[ARC5] Ham Radio Intercept of military Comminciations

[Robert Eleazer]

I believe that we have mention it here before, but a ham radio operator in Virginia did intecept Africa Korps comm early in WWII, leading to the creation of Vint Hill Station outside of Wash DC as a radio intercept station and, eventually, as a CIA training site.  It even had a BX and commissary that was used by the military families living in some of the outer suburbs.  Vint Hill Station was closed down in the 1990's.

As for other ham intercepts, remember that SW listening was discouraged in WWII and many of the better quality commercial SW receivers were taken by the government for its own use.  Considering that the air over the USA was alive with many thousands of aircraft, and the associated radio communications must have been quite extensive, I find it remarkable that I have never heard anyone recall listening to that comm at their home.

In the late 90's my brother lived in a very small town in very rural SC.  One day one of the sons of his neigbors got permission to do a fly-by with a B-1 bomber.  Later they found out the B-1 crew had their HF radio set to CB freqs, looking for the opportunity to chat with people in the area during the fly-by.  Don't know if modern military aircraft HF radios have an AM function in addition to SSB.

Wayne
WB5WSV