|
Author
|
Topic: Apollo recovery ship QSL radio cards
|
kosmo
Member Posts: 514
From:
Registered: Sep 2001
|
posted 03-23-2021 07:04 AM
  
I thought cS members would enjoy seeing this Apollo 10 recovery radio card and prime recovery ship envelope. Does anyone have any information they can share on the radio card? I have never seen one of these. 
|
Dave_Johnson
Member Posts: 143
From:
Registered: Feb 2014
|
posted 03-23-2021 04:04 PM
The QSL card is confirming a ham radio contact between James Bowden, callsign W2LD (likely in New Jersey) and Robert Jensen - W6VGQ (presumably on board the USS Princeton). The contact was made on May 19 1969, just before 2 AM PDT/5 AM EDT. The frequency for the contact was in the 14 MHz band, and it was a voice contact between James and Robert, with a good signal that was easily readable on the ship. The note indicated that the confirmation card was sent well after the contact was made, as Robert did not have a ham operator callbook on board the Princeton. The ham callbook was a printed directory of all U.S. licensed ham operators that was produced each year (similar to a telephone directory). It also appears that, based on the note, the ham operation was OK'd at the last minute, which is why there was no callbook on board. |
kosmo
Member Posts: 514
From:
Registered: Sep 2001
|
posted 03-23-2021 06:59 PM
Wow, thank you for all the good info, I knew if I posted this card, I would find out something about it. Thanks again. |
yeknom-ecaps
Member Posts: 794
From: Northville MI USA
Registered: Aug 2005
|
posted 03-23-2021 07:47 PM
So how would a ham radio contact work from the ship? Didn't Robert Jensen need antenna, etc.? |
Dave_Johnson
Member Posts: 143
From:
Registered: Feb 2014
|
posted 03-23-2021 09:20 PM
Since the ship would already have a radio room and the necessary communications equipment, including the antenna, the operator would likely use that, with permission of course. The permission apparently was granted at the last minute, as indicated on the card.It's also possible that the amateur radio equipment was brought on board and setup for temporary use, again using the ship's antennas. Since that might prove a bit disruptive, it's most likely that the ship's equipment was used. |
yeknom-ecaps
Member Posts: 794
From: Northville MI USA
Registered: Aug 2005
|
posted 03-23-2021 10:21 PM
Thanks — interesting to know the US Navy would grant permission to the the ham operators to use the ship's equipment. |
Dave_Johnson
Member Posts: 143
From:
Registered: Feb 2014
|
posted 03-24-2021 10:56 AM
You're welcome. I can't say for sure what the exact setup was, but since there were ham radio operators from NBC, NASA and the Navy, as indicated on the front of the QSL card, it was obviously a coordinated effort, and any access by non-Navy personnel was likely strictly supervised. |
kosmo
Member Posts: 514
From:
Registered: Sep 2001
|
posted 03-24-2021 07:17 PM
Did all the operators use the same card or was this something that was made personally? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 49805
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 03-24-2021 09:35 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Dave_Johnson:
It's also possible that the amateur radio equipment was brought on board and setup for temporary use...
This suggests that was the case, from a description of the network TV coverage aboard the recovery ships: [A] common sight aboard recovery carriers was the Mutual Broadcasting System's unit, a green 1965 Ford Econoline van.Mutual Radio furnished radio commentary, orderwire facilities and transmitted facsimile photographs by HF to RCA San Francisco during recovery operations. Additionally, Mutual Radio conducted amateur radio operations and completed telephone patches for crew members. |
Dave_Johnson
Member Posts: 143
From:
Registered: Feb 2014
|
posted 03-24-2021 10:54 PM
quote:
Originally posted by kosmo:
Did all the operators use the same card or was this something that was made personally?
Yes, all of the operators would use the same card. The printing of multiple callsigns on it was for this reason, and simplified the production and use of the card, as only 1 design was needed.
|
Dave_Johnson
Member Posts: 143
From:
Registered: Feb 2014
|
posted 03-24-2021 11:10 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
This suggests that was the case...
Thanks Robert. Yes, the picture of the interior of the van would seem to confirm that. |
Eddie Bizub
Member Posts: 121
From: Kissimmee, FL USA
Registered: Aug 2010
|
posted 03-24-2021 11:21 PM
As a space cover collector it is very interesting to note that the envelope that the QSL card was mailed in is the same envelope design used for the Captain's Cover usually postmarked for the recovery. |
Ross
Member Posts: 522
From: Australia
Registered: Jul 2003
|
posted 03-25-2021 09:47 AM
The following scan from my website shows another Apollo 10 QSL Ham Radio Card which sold on eBay during 2015.Aa can be seen it is from a different operator.  |
kosmo
Member Posts: 514
From:
Registered: Sep 2001
|
posted 03-25-2021 02:51 PM
It’s nice to see another one of these, attractive, informative little pieces of history. Thanks to everyone for providing info on these, its much appreciated. |
kosmo
Member Posts: 514
From:
Registered: Sep 2001
|
posted 01-17-2023 05:03 PM
Another interesting QSL radio card, this one from the USS Hornet and the Apollo 11 recovery. 
|
advertisement