I
might have known YOU would come up with the scenario
about Suitland Island, Rick.. LOL
It was
just a few months before one of my planned DX trips to the
Pacific area, and I looked into finding out more and
possibly going there on my 1983 trip. My problem at the time
was that the “islands” around KH6 were so far from my 9M6,
9V1 and VS5YY stopping points. Then the ‘pirate’ information
came out in a few weeks. I was SO happy.
This was
about the time I was still DXAC Chairman at the ARRL and had
some “inside info” as did committeeman W0SR, Jim.. We had
worked hard at the time on DXCC rules governing the 225 mile
and 500 mile rules for adding a new DXCC entity and
considered separation by another DXCC entity, pertaining
mainly to Pacific island groups to add as a separate DXCC
counter. Fun days, sorta. Took a lot of our time each week
in correspondence by phone, etc. FUV will know about some of
these deliberations in his review of older data when he got
to his ARRL new job.
Everyone
have a good weekend and keep looking for a “possible new
one” on your maps. Look what W9WNV did to disrupt
things!! The young crowd will not know much about
Don Miller and the crazy days of his arguing with the ARRL
DXCC program about adding a couple of “new ones” to the DXCC
list. Was he there? Did the places exist? Permissions?
He was at a “? place” once that was under water by 100
feet, every hour of every day for centuries!! LOL 😊 He was a Collins collector
(another story) and stayed in jail for many years for issues
with his wife and when he appeared in Visalia a few years
ago at a DX forum, the LARGEST DX forum I have ever
seen happened. You should have heard the crowd
questions of Don and some DXers there still refused to talk
to him… What a day that was. Have 2 photos of Miller and me
together that day..
He was a
friend of sorts, dating back to two Memphis TN visits to a
big-time DXer’s estate in the 1970s. Sorry for long
comments! But minimum DX on now to chase. HI
Rick
AI5P, TU again for your input!!! There an island called “Sweetland”
near Hawaii. Wanna try a trip there??? Only problem is its
being under water 24 hrs a day!! 😃 👍
San YY
Sent from Mail for Windows
San, it was Sept 18-19, 1982. I consider
this the best "pirate"
operation ever pulled off -
they/he/she? even sent out QSL
cards via the buro. Loved the remarks
on the back of the card!
One of the great rumors was that it was
a shipboard operation. Also a CIA
operation since Suitland,
Maryland, was their headquarters (? Not
sure about that).
As far as I know, the ops were never
identified - boy, can
they keep a secret hi.... 73 Rick AI5P