For Pacific Radio Amateurs

Conducted by Ex ZK-1-AC/VR-2-AK

this month there is news of Palmyra and nearby Christmas.

Whether the apparent failure of the almyra tuna fishing will cause the with rawal of KP6AK is not yet known—but is probable that he is the present care dter for the Fullard-Leo family of awaii who own most of the islets of the almyra Group. Otto Hornung, KP6AC, as caretaker since World War 11, until ! became ill several years ago and re irned to Honolulu. His place was taken r a non-Ham, Nikita Astafieff, who de irted several months ago (and arrived Wellington, NZ, in the yacht Vaitamba” in January). A letter to P6AK some time ago has so far brought i reply as to latest developments.

QST reported in November that KP6AK is then maintaining skeds with KH6SL Sundays at 0700 GMT in the 14,220- ,240 section of the 20-metre band.

Whether or not Christmas appears on e radio map seems to depend on how »n South Pacific Airlines are able to

mmence their Honolulu-Papeete air

■vice. There is reason to believe it may later than the April target date.

Late January, Phil Palmer, VR3C, re ined to his home base on Fanning, after my months on Burns Philn & Co.’s arby Washington Island plantation, so »uld again be heard maintaining his metre phone skeds with VK and KH6

stations. Across the lagoon Ray, VR3A, is very much in evidence and by now should be appearing on 160 metres, the top-band W boys sending him a crystal to provide them with another DX outlet.

We presume that Adrien, FWBAB, probably returned to New Caledonia from Wallis Island when the “Neo Hebridais II” called in January. On last report he was returning to France. Exit another prefix.

Canton Island has lost two Hams— KB6AO, who has transferred to a CAA job at San Francisco, and KB6AY who has gone to Albuquerque, N. Mex.

Remaining active stations—2o metre CW/phone—are KB6AQ and 6BA. The former should have a new 60 ft. high rotary in operation ere this appears. No VR activity is expected in the foreseeable future from that rock.

Down in Pago Pago. Ray, KS6AB, has been absent on leave in the States for some time. We hear that he will be back for another term soon.

Another Cocos TI-9 expedition was supposed to take place in February, W6MHB and another W being the organisers. Previous Cocos appearance was in December 1953 when W6UXX, operating as TI-9-UXX, made a very brief sortie.

KC6AA, writing to “QST”, reports that there are now 20 licensed stations, six active, in the KC6 area. Latest to qualify

is KC6ZB on Yap. Two, KC6AF and daughter KC6ZA, have now been trans ferred to Hawaii. All active stations are on 20 metres, with KC6AA and KC6UZ also on 40 phone (7,100-7,150 kc/s) and planning soon to appear on 80 CW and 75 phone. For speediest QSLs, airmail to KA QSL Bureau, FEARL, P.O. Box 111, APO 500, c/o P.M., San Francisco.

On the subject of QSL Bureaux, the VK

Call Book listing—repeated in “QST”— of Ray Holloway, ZK-l-AD, as Cook Islands QSL Manager is clearly in error, as Ray has long since departed. More likely is Doug Berry, ZK-l-BG, probably the keenest burner of midnight oil in that area.

Up at Momote Airfield, Frank (now Fit, Sgt.) Anear, VK9WZ, reports that he’s signed for a further term with the hope that he will qualify for DXCC.

Present score is only the half century.

Interesting is his note to “Amateur Radio” that the VK9 boys are now operating a Sunday morning net on 7080 kc/s, with eight regularly appearing.

We note that Geoff Warner, ex-VK6GW,

back in Australia from a trip to Europe since quitting New Guinea, will now be on the air with a VK2 call.

Wake Island has at least three active Hams at present —• Eugene M. Owens, KW6BC, and Chas.

R. Whitfield, KW6BE, both employed by CAA, and James M.

Russ, KW6BI, em ployed by PAA.

According to “QST”

Zm6As, Ex-Zl-L-Ajj,

will be stationed at Apia at least until July, 1956.

To keep the New Guinea record straight the following are a few recent alterations: New Stations: VK9BS, R, A.

Sutherland, Central Avenue, Rabaul; VK9BP, B. P. O’Connor, PO Box 38, Port Moresby; VK9ZAL, R. F. Lloyd, Dept, of Works, Single Men’s Quarters, Paga Hill, Port Moresby; VK9OQ, D. F. Lloyd, c/o. OTC Receiving Station, Port Moresby; VK9TC, T. M. Cole, c/o. RTC, Wewak; VK9VW, G. Stobie, c/o. PO.

Port Moresby. Altered QTH’s: VK9DS,

c/o. DCA, Wewak; VK9WL, c/o. S Rabaul; VK9VG, c/o. P & T Dept., 1 VK9WK, c/o. RTC, Madang.

Cancelled calls; VK9AD; VK9YY (

Vk3Air); Vk9Gw (Now Vk3Avw).

New Norfolk Island station: VK9 G. E. Smith, Weather Office, Nor Island.

Island Hams are invited to send al photos—singles or groups—for use in column.

Operation

TOKELAU: Following the story which appeared in this section in January PIM, we received these photos, which show: Barri, VR2BZ, with prospective Hams.

The gear was inside the missionary’s house. Lower, aerial view, with lagoon in foreground and Pacific Ocean beyond, gives an idea of the slender islets that make up these three Tokelau atolls.

Operation took place here at Nukunono village, from a house to right of the church.