[Milsurplus] Flying Radio Ops and Ham Tests

[Rob Flory]

Charlie wrote:

" The only one that had some reciprocity was the 2nd Class Commercial
Telegraph Operator and Amatuer Extra which both had a 20WPM test, but code
credit was all that was accepted, the tech part, while similar, was not the
same, mainly due to totally different regulations.   "

When I took my Extra test in 1980 the commercial radiotelegraph tests were
offered first that day, and I was bored, so I sat down for the commercial
test.  I recall that it was 25WPM plain text and 20WPM groups.  So, they
were probably giving commercial operators credit for the ham test but not
the other way around.

The written test was a real throwback which included hand-drawing
schematics(of vacuum tube circuits) and block diagrams.  Luckily at that
time it did not include much if anything on solid state as I had learned
mostly from reading old books.  I already had a First Phone ticket and I
think I must have gotten curious about what was on the Radiotelegraph and
looked at that some.  Otherwise I don't know how I would have managed to
invent a block diagram of an Autoalarm Circuit.

That ticket has made a nice wall hanging, but never in a commercial station.
[image: PXL_20250316_100831575-EDIT.jpg]
Back to the military ops, I imagine many went in as hams or hobbyists, and
some who learned in the service took an interest and got their ham ticket
afterwards.  I have met many of each, but don't really have a picture of
the stats.

Check out the story of Norm Dalling here:
https://navy-radio.com/flory/id22.html

73, RF
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