[Milsurplus] SAC Radio CDommunications

[C Whitaker]

de WB2CPN                 2005.05.18

Eielson AFB in Alaska, 26 miles SW of Fairbanks, was the
location of the north-most major HF station in the Globecom,
(or whatever name it migrated into), network.  This network
extended over most of the northern hemisphere.  I was a
party to installing the ones at Andrews, Elmendorf, and
Eielson.  Time frame 1954 and 1955.  Later on I was associated
with the one at Kadena.  SSB did not catch on until about
1959 for SAC aircraft, and CW was the mode of choice for
weather recon, (Ptarmigan, Loon and Gull).  SAC Sky King messages
really started with SSB and their KWT-6, although there was some
blind CW before.  The omnidirectional HF antennas were not very
good.  I designed a few single-frequency low-angle verticals that
let us work the Ptarmigan flights all the way down to Shemia,
then back up to Fairbanks by way of Point Barrow.

73  Clete