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[HCDX] Air Marti 530 kc/s QSL'ed
FLORIDA AIRSPACE Radio Martí relay (via the Pennsylvania Air National Guard's
193rd Special Operations Wing's EC-130J Commando Solo aircraft), 530 kHz.
I just QSL'ed this one, and can now add it to my "Radio Democratie" (1035 kHz)
QSL's from when this one was operating over Haiti in 1994. (NOTE: both 530 and
1035 were logged at my location in Clearwater, Florida.) Prepared cards for two
2006 receptions were signed by Sgt. Gallager while attending MacDill Air Force
Base's (usually) annual Airfest 2007 open house/air show, on March 31st, 2007.
Sgt. Gallagher has been on the flights for awhile; he's the only one still
present who flew with Lt. Col. Zambo (which is was what broke the ice on getting
my QSL's signed). It also didn't hurt that I brought my "Radio Democratie"
QSL's to show them that they really do and can verify!
I recognized Gallagher from prior visits to Airfest when one of the EC-130E's
was present, so he was my target. It was set up with an initial visit at about
0915 local where I disclosed how much I knew about the operations, that I would
like to QSL, and had some previously signed materials to show them back in the
car. My second visit after 1200 local was the deal closer.
Apparently Lt. Col. Zambo is something of a legend, because my cards were
circulated and a couple of the crew said, "Oh wow, Zambo..."-type quotes. I was
asked if I have seen Zambo recently, as if they thought I somehow personally
knew him! It seemed like there was an implication he lives in or visits Florida
since his retirement. I was also asked if I had a business card (but of course;
I have my Tocobaga Publications monitoring card) as Gallagher was very
interested in my monitoring. He was quite amazed anyone outside of the Habana
area could hear 530 kHz, and seemed unaware of the Cuban channel blocker.
Another factoid culled: he confirmed they trained the new "private" firm in
carrying forth the Air Martí operations. It was another one of those "I can't
tell you" vs. "Well, it had to be you guys" and the comeback, "Well, I believe
you've figured it all out"-type statements.
I specifically asked about the Martí signal feed source and got a "cannot
comment" reply. So, I then said that it must be a satellite capture, since
there is only a second or less delay between Greenville and them. The reply was
essentially, "You know quite a bit and you've already figured it all out."
Also, it was confirmed that virtually all the equipment in the new EC-130J's are
the same equipment -- relocated -- that was in the E model.
The best I got out of the flight path was that it was (presume still is, with
the new "private" flyers) within legal US (Florida) airspace and generally west
of Key West. And still using the bottom-weighed wire for MW.
The funny part is that I affixed my two QSL reports statements to: (card 1) a
postcard from Cuba of the Habana skyline, and (card b) an old anti-Castro
cartoon postcard bought years ago in Miami's Little Havana. Sgt. Gallager
looked at them, quietly chuckled to himself, pulled out a portable desktop from
under some radio gear near the center of the plane and signed away.
The aircraft (one of three active in the PsyOps 193rd, I was told) was very dark
inside, as no field generator was connected. The crew was superb, even the
younger ones that never participated in any "Air Martí" missions. Unlimited
photographing was allowed inside and outside. They hoisted little kids up on a
small fold-down bunk seat near the aft door, let parents take photos and were
very open -- as much they could be -- with everyone passing through the airframe
interior and cockpit. Nothing like the old days when best you could do is
photograph the exterior and the interior was closed. Upon the next Airfest
appearance, they allowed quick walk-throughs but no interior photos.
Outside the aircraft, the 193rd was selling a "Challenge" coin ($8), depicting
the "193 Spec Ops Squadron Psycho Warfare", and a 4-inch cloth embroidered
flight jacket patch ($5) depicting "1977 - EC-130E - 2006 - Volant Solo/Commando
Solo" with an image of the aircraft and showing the tail-mounted antenna ($5)
and a round "Psyco Warriors - Never Seen - Always Heard" bumper decal ($1).
Bought one patch, and five of the bumper decals, the latter for random
distribution.
***********************************************************
Terry L Krueger
Clearwater, Florida
USA
27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W
Visit my "Florida Low Power Radio Stations" at:
http://home.earthlink.net/~tocobagadx/flortis.html
or:
http://www.geocities.com/geigertree/flortis.html
***********************************************************
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