[ADXA] Article - AI5P - Kingman Reef

[Richard Harris]

Glenn - for your use as you need. Please let me know when you
get OK. 73, Rick

>From the QSL Shoebox - Rick, AI5P

Most of our ADXA members will have Kingman Reef confirmed. Certainly
a tough place to activate! The reef was discovered by the American
sailing Captain Edmund Fanning, who also discovered Fanning Island, in
1798. It was named
after Captain W.G. Kingman who visited and described the reef in 1853. It is
about 9 by 5 miles in area but with the only dry land area being small
and narrow
strips composed of coral rubble and giant clamshells about 3-5 feet above
sea level.

It was claimed in 1860 by the United States Guano Company under the
name "Danger Reef." It was annexed by the U.S. in 1922 and in 1934 the
Navy assumed jurisdiction. The lagoon was used in 1937-38 as a halfway
station between Hawaii and American Samoa by Pan American Airways
flying boats.
In 2000, the Navy relinquished its control over to the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service. In 2009, Kingman Reef became part of the Pacific
Remote Islands Marine National Monument (along with Palmyra Atoll,
Howland Island, Baker Island,
Jarvis Island, Johnson Atoll, and Wake Island).

 In 1974 the first DXpedition took place as KP6KR and the last
operation was by K5K in 2000.  The first DXpedition, by today's
mega-DXpeditions, was certainly
more austere.  Four operators, two transceivers, one amp, with two verticals.
Only operating 40-10 meters (No WARC Bands then!). They operated for
29 hours and 43 minutes with a total of 5,535 contacts - but I think
that's darn good operating!

In 2016, Kingman Reef was placed on the DXCC "Deleted" list. The ARRL
deemed it a part of the Palmyra and Jarvis entity due to the proximity
of the islands and the common administration of the islands by the
Fish and Wildlife Service. Credit for contacts are from March 29,
2016, and before.

The example of the KP6KR QSL is for a contact with K2BT on July 1st, 1974,
on 20 meters SSB.

The QSL example from the last Kingman Reef operation in 2000 is for
a contact on October 27 with AI5P on 30 meters CW.
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