THE GREAT GALLERY - ROOM 54

OPERATION LIBYA L.R.D.G.
2nd June 2008 to 8th June 2008
Colerne

 

It may come as no surprise to some that GB4LRG (Long Range Desert Group) and GB2ASS (Air Support Signals) came on the air in 2008 with much the same crew as our 2007 event but with a few additions to exercise and hone-up our communications skills and we were looking further back to the 1940 decade and the courageous number of servicemen who have perhaps been forgotten in the mists of time except by those of a certain age group along with others who specialise in historical events, transport and equipment of the time.
After some 68 years since the inception of the Long Range Desert Group with Air Support Signals once more we had the full support and permission of the Commanding Officer- currently Lt-Col. David A. Craft - and all ranks of 21 Signal Regiment (Air Support) at the Training Wing and nearby Block 52 at Azimghur Barracks, Colerne, Wiltshire - without them and all previous Commanding Officers these events could not have taken place.
The team (Peter Fletcher GØRGB, Tim Williams G4YVY, John S Dixon MØBZG and Daniel Millan GØOZU (wearing two hats - Editor for the Air Formation Signals Association and the RSARS North West Area Rally Representative - who was collecting the now unused RSARS Display Unit made by the first RSARS Welsh Regional Rally Representative at a Barry ARS Rally in 1986 and used until 2000 when the area was passed on to Syd D. Richards GWØPPG who died in 2007) assembled on a rather dull Monday morning 2nd June 2008 with the threat of rain yet the earnest hope it would keep off until aerials had been attached to and hoisted aloft on two of the three masts that had been sited by S/Sgt Jassie Hodgekinson of the Training Wing. The sudden appearance of the Air Formation Signals Association Chairman Dr. A. David Vickers (a keen short wave listener) early that morning gave the distinct impression of his interest as he had needed a very early start to cover the 200 miles from Southport, however the explanation was that he thought we were starting on the Sunday but had journeyed early! With some persuasion the Guard Room Staff did not send him home but gave him the key to Room 7, one of the 6 in accommodation Block 67 that been put at our disposal for the week.


GW4XKE


G4YVY - SWL Dr. VICKERS - GØRGB
It did start to rain after lunch but we just managed to get the north east by south west 132ft doublet in the air before it started in earnest. We were not so fortunate with the third mast which was moved by Tim Williams and John Dixon to a more suitable site, they were both thoroughly soaked in the process. Peter set-up his station in Block 52 as last year next to the Training Wing his "GØRGB Special" ground plane vertical sited and Tim G4YVY installed in another room and late in the afternoon tests were carried out by Peter on 20m working four stations as GB4LRG, from the Training Wing station, GB4LRG also made 31 contacts via the 80m Net controlled by Alan G4BXQ and we closed down at 20:32 to end our first day.


The masts at Training Wing

Tuesday 3rd June - our first full operating day - and an early start was made though weather conditions were poor overcast and wet. Peter put GB4LRG into action on 20m with a call from Tor in Norway LA6KOA at 07:41 and continued throughout the day and evening at varying periods both on SSB and CW from the location in Block 52. It was a similar story from Tim G4YVY operating from another room one some of the other higher frequency bands. Later in the day we had a considerable improvement in weather conditions and this continued - and it was dry and warm for the rest of our stay at Colerne.
40m and 80m were very productive for GB4LRG throughout our stay with the various operators Dennis GW4XKE, Peter GØRGB, Daniel GØOZU and a surprise visitor Tony Sugdon G3UNC who called in on two evenings. Regrettably Daniel, had to leave after two days due to work commitments. John S. Dixon MØBZG also decided he had to leave due a worsening of his medical condition - and he had a long drive from back to Boston, Lincs. Another visitor was Pat F. Soward the AFS Association Publicity Office who had some items for Daniel for the National Service (RAF) Association Reunion and Parade at the RAF Museum Cosford on 22nd June 2008.


GØRGB and G4YVY


David (SWL) - G4YVY - GØRGB

On Wednesday 4th June the GB2ASS call was activated by Tim G. Williams G4YVY from his station on 40m and 80m both on SSB and CW and was in great demand. Some VHF entries were put in the 2m log book but it was very hard going even with his Yagi (pictured below).

In the following days to the final day Sunday 8th June many stations called us worldwide and managed to get through the pile-ups and showing great interest, we thank them for the patience - especially some of the weaker and low power stations. To sum up the log books indicate that over the period 2nd to 8th June 2008 (less one and a half days, stand to and stand down) some 668 contacts were made. With the QSL cards we have received with SSAE's direct and SWL's indicates some 700 cards will be sent out. This does not include any cards from SWL's to be received via the Bureau. GB4LRG was activated again 1st to 28th July inclusive from another location. Many thanks to you all - with our apology to those we missed or did not hear.

Initial coverage of the above appeared as an article by GW4XKE in "MERCURY" (the Journal of RSARS) No. 150 - July 2008.

Far from being the first (and it highly likely it will not be the last) Special Event amateur radio activity in this context in which Dennis Egan GW4XKE has been deeply involved over the last 12 years this event and many others are detailed in a 4-page downloadable document entitled SPECIAL EVENTS 1989-2008 by GW4XKE at: http://www.rsars.org.uk/ELIBRARY/edocs.htm

RETURN TO CATALOGUE