrees, making the KG6FAA signal extremely
strong and reliable for 40 meter CW contacts with stateside
civilian stations WØTQD, W6KYV, and W5MN. This made possible the
daily exchange of message traffic. The other antennas were
a 4 element Yagi beam for 10 meters and a 3 element Yagi beam for
20 meters. These were the only Amateur frequency bands
available to us on Guam during those years. The 20 meter
beam was used to handle messages to and from the Phillipines,
Japan, and Okinawa. We used the 10 and 20 meter bands for
"phone patches" to the States, allowing GI's to talk
with the folks at home.
No story of KG6FAA
would be complete without due credit to Clem Coggin. This is Clem
at the first operating position of KG6FAA. Clem was almost solely
responsible for the birth of the station. Through his efforts,
ingenuity, persistance and focus, not only did the station come
into being, but it's mission was established as a vital morale
link between the U.S. Servicemen stationed in the Far East, and
their families "back home." Note the surplus aircraft
"command" transmitter used as a VFO for the
transmitter. The "AI4AA" posted above the receiver was
the MARS call sign of the station.
One of the hidden
advantages of being "Chief Operator" was the private
room in the back of the station. That's the bunk on the right,
complete with mosquito netting cover. The white blob at the foot
of the bed is a bath towel. The radio was always tuned to Armed
Forces Radio - our only broadcast station. The fan mounted on the
wall was the only "air conditioning" but it wasn't bad.
After about two weeks, the body adjusted to the climate, and a
person didn't even perspire much.
To the east and just across the street from
the Ham Station was Boondock Haven, a USO Service Club. No liquor
was served there. But they had activities such as leathercraft
classes, cards, and bingo. They also had very comfortable
lounge chairs, cold soft drinks, plenty of reading material, and
a relaxed atmosphere. The door to the right was the entry to
"Charlie Corn's Restaurant" where for 90 cents you
could get a breaded veal cutlet, sliced as thin as a worn dime,
served with french-fried potatoes, or perhaps you would have
preferred one of the worlds largest donuts. They sank to the
bottom of the stomach and just lay there for hours, like a lead
weight.
THE CAST OF
CHARACTERS: Some of those I
remember (and would like to get in touch with): Russ (Earl
Russell), Al Nilges, Clem Coggin (N5XA) who built the station,
Lyle Quinn (WØTQD then, and now WØUS), Dave (W6KYV), Horace
Mann (W5MN), Capt. Stanley Wozniak, George Costa, Bill Hilton,
Jim Hindt, "Pinky" Davis, "Doc" (A Navy Chief
Pharmacist Mate), "Rummy" Romberger (A Navy Chief),
Wayne Carroll (Now "QSL's by W4MPY"), Peanut,
Otis, Cpl. Larry Dodd, Little Joe from the Chaplin's Office, and
Big Joe from the Receiver Site..
I
have been in contact with Russ, Wayne, Lyle, and George. If you
know about any of the others, or would like to talk about
"the old days" PLEASE contact me at W4UTI@arrl.net.
In the picture below, can you
identify any of the Hams who were on Guam in 1951? The
photo was taken at the "Christmas picnic." If so,
PLEASE let me know.
73,
Karl - W4UTI
Please
come back soon! The winds are always warm
and
welcoming in the Paradise of the Pacific.
