[Qcwa] Ship "Florida"

[Wally Brown]

Joe- Straining my fuzzy memory but perhaps this might be a little
clarification regarding "Florida" background. Back around 1936-38 when I
was W1KIQ in West Medford , MA,  I used to chat alot with W3FPM on 40 cw.
Believe that his name was Angelo Ferrara. Recall that he was looking into
getting a job as radio op on a ship  Some time later, around 39-40, had a
phone call from him saying that he was in port at Boston and would like
to have me visit him, which I did. The ship's name was the "Corsair" and
had belonged to J.P. Morgan, not Vanderbuilt. It was then part of the
U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey Department. At the time they were engaged
in doing coastal surveys. Further recall working the ship on 40 cw a few
times  during 40-41. At that time they were using  a convential  4 letter
"W" call but I don't recall that Angie was operator then. It did become a
military ship during the War. Have not seen him since sometime in the
60's when he stopped at my home, then in Haddonfield NJ when I was W2oqn.
He was then teaching at a Radio school in or near Washington.DC.
 Wonder if this could be the ship that you are referring to and there is
understandable confusion between J.P. Morgan and Vanderbuilt??

Wally Brown,   K1TQ           Email: wallybrown@juno.com