HG1848I QSL Card

Back on 10 October 2008, I worked HG1848I, a Hungarian special event station in memory of the Hungarian War of Independence. I have to admit that the callsign threw me for a loop because it's unusual to hear an amateur radio callsign with that many numbers in it. After discovering what the station was, I couldn't wait for the QSL. The QSL arrived in the mail today and it is a terrific card.




Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

B-17G 'City of Savannah' arrives at the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum

From today's Savannah Morning News:

On Dec. 3, 1944, a rare pause interrupted the assembly line at Hunter Field as soldiers and civilians gathered on the flight line to christen one of the gleaming B-17Gs as the City of Savannah.

The whole article can be read here. An article about the Might Eighth Air Force Museum's plans for the B-17 can read here.

When I read the Savannah Morning News at lunch today, I noticed a story about a B-17G fuselage being delivered to the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum at noon today. After lunch, I grabbed by camera, the BC-396, and the FT-50 and headed out to the Museum. I arrived as the arrival ceremony was ending and hung around to watch them remove the fuselage from the flatbed and the movement of some of the pieces.

All Coast Aircraft Recovery and Les Chapman Transport moved the B-17. All Coast Aircraft Recovery will also be doing the reassembly of the aircraft.

I did not see a serial or tail number on the fuselage or wing sections. I never did see the tail, but the serial will probably be on it. The aircraft did have a tail number, though: N66571.

Watching the movement was fascinating. To remove the fuselage from the flatbed, they used a crane from Tim's Cranes and Rigging to lift the fuselage up in the air. They then drove the truck out from underneath and set it down on wheels that were affixed to the fuselage. The tail rested on a 4x4 underneath the tailwheel assembly. A forklift was being used to move the wing sections around. During the first wing section move, they had to move some fencing around one of the museum's HVAC units. Apprarently one of the fence posts caught an undergound water line as it came out and caused a leak. This put a delay in the works and they were trying to stop the leak when I left.

I can't wait to see the aircraft assembled an put on display inside. It will be wonderful to have a restored B-17 in Savannah! More photos that I took of the move and the B-17 can be found here.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

VMFA(AW)-224 Deploys to Japan This Week

According to news reports from WSAV and WTOC in Savannah, VMFA(AW)-224 deploys to Japan for a six month rotation this week. Approximately 20 personnel departed today with the bulk of the squadron to follow later in the week. I was not around the radios today, so I didn't hear if the squadron's F/A-18s departed or if it was an advance party that departed.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

HF Antenna Problems

I'll be off the air for HF utility monitoring and amateur radio operating for a short while. We've got some unknown problems with the G5RV and it is going to have to be replaced. At this point, the suspicion is that the problem is either in the balun between the twin lead and the coax or in the coax or twin lead itself.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Silent Key - Bill Faust, AD4AZ

This morning, I received terrible news from Steve Jonas, W4SDJ. Bill Faust, AD4AZ passed away in his sleep last night. It is surprise news, as Bill was at the Coastal Amateur Radio Society meeting last night and appeared to be well.

Bill was one of the first who congratulated me and welcomed me to HF when I upgraded to General last year. When I was doing packet on 2 Meters not long after I was originally licensed, he was one of the first packet contacts I had.

My condolences to Bill's family and friends. He was a respected member of the Savannah amateur radio community; he will be missed.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Amateur Radio Kid's Day

As soon as I got home from work this afternoon, I checked HF conditions and tried to get my 7 year old nephew Kaleb on the air for Kid's Day. 20 Meters was still open, so I tried to hunt down some stations. Not hearing any, I started calling CQ and got three stations for Kaleb to talk to: W5HFS in Austin,TX, W1WWX in Orange, MA, and VE3ZYN in Toronto, Ontario. My father Mac (Jr.), AF4KL was showing Kaleb where he was talking to in an Atlas and giving him an idea of the distance to thoses stations.



I think Kaleb was pretty impressed with getting to talk to stations outside of the local area, particularly to Canada! Hopefully we're growing an interest in radio with him and developing another radio hobbyist...


Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Military Monitoring Recap; 16-31 December 2008

Hunter AAF
124.975 - Tower
279.575 - Tower
285.425 - Tower
121.800 - Ground
291.675 - Ground
126.200 - Base Ops
309.000 - PMSV
406.1625 - Tower/Base Ops
406.7625 - POL
415.1625 - Trans Alert
44.475 - FARP/Hot Refuel
54.500 - 1-3 AVN "VIPER OPS"
38.275 - 1-3 AVN air-to-air
54.600 - 2-3 AVN "KNIGHTHAKW OPS"
36.100 - 2-3 AVN air-to-air
51.375 - 3-17 CAV Internal
49.700 - 4-3 AVN "ASSAULT OPS"
30.300 - 4-3 AVN
38.150 - B-169 AVN "HURRICANE OPS"
345.000 - USCG Air Station Savanah Ops
157.175 - Marine VHF Ch. 83, Savannah Air MX Control
323.125 - Hunter AAF ATIS
127.525 - Hunter AAF ATIS (New)

ARMY 25287 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 25291 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 25293 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 25305 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 25306 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 35354 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 35377 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 35391 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 35399 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 35415 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 26260 (UH-60L, A/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 26271 (UH-60L, A/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 26555 (UH-60L, A/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 26558 (UH-60L, A/2-3 AVN)
HOOKER ## (CH-47D, B/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 23999 (UH_60A, C/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 24456 (UH-60A, C/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 24635 (UH-60A, C/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 24637 (UH-60A, C/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 24749 (UH-60A, C/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 30955 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 30966 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
RMY 40053 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 50015 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 26478 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26512 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26521 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26542 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26543 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26633 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 27039 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 27040 (UH_60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 27065 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 27068 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 27075 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26489 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 03761 (MH-47G, 3-160 SOAR)
SUNNY ## (RC-12N, 224 MI Bn)
GUARD 249 (CH-47D, B-169 AVN)
GUARD 252 (CH-47D, B-169 AVN)
HURRICANE ## (CH-47D, B-169 AVN)
TESTHAWK ## (H-60, OLR)
COAST GUARD 6548 (HH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6553 (HH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6575 (HH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6581 (HH-65C, Savannah)
GUARD 27012 (UH-60L, 1-171 AVN)
KING 15 (HC-130, 71 RQS)
MOON 29 (T-1)
NAVY HP 450 (SH-60, HSL-44)
PELICAN 96 (P-3C, VP-45)


Savannah IAP/CRTC
119.100 - Tower
257.800 - Tower
121.900 - Ground
348.600 - Ground
120.400 - Approach/Departure
353.775 - Approach/Departure
125.300 - Approach/Departure
371.875 - Approach/Departure
118.400 - Approach/Departure
307.225 - Approach/Departure
225.750 - 165th AW CP
225.050 - 165th AW
128.925 - Gulfstream Service Center

DAWG ## (C-130H, 165 AW)
GULF TEST ## (Gulfstream Test Flights)


Fort Stewart/Wright AAF
127.350 - Marne Radio
279.626 - Marne Radio
126.250 - Wright AAF Tower
269.275 - Wright AAF Tower


MCAS Beaufort
328.425 - Approach/Departure
292.125 - Approach/Departure
281.800 - Base Ops
264.500 - PMSV
361.800 - VMFA-115 Base
339.500 - VMFA-115 Tac 1
225.675 - VMFA-115 Tac 2
344.200 - VMFA(AW)-224 Base
250.300 - VMFA(AW)-224 Tac 1
258.900 - VMFA(AW)-224 Tac 2
313.800 - VMFA(AW)-251 Base
290.000 - VMFA-251 Tac 1
327.475 - VMFA-251 Tac 2
228.200 - VMFA-312 Base
301.950 - VMFA-312 Tac 1
320.300 - VMFA-312 Tac 2
310.200 - VMFA(AW)-533 Base
299.300 - VMFA(AW)-533 Tac 2
348.825 - VMFA(AW)-533 Tac 3
354.400 - VFA-86 Base
308.925 - VFA-86 Tac 1
363.825 - VFA-86 Tac 2
268.300 - VMFT-401 Tac
300.550 - VMFT-401 Tac
313.850 - VMFT-401 Tac

BLADE 2# (F/A-18C, VMFA-115)
BENGAL 4# (F/A-18D, VMFA-224)
TBOLT 5# (F/A-18C, VMFA-251)
CHECK 6# (F/A-18C, VMFA-312)
HAWK 8# (F/A-18D, VMFA-533)
WINDER ## (F/A-18C, VFA-86)
SNIPER ## (F-5, VMFT-401)


Charleston AFB
306.925 - Charleston App/Dep
349.400 - Charleston AFB "PALMETTO OPS"
134.100 - Charleston AFB "PALMETTO OPS"
372.200 - Charleston AFB PTD
118.150 - North Field CCT
235.775 - North Field CCT

GRITS ## (C-17, 437th/315th AW)
LIFTR ## (C-17, 437th/315th AW
BOEING 32 (C-17, Depot)
OPEC (KC-10, 108 ARW)
RULER (C-17, 172 AW)


Shaw AFB
273.700 - 77th FS "GAMBLER OPS"
138.200 - 77th FS air-to-air
139.825 - 77th FS air-to-air
139.975 - 77th FS air-to-air
140.375 77th FS Aux 9
143.800 - 77th FS air-to-air
320.525 - 79th FS Ops "TIGER OPS"
139.925 - 79th FS air-to-air
141.600 - 79th FS air-to-air
141.700 - 79th FS air-to-air

DECK ## (F-16CM, 77th FS)
DIAMOND ## (F-16CM, 77th FS)
FUSH ## (F-16CM, 77th FS)
GREASY ## (F-16CM, 77th FS)
JACKPOT ## (F-16CM, 77th FS)
MIRAGE (F-16CM, 77th FS)
NAIL (F-16CM, 77th FS)
POKER ## (F-16CM, 77th FS)
TRUMP ## (F-16CM, 77th FS)
BRONCO ## (F-16CM, 79th FS)
DEADLY ## (F-16CM, 79th FS)
PROWL ## (F-16CM, 79th FS)
TIGER ## (F-16CM, 79th FS)


McIntire JNGB
298.300 - 169th FW "SWAMP FOX OPS"
141.825 - 169th FW V14
143.250 - 169th FW V16
141.925 - 169th FW V17
140.125 - 169th FW V18

MACE ## (F-16CM, 169th FW)
DEMON ## (F-16CM, 169th FW)
HEAT ## (F-16CM, 169th FW)


Robins AFB/JSTARS
293.525 - 116th ACW "PEACHTREE OPS"
225.725 - JSTARS Discrete
276.075 - JSTARS Discrete
318.300 - JSTARS Discrete?
328.025 - JSTARS Discrete
335.975 - JSTARS Discrete?
341.750 - JSTARS Discrete
372.150 - JSTARS Discrete
381.000 - JSTARS Discrete
395.150 - JSTARS Discrete

PEACH 06 (E-8C, 128th ACCS)
ALLEYCAT E-8C backend, 128th ACCS)
PEACH 3# (E-8C, 330th CTS)
STARGATE (E-8C backend, 330th CTS)
PEACH 6# (E-8C, 16th ACCS)
STRIKESTAR (E-8C, 16th ACCS)


Ranges/Military Operating Areas
119.225 - Townsend Range
228.400 - Townsend Range
252.900 - Townsend Range
343.750 - Bulldog MOA
264.700 - Poinsett Range Control


SEALORD (USN FACSFAC Jax)
120.950 - North Primary
284.500 - North Primary
267.500 - South Primary
313.700 - North Secondary
385.300 - W-157 Discrete
376.900 - W-157 Discrete
349.800 - W-157 Discrete
350.675 - N. TACTS Range
327.400 - Aerial Refueling in W-157 during exercise
335.975 - used in W-157 during exercise


DOUBLESHOT (W-161/177)
127.725 - Primary
279.725 - Primary
258.400 - Discrete
381.350 - Discrete


Miscellaneous
BACKY ## (KC-135, 916 ARW)
DOOM 92 (B-52H, 2nd BW)
FLASH 01 (KC-135, unknown)
NAVY LN 452 (P-3C, VP-45)
PELICAN ## (P-3C, VP-45)
SPAD (A-10, 23rd FG)
SPARTA 0# (A-10, 23rd FG)

364.200 - NORAD AICC
310.200 - NAS Jacksonville Base Ops
143.600 - 23rd FG air-to-air


ARTCC
256.900 - Jax Center
269.550 - Jax Center Columbia Low
277.400 - Jax Center Brunswick Low
281.550 - Jax Center Columbia Low
282.200 - Jax Center Jekyll Low
282.300 - Jax Center Alma High
285.650 - Jax Center Statesboro High
290.400 - Jax Center Waycross Low
319.200 - Jax Center Aiken High
322.500 - Jax Center Savannah Low
346.250 - Jax Center St. Augustine
351.700 - Jax Center Summerville High
363.200 - Jax Center Allendale Low
370.950 - Jax Center Georgetown High
379.100 - Jax Center Charleston Low

323.000 - Atlanta Center Macon

255.400 - Flight Service


Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net