ALLIED ARMED FORCES(ETC.) RADIO STATIONS.

by (retired)Lt.Martin Swenson.©

Updated December 5th, 2016.

Dedicated to all the brave men and women who are now or have ever served in the Allied Forces.

Sponsored by North Atlantic Committee and DXLC, DX-Listeners’ Club Norway.

Note: The Listener Loggings sections/signatures are from DX-Radio Sweden unless otherwise indicated.

“I was given my first radio as a Christmas present in 1945. One of the first receivers to be manufactured after the war it was a utility model made of polished white wood and had a rudimentary metal plate with no glass in front of it. It could receive only the Medium Waveband, but I was delighted to discover what an enormous number of American Military stations it could pick up. I listened to American Expeditionary Stations located in Italy; the numerous American Forces Network outposts in France and Germany, and the unforgettable Blue Danube Network from Austria which seemed to be run entirely by cowboys judging by the amount of C&W music they used to play! I quickly found out how easy it was to get name-checks and record requests on these stations, a thing almost impossible to do in my own country at that time.”[1]

“AFN Europe dates back to World War II when the network began broadcasting from London at 05.45 pm on July 4th, 1943. Using BBC emergency facilities, the first radio broadcasts included less than five hours of recorded shows, a BBC newscast and a sportscast.

AFN London-part of the Armed Forces Radio Service-used land lines and five regional transmitters to reach U.S.troops in the United Kingdom. During the next 11 months, AFN broadcast day expanded to 19 hours, 50 additional transmitters were installed(Including six in Northern Ireland) and six more soldiers joined the original staff of seven broadcasters and technicians. Because Nazi “buzz bombs” kept knocking the station off the air, AFN London moved from its original BBC studios at 11 Carlos Place to 80 Portland Place in May 1944. As D-Day approached, AFN combined with the BBC and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to form the Allied Expeditionary Forces Programme.

On June 6, 1944, AFN personnel accompanied the invasion force when allied troops stormed ashore in France. After the invasion, the combined forces broadcasting operation disbanded, and AFN began broadcasting from near the rapidly moving allied frontline. Mobile stations complete with personnel and records were deployed to broadcast music and news to the troops in the field and feed news reports back to studio locations in London.

The liberation of Belgium, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands saw AFN stations at Paris, Nice, Marseilles, Rheims, Le Havre, Cannes and Biarritz. Although the network’s administrative headquarters remained in London, its operational headquarters moved to AFN Paris. When Germany surrendered in May 1945, the network had grown to some 700 people and 63 stations scattered throughout Central Europe.” [2]

Other sources indicate the number of stations from England to North Africa to be 68 at the end of hostilities in the ETO, the European War theatre.[3] The original 5 transmitters of AFN London had, according to the same sources, a power of 50 watts.

AFRS, The American Forces Radio Service, had been established on May 23rd, 1942 in the USA, and the first AFRS station was WVCQ, Kodiak, Alaska, that same year, the start of the AFRN, Alaska Radio Network.However another source mentions 1941 as the start.[4] US soldiers in Kodiak had assembled a low power transmitter and put it on the air for entertainment purposes. WVCQ left the air permanently on January 22th, 1987, from 960 kHz.[5]

1.AFN LONDON.

Let us then turn to the mother station of AFRS stations in the European, North Africa and Middle East area, AFN London. Its final sign-off was Dec. 31st, 1945. There are many fascinating sides to this station. I will concentrate on frequencies and the sites.

The channels used were 1375, 1402, 1411, 1420 and 1447 kHz. This is according to “Stars and Stripes”, and two of these, which may be the initial ones, 1402 and 1420 are also mentioned in the excellent book: BBC Engineering 1922-1972.[6] It is uncertain whether this means that all sites had synchronized programming. Even with that low wattage on each site, it is almost certain that such a set-up would create heterodynes. The question if there were local studios at the transmitter sites is unsolved.

The first weeks saw the schedule starting with SSB, Star-Sprangled Banner at 5.45 pm, and a sign-off prochedure at 11.00 pm. Later, this was to be extended. Some of the programme material was syndicated radio shows imported from the AFRS in the USA.

American Forces Network London program schedule January 17th and 18th, 1945. (Stars and Stripes)

The stations were housed at US Eight Force air bases, but also at different types of installations, in East Anglia, West Country, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Probably not more than a longwire antenna or a "T"-antenna between two poles in many cases were used.

The famous US 8th Airforce logo

I have researched this field to some extent, and found several important sources in the US National Archives in Washington, DC. One of their very interesting files follows here. [7]

AFN London had 31 MW Stations per August, 1945, but originally 53 seems to have been broadcasting, all with 50 watts.

Barnstaple

Bournemouth

Bovingdon(8th Air Force Base)

Bury St.Edmunds(8th Air Force Base)

Cambridge

Chelveston(8th Air Force Base)

Cowglen(Glasgow, Military hospital)

Debden(8th Air Force Base)

Glouchester

Foxley-Hereford

Haydox Park

High Wycombe(Command HQ, 8th Air Force)

Horsham St.Faith(8th Air Force Base)

Lichfield

Londonderry

Metfield(8th Air Force Base)

Malvern

Oxford(91st General Hospital)

Prestwick

Rossdowney

Raydon(8th Air Force Base)

Shrivenham

Stone

Southampton

Sudbury(8th Air Force Base)

Tatcham

Taunton

Tidworth

Watton(8th Air Force Base)

Westbury

Wharton[8]

Other possible sites for AFN stations might have been Burtonwood, Lancs(8th Airforce Base Air Depot)

Cirencester, Glouchestershire(US Army General Hospital)Langford Lodge, County Antrim(8th Air Force Air Depot #3) Plymouth, Devon,(US Navy Field Hospital at Manadon)Warton, Lancs(8th Airforce Base Air Depot)

Does this picture may show two aerial masts(T-antenna) of an AFN London station? And which US 8th Airforce station is this? The picture was published in FlyPast[9]’s 60th anniversary of The Mighty Eight "Fields of Glory". (2002?) I asked Special Projects Editor Mark Nicholls of Key Publishing: ”I can say it is of a 1st Bomb Wing[10] airfield because some of the (Boeing)B-17s in the shot have the triangular markings of the 1st BW on the tail.” I then consulted After the Battle’s ”Airfields of the Eight Then and Now and found that this group had its HQ at Bassingbourn, Cambs with stations also at Kimbolton, Hunts, Ridgewell in Essex and Nuthampstead in Herts. So far though, neither of those had an AFN station! Inputs sought from our many readers! This image is copyright of the US National Archives in Washington DC.

Not all AFN stations were housed at 8th Airforce stations. Some of them also were in the West Country such as AFN Tidworth. The text of this photo from FlyPast[11]’s D-Day Special(1994) is: ”Training in England. A Piper L-4B Cub of II Corps, based at Perham Down near Tidworth, flying low over Salisbury Plain for the benefit of press photographers.” This image is copyright of the US National Archives in Washington DC.

Listener loggings:

6080 and 8565: AFN London, ”The All-American” was heard on July 23rd, 1945 on Shortwave with 100 kW. Part of Grieg’s piano concerto in a modern arrangement on Shortwave 49,34 m at 22.50 hours. (Jan Erik Raef, JER Sweden) Later the same year often heard during the day with popular music, such as jazz and similar. (Mr CQ, probably Arne Skoog)

Notice about AFN London in Sweden’s Dagens Nyheter Sept.29th, 1945

AFN London relocated from 11 Carlos Place to 80 Portland Place(left) in May, 1944. Its studios remained at here until the end of operations at midnight, Dec.31st, 1945. The studio was then a back-up for ABSIE until its subsequent close on July 28th, 1945. Photo credit: National Monuments Record Service.

This was the AFN London studio at 80 Portland Place. Picture: Picturepost, July 28th, 1946, half a year after the ”proper” AFN stations in the UK went off the air for the last time.(Picturepost, same date.)

US 8th AF bases in East Anglia on 15th October 1943 might suggest clues to the answer to the siting question of AFN London. [12]

Courtesy of FlyPast[13]©,here is another 8th Airforce Map, showing all the East Anglia stations.

The ABSIE(American Broadcasting Station In Europe), also called the “Stripes Network”, started on April 30th, 1944, on SW, and MF. Here, transmitter sites at Moorside Edge, Westerglen and Rampisham were used, on 977 and 1122 khz, the two groups being designated Y1 and Y2. The transmitters itself were 50 kW each, while “masking” transmitters of 250 watts each were in use at Start Point, Bartley, and Alexandra Palace. It finally went off the air on July 4th, 1945.

AFRS teamed up with BBC and CBC to form the AEF Radio service. The Allied Expeditionary Forces programme radiated on 583 kHz, from D-Day June 6th, 1944 at 0600, with the signature tune “Oranges and Lemons”, utilizing Start Point in Devon,which previously had transmitted the General Forces programme on 877 in a synchronized group. It was advertised as AEF radio on 514 m. in the press at the time. Also known as ABSIE. It closed on July, 28th, 1945. Start Point re-appeared soon as BBC Home, the West of England regional version, on 977 kHz, as of July 29th, 1945.[14]

Here is none other than the extremely popular big band and radio star Major Glenn Miller broadcasting on ABSIE 514, talking with ”guest of honor” Irene Manning on Ilse Weinberger’s Wehrmacht Hour in the afternoon of Wednesday, Dec.6th, 1944. Another frequent guest was band singer Sgt.Johnny Desmond[15]. Photo credit: Imperial War Museum.

It is July 28th, 1945 and the AEF(Allied Expeditionary programme) on 514 metres is closing down. Household listener favourites like Charmian Sansom, Margaret Hubble, Joan Dallas and the Robert Farnon Canadian Army Band gives farewell performances. (Picturepost, same date.)

A listener input:

In June, 2004 I heard from Russell Barnes, living in Dorset in the UK:

Have read with much interest your pages on AFN.  This is an interest of mine as I am old enough to remember listening to the station when in first went on air.

One very small point.  I don't think they moved from Carlos Place in May 1944 because of the 'Buzz' Bombs (V1 Rockets).

The first V1 rocket landed in Britain (Kent) on the 13th June 1944.

I will be 75 in October. I spent the war years in the seaside town of Bournemouth, overlooking the English Channel, on the south coast.

From 1943 many American servicemen and woman were sent there.

I heard the first ever broadcast (but a very weak signal) from AFN London in June.   Later however the signal increased so (although we did not know why) presumably because of local relay / repeater stations.

We listened on Medium Wave.  I seem to remember something like 240m - but it was a long time ago.  My friends and I  loved jazz and swing and Sunday had those programmes.

The Americans commandeered a quite large Hotel, which was used as a 'rest and recuperation' centre and I often wondered if that was the local AFN site. However, positioned on the sea front it wouldn't be a very good choice

as half the signal would be wasted over the sea towards France!

Good luck with your work,

Cordially,

Russell Barnes

Dorset

England

Listener loggings:

583 514 metres November, 1945. ”This is the Allied Expeditionary Forces Programme of the BBC transmitting on 514 metres”. Grenoble’s channel. A part of American Forces Network. But relays BBCs General Forces. Fred Allen-program. Closed 23.15. Programs quite dominated by cabaret and swing.(DX 716)

583 514 metres January, 1945. Allied Expeditionary Forces’ Programme of the B.B.C., from Start Point.(LK)

American Forces Network London program schedule November 4th and 5th,1944.(Stars and Stripes)

You can read a proper copy of this interesting essay by AFN veteran Patrick Morley[16] in History Today, January 1999,[17] by subscribing to their online magazine. This copy is from Offshore Echo’s #116, October, 1999.

2.AFN PARIS.

Listener loggings:

1409 213 metres AFN American Forces Network Paris 6.00—1.00(ES)

1411 Sunday June 10th, 1945: AFN Paris was heard at 0100 hours (SNT) with English news and ID. At 01.05 there was an ID in English, before both the Star-Sprangled Banner and the Marseillase followed. Would return at 0600 hours. Also mentioned in Röster i Radio for April 29th, 1945. (JER)

Unidentified:

1411 March 30th,1945: Allied Expeditionary Forces Programme, with sign-off at off 23.07. Would return at 06.30. (JER)

1420 March 30th,1945: American Expeditionary Station (no location was heard). News at midnight, then dance music at 00.15 hours. (JER)

On March 20th, 1946, this station’s outlets and channels were:[18]

610 AFN Paris, Paris

1204 AFN Paris

1420 AFN Paris

1500 AFN Paris

1510 AFN Sweden???(Printing Error for France?)

All stations were closed during 1946.

Which stations that were on these channels is unclear to me, but 6 sites were employed in addition to 610 Paris. AFN Rheims was situated at the Polignac castle.

The network re-appeared on FM as AFN FRANCE in May 1958, but this is not covered here. It closed again with the move of SHAPE to Belgium.

3.BELGIUM.

The same source as in 2. mentions this outlet:

1492 American Expeditionary st, Belgium

The site might have been Namur, as the US 12th Army Group was here. Also listed on the same channel was Namur,though, and Hainaut.

The later AFN station AFN SHAPE(Belgium, 1967, “Voice of the Benelux”) is not covered here. The same goes for AFN SOESTERBERG in the Netherlands, AFRS/AFEBS/NBS Spain,(Zaragoza,Rota, Moron, Madrid/Tarrejon, USAF)AFRTS Portugal, and AFEBS Oslo(1983). All were/are only FM.

4.GERMANY AND AUSTRIA:

A. BFN GERMANY.

658 BFN/BBC Norden. This transmitter was erected during the War to broadcast Reichsender and “Lord Haw-Haw”.(Listed as Bremen, 785 kHz.)It was captured by eleven BBC Engineers, attached to the British Army, in April 1945.[19] The station, located at Osterloog, was used for the BBC European service from September 1946 on this channel. It remained there until the Copenhagen plan was implemented. Noted with BFN programs in 1946. It re-entered service in February 1953, on 1295 kHz, and broadcast the BBC programmes until 1962.

1095 BFN Pinneberg. Noted here in 1946 and onwards. Unclear if 1095 was synchronized all the time.

1095 BFN Hannover

1095 BFN Langenberg

1095 BFN Berlin.The transmitter used(location: Savignyplatz) was ex “MCP” used in Cologne, Namur and Brussels during the War. Later on, it was used for the BBC European Sce on 809/810.9

Stations partly closed or moved to

1149. After the Copenhagen Plan was effective, we find the stations on:

1214 BFN Hamburg, this should again be the Norden transmitter. Verified to Sweden in July 1953, when local programs had been toned down, in favour of mere relays of BBC Light.

1214 BFN Hannover. It is unclear if other 1214 operations had local gates. They all appeared here after the Copenhagen Plan came into effect.

1214 BFN Langenberg

1214 BFN Herford

1214 BFN Berlin

1366 BFN Herford, noted 1946 and onwards until March 1950.

1367 BFN Bonn mentioned here(1952)

Listener loggings:

658 BLA 1 Station of the British Liberation Army. Relays the AEF-programme(583 kc/s) Hours 7-23. Usually Cologne’s frequency. (JER)

1095 274 BLA 2 Station of the British Liberation Army. Relays the AEF-program on 583 kc/s. (ES, DX 205)

1409 213 BLA 4 Station of the British Liberation Army(ES)

ID:” This is the British Forces Network.”

Schedule:Weekdays: 0530-2303, Sundays: 0600-2300. Programmes: 6 Daily Newscasts, The 1700 Club, Tango Fantasia, Rhythm Almanac, For Men Only,(Weekday programs)Round the Records,(Sat.) Bob Boyle’s Breakfast Club, Family Favourites.(Sun)

Addr: BFN, Broadcasting House, Hamburg 36, Germany, or: Technical Director, BFN, Hamburg, B.A.O.R. 3. HQ moved to Køln-Marienburg in 1956.

BFBS SHAPE not covered here.

B.AFN GERMANY.

“On June 8th, 1945, AFN Munich signed on the air and was soon followed by AFN Frankfurt on July 15th, 1945. On July 28th, 1945, AFN Bremen began broadcasting to US personnell in Northern Germany and on August 4th, AFN Berlin joined the network...””On March 17th, 1948, AFN Stuttgart signed on the air, and in 1949 AFN Bremen moved north, and changed its name to AFN Bremerhaven. On Jan.28th, 1950, AFN Nuernberg started broadcasting from the Grand hotel in downtown Nuernberg. AFN Frankfurt’s radiating power made a big jump in May 1951 when the station started broadcasting from a 150.000 watt transmitter at Weisskirchen...””In February 1953, AFN Kaiserslautern began broadcasting from a mobile van...”

In 1949, the ID was: “This is the AFN, serving American Forces in Germany.” The schedule was 0500-2300.Programmes: 9 News Broadcasts daily, Record Shows, Hillbilly Gasthaus, Music in the Air,TI&E Guide Takes Ten, AFN Playhouse, Dance Remote, plus many 15 minute shows and syndicated programmes from the USA such as Bob Hope.

Addr 1950: 7706 HQS AFN Company, APO 757, c/o Postmaster, New York.

They will sort it out!(AFN)

Listener Loggings[20]:

1249 June 11th, 1945 AFN Munich 23:00 had scheduled re-broadcast of network news from the USA via shortwave. Bad reception led to change: A local music request show came on instead. Later in the summer upgraded to 100 kW. AFN Stuttgart also here with 100 kW per ”Armed Forces Radio Service. Circuit Outlets list.”(August 1st, 1945) (JER)

1402 AFN Frankfurt .Thursday August 23rd, 1945. Started at 05.00 hours. (JER)

1420 October 16th, 1945: AFN Berlin noted with ID at 05.10. (JER)

1447 March 30th,1945 and April 8th, 1945: The First Army Radio Station. American Forces Network Station in cooperation with the Armed Forces Radio Service and the AEF. (JER)

1449 207 metres AFN American Forces Network, AFN 1:st Army(ES) 4.55-23.00

1223 It is unclear which stations were on this channel in 1952:

AFN Germany(1952)(6 stns)

In 1957, AFN had a SW outlet, on 5470 kHz.

1220 AFN Network feed logged here//1142 in Norway on November 8th, 1970.

1625 AFN Europe synchro heard in Sweden May 2nd, 1973.200o bearing.

B1: AFN MUNICH:

Originally the Voice of the 7th Army(?), later the 3rd Army.

1249 AFN Munich(1946)

548 AFN Munich(1950)

1106/7 AFN Munich(1957)Closed December 1992, after having relayed Nurnberg at the end.

The transmitter was 100 kW, later reduced to 50kW and was located at the BR site at Ismaning.

Relay stations:

It is unclear where the following three channels were sited:(1946)

1348 AFN Germany

1420 AFN Germany

1447 AFN Germany

Then, we have

665, AFN Bayreuth 10 kW(1950)ex 1204, ex 1411.See also under AFN Nurnberg.

1034,(1950) later 1142(1957) AFN Fussen. Closed.

1304 AFN Kaufbeuren,(1957) Closed.

1367 AFN Sonthofen(1950) Closed.

1034, later 1304, now 1485. AFN Berchtesgaden.Heard in Norway in the 70s.

1385, later 1502, now 1485. AFN Garmisch-Partenkirchen, was quite common on 1502, obviously having an excellent skywave, as it is known for only reaching 3 kms out of town.

1394 now 1485 AFN Augsburg, used to be a powerhouse on first channel in the 70s. Ex 1304?

Addr: APO 09108. Kaulbachstrasse 45, D-8000 Munich 22.

B2: AFN FRANKFURT:

601 AFN Frankfurt(1946), 10 kW, later 1411 (1949),593(1950), later

872/873 AFN Frankfurt, this being the 150 kW transmitter at Weisskirchen, that opened in May 1951.

Relay stations:

854 AFN Wetzlar(1950) Closed.

998,(1950)1034,(1952)1502 (1957)AFN Kassel-Rothwesten. 50 watts only. Closed.

998 AFN Wiesbaden(1950) Closed.

1169 AFN Eschwege(1950) Closed.

1268 AFN Fritzlar(1950) Closed.

1268 AFN Darmstadt(1950) Closed.

1500 AFN Heidelberg(350 watts),(1946) later see AFN Stuttgart.

1502 AFN Marburg(1950) Closed.

1546 AFN Aschaffenburg(1950) Closed.

854 AFN Fulda(1952) Later 1304, and 1143.

1143 AFN Mønchengladbach is from the 80s.

1034 AFN Bad Hersfeld(1950), later 1142. Was on 1140 in October 1975. “This is AFN Frankfurt with transmitters located in Fulda, Weisskirchen, Bad Hersfeld and Giessen.”

1502(1957) then 1143 AFN Giessen. Heard 301074 by SM.

1304 ,(1957)to 1502, then 1143 AFN Wildflecken.

Addr: APO 09757, Bertramstrasse 6, D-6000 Frankfurt a.M. 1.

Studio conference at AFN Frankfurt. From l-r: Sgt.Leo Zales, Lt.Tom Decker, and Albert Sidney, taking a last look at the broadcast schedule in the early 50s.(AFN)

B3: AFN BREMEN/BREMERHAVEN:

854 AFN Bremerhaven(1950)

1034 AFN Bremerhaven 350 watts(March 1954)

1142 AFN Bremerhaven 1000 watts(1954) The latter two do not seem to have been the same transmitter, as both are mentioned in a QSL from that year.

1500 AFN Bremerhaven 50 watts(1948)

The 1142 transmitter, later increased to 5000 watts is in the city dock area. Later

1143, with a very good groundwave path over the Southern North Sea.Has been “Radio City” in local shows. “47o in the Port city.”Closed AM operations March 31st,1993. 150393:”AFN Bremerhaven.1945-1993.Our 48 year mission ends this month.” “The Power Station.” “Currently in the Northland, 45 degrees with the morning Power crew.”

Relay stations:

1429 AFN Bremen, 350 watts,(1948)1,5 kW(1949).

Originally, the studio was here.(Until 1949) This one later went to

998. Closed, and became Radio Bremen, 1358?

Addr: AFN Bremerhaven, APO 69, C/o Postmaster, New York, N.Y, and Carl Schurz Kaserne, Bldg. 1, D-2850 Bremerhaven.(US Army Staging Area)

B4:AFN BERLIN:

1420 AFN Berlin 1 kW(1949)

611 AFN Berlin(1952), later 935(1957) and 1107 after Geneva came into use. 10kW.

Has been “The Bear-AM,” and relay of AFN-FM.

Addr: APO 09742. Saargemunderstrasse 28, D-1000 Berlin 33, ex 28 Podbielski Allee.

B5:AFN STUTTGART:

1142/1143 AFN Stuttgart(1957)ex 1106(1950)ex 1249 (1948)The transmitter was 100 kW, later reduced to 10 kW, and located in Hirschlanden.150393:”AFN Stuttgart-The Power Station.”

Relay stations:

1034, then 1142/1143 AFN Karlsruhe

1142 AFN Ulm,Closed.

1142/1143 AFN Gøppingen.

One of the latter two(Gøppingen, due to weak signal strength) drifted to

1130 in 1972, where it on Dec.13th interfered with WNEW in New York from 1645-2045 in a strange NA opening! Also heard in the following year.In 1974, heard on 1142.

1169(1952)1304 (1957),(heard in Norway in the 70s) now 1143 AFN Heidelberg.

Addr: AFN Stuttgart, APO 154, c/o Postmaster, New York, N.Y, later APO 09154. Auerbachstrasse Geb.151, D-7000 Stuttgart 50, ex American Community School, Robinson Barracks.

B6: AFN NURNBERG:

1500 AFN Nurnberg, originally only a relay for Munich, 350 watts.(1946), moved to

728 AFN Nurnberg, (1948),

1390 AFN Nurnberg(1952),

611 Nurnberg(1957),now

1107.Tx at Furth, 10 kW.

Relay stations:

611, now 1107 AFN Grafenwøhr(1957) 10 kW

1169, later 1304, now 1485 AFN Regensburg.Heard in 1977 and 1978.

1367, later 1304 and 1143. AFN Bamberg.

1502, to 1394, then 1142, now 1143 AFN Hof, right at the old DDR border.Heard 021087:”Serving the Hof Military Command on 1143 AM, AFN Nurnberg.”

1385, then 1034, then 1485, AFN Ansbach.Leader of the gang that’s often heard with N’berg programs with a SE beverage.150393 at 0620:”Community Update for Bavaria from AFN Nuernberg.”

1394 AFN Crailsheim heard widely on this channel in the 70s, 250 watts, later 1485, has a splendid groundwave.

1502(1957) now 1485 AFN Hohenfels.

665 AFN Bayreuth(1952)Closed.

1268 AFN Coburg, Closed.

1502 AFN Straubing, Closed.

AFN Nuernberg address: APO 09696.Bavarian-American Hotel, Bahnhofstrasse 3, D-8500 Nurnberg 1.(=US Army Transient Billets, Bahnhofplatz 3?)

998, later 1142, AFN Wurzburg.

The later offshoot, AFN Wurzburg , 1143, which started 1980, is not covered here. It also uses the former Nurnberg relays:

1143(formerly 1502, 1385 and 1034) AFN Bad Kissingen. Quite possible to hear even with few watts.

1142/1143 AFN Schweinfurt.

1304,(1957)later 1143, AFN Wertheim

AFN Wurzburg addr: Leighton Barracks 45, D-8700 Wurzburg.

B7: AFN KAISERSLAUTERN:

“K-Town Radio.”

665 Originally mobile, it eventually turned up on

611 from its permanent tx site at Sembach, 10 kW. Now

1107.

Relay stations:

1394, later 1304, now 1143. AFN Kaiserslautern, Bitburg AFB-Eifel. 250 watts. Quite possible to hear.Heard by SM 131081 and 130982.

Addr: APO 09012. 5th Avenue, Bldg.2058, D-6750 Kaiserslautern-Vogelweh.

TODAY:

Today, the Armed Forces Radio Network in Europe provides command information, news, and entertainment to U.S. troops and their families throughout the United States European Command (USEUCOM).

C.VOICE OF AMERICA.

1195/1196/1197 VOA, “Voice of the USA”, now VOA Europe, Munich is well-known. Originally 150 kW.

173 VOA Erching, nr. Munich, 1000 kW, built in 1952-53, mothballed after the worst of the Cold War,(taken out of service in 1973) and hired to DLF, which re-started it in 1979 on 209 kHz.(They had used Mainflingen here previously.) Later, DLF Aholming took over this channel.

Voice of America coverage map 1951

D.BLUE DANUBE NETWORK, AUSTRIA.

In 1946, the station had these outlets:

629 Blue Danube Network

1104 Blue Danube Network

The WRTH for 1949 lists these channels:

629 Blue Danube Network ,KOFA Linz

1068 Blue Danube Network,WOFA Vienna

1104 Blue Danube Network ,KZCA Salzburg. This one also SW, first 9585, then 9617.

After the implementation of the Copenhagen Plan, March 15th, 1950:[21]

773 KOFA,Linz

1142 WOFA, Vienna

1313 KZCA Salzburg

The WRTH for 1952 has these outlets:

674 BDN Salzburg

881 BDN Linz

890 BDN Zell am See

1034 BDN Vienna(the latter four all 1 kW)

1223 BDN Tulln(100 watts)

1367 BDN St.Johann(350 watts)

In January 1953, a BDN QSL to Sweden[22] has this information:

881 BDN Salzburg

890 BDN Linz

1034 BDN Vienna

SW was now on 9617/6055/5080

A QSL from August 1953 is somewhat contrasting:

674 Salzburg

881 Linz

1034 Vienna.

The same situation prevailed in January 1954, but the SW 6055 was missing.

ID: This is the Blue Danube Network. Also:” BDN serving United States Forces in Austria.”

Schedule 1949:0500-2300, Sun 0600-2300. Some of the shows and programmes: “BDN Breakfast Club”, “Luncheon Matinee”, “Hillbilly Music”. 8 newscasts daily, USFA Bulletin. Syndicated: Jack Benny, Milton Berle, Fibber McGee&Molly, Bing Crosby, Jack Carson, Red Skelton, Hit Parade, Hollywood Bowl Concert.

Addr. 1950: HQ USFA, APO 777, US Army, Austria.

E.BRITISH FORCES NETWORK, AUSTRIA.

565 BFN Klagenfurt C12 FBS 250 watts(1948-52)

565 BFN Graz B7 FBS 1 kW

868 BFN Vienna C13 FBS 800 watts

ID:” This is the British Forces Network, Austria,” or: “You are listening to the Forces Broadcasting Service, Austria, operating from stations in Graz, Klagenfurt and Vienna.”

Sched: 0558-0800, 0928-1315, 1555-2200. Sat: same but 0928-2300, Sun: 0658-2200.

Addr: B7 Forces Broadcasting station, HQ., FBS Austria), British Troops in Austria, Opernring No.6, Graz 11

Note: The BBC European Service used 886 kHz from Graz-Dobl from August, 1948. After March 15th,1950, 1025 kHz was in use. This arrangement lasted until April. 1955.

5. AFN ITALY.

5th Army Mobile Radio Station

In late 2007, the editor heard from Jim Carstensen, son of Vern Carstensen of the 5th Army Mobile Radio Station. Vern was a First Lieutenant in the United States Army during World War II, and he was assigned to head up the Fifth Army Mobile Radio Station. Before this, Vern was previously with the Armed Forces Radio Asmara and is also pictured in that chapter. Vern has left a detailed Scrapbook

of his experiences with newspaper clippings, photographs, autographs, and other memorabilia from the radio station and his adventures during the war. In 1992 Vern also recorded an interview for the Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters group.  In the interview he talks in great detail about the 5th Army Mobile Radio Station and what he did during the war. You can listen to it here:

Now his son Jim has very kindly offered us the material you may enjoy in greater detail from his fine site . Jim adds his website is dedicated to his dad, Vern Carstensen, and to all the brave men and women who are now or have ever served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Here is a good article about Vern and the station reprinted from his hometown newspaper when the station was first created, and here is Vern with the Station ID.

First Lt. Vern Carstensen broadcasting on the “American Expeditionary Radio Station, in the field with the 5^th Army.”

The 5th Army Mobile Radio Station was created to boost morale amongst the troops.  Music, news from home, live concerts and variety shows were produced and broadcast from a mobile platform.  Below is a larger photo of the studio.

The station consisted of two trailers; one housed the studio and the other contained the transmitter.  The station was mobile so that it could pick up, move, and be reassembled in as little as two hours  as the fighting advanced.

Exterior view and interior blueprint of the radio station broadcasting between 1500 and 1530 kHz, later also on 1280 kHz.(See listener log below.)

The idea of a rolling radio station was first thought of by Maj. Francis McAloon in North Africa sometime early in 1943.  Soon after Allied troops invaded Italy below Salerno the radio station went on the air.

The station was fabricated mostly from captured German and Italian equipment.  Being the army many things were improvised, such as the powered-egg and ration cans being used for fixtures and "On-The-Air" indicators.  

The transmitter was designed to have a broadcast radius of about 50 miles, and they always tried to perch on the highest point possible.  Unfortunately, this made them more vulnerable to enemy fire and sometimes the German bombers would "follow their signal in" and attempt to knock them off the air.  Fortunately, nothing ever tragic happened.

The station traveled mostly around Italy for almost two years.  During that time Vern Carstensen received the Bronze Star and got commissioned in 1945 to the rank of Captain.   

Many famous stars of the time participated in the entertainment.  In fact, a  club of sorts was formed  called "Old Oaken Bucket" Club. Members were inducted into the club whenever they performed or their song was requested to play on the program. The scrapbook contains many letters from members of the club, including Jimmy Durante, Bill Crosby, and W.C. Fields.

One of the hundreds of songs that Irving Berlin wrote during this time was "The Fifth Army's Where My Heart Is".  Needless to say, the song was played regularly on the 5th Army Radio Program.  The scrapbook contains an copy of the sheet music autographed by Irving Berlin.

If you have any comments or questions about the Vern Carstensen scrapbook feel free to contact jim(at)jvcarstensen.com.

Finally in this section, we are also happy to reproduce the chapter links to Jim Carstensen’s site here:

Movement Log

Commendations

"Company B" letter.

Notices

Photos

The Old Oaken Bucket Club

Fan Mail

Miscellaneous

Autographs

Newsreel Film

Other Stuff

Acknowledgements

Listener Loggings American Forces stations:

1241 Voice of the 8th Army, Rimini, 800 watts, heard by Arthur Cushen in NZ!(1944)[23]

1249 240 metres November, 1944. ”Command Performance”. ID after 10 minutes: ”This is the American Expeditionary Radio Station 7th Army". The speaker mentions it only broadcasts music. Both classical and swing. Warm recommendations of this station. A favourite station of mine!(DX716)

1280 June 27th, 1945: ”The Fifth Army Radio Station”. No location given. Closed at 22.15. Announced 1280 and relay on 1530. Is ex 1530 kc/s.

1429 American Forces Network, AFN 9th Army

1429 210 metres AFN American Forces Network AFN 9:th Army 4.55—0.30(ES)

1474? AFRS Syracuse Beach, Sicily, also a logging from the Pacific.

1500 American Expeditionary Station of the 5th Army. Started October 25th, 1943. Later heard on other frequencies. (”American Expeditionary Radio stations. North African theater. History and operation.”(1943)

1500 American Expeditionary Station of the 7th Army. Also heard on other frequencies.

1500 200 metres American Expeditionary Station in the field with the 7th Army 4.55-23.00(ES)

1500 200 metres American Exp. stn in field with the 7th army. Hours: 5.55—24.00. (DX 205)

1500 ca 198-200 AAF The Air Force American Station CIBIA(ES)

1505 AFRS Caserta. 1 kW. (”Armed Forces Radio Service. Circuit Outlets list.”(August 1st, 1945)

1510 AFRS 5th Army. 1 kW. Mobile. (”Armed Forces Radio Service. Circuit Outlets list.”(August 1st, 1945)

1510 ca 198-200 metres AAF The Air Force American Station Gorizia(JER)

1530a August 1944 American Expeditionary Station. Music like Stormy Weather and Stardust. Closed with Star-Sprangled Banner at 23:00. Might be American Expeditionary Station in field with the 5th Army.(JER)

1530a January 1945 American Expeditionary Station in field with the 5th Army. Fighting its way northwards through Italy.(RiR)

1530 196 metres AFN American Expeditionary Station in the field with the 5th Army(ES)

1530 196 metres American Exp. Stn in field with the 5th army. Hours: 06.00—08.00 (not Sundays) plus 10.00—0.05.(DX 205)

1570 191 metres The Air Force American Expeditionary Station, Mediterranenan area 06.30—23.45.(DX 205)

6025 49,78 ”Sender des allierten Oberkommandos”…Rome.(LK)

6140 48,86 The Allied Expeditionary Station, Rome heard in the evenings. (LK) (Listed on 6135 in ”Armed Forces Radio Service. Circuit Outlets list.”(August 1st, 1945)

The same source as in part 2(above) mentions these outlets:

695 AFN Italy, Rome

1438 AFN Italy

In addition, this one may be mentioned:

1465 American Expeditionary st, Italy

In 1964, the WRTH listed these USAF stations:

540 Leghorn

540 Verona

540 Vicenza[24]

The later restricted FM and FM operations of the SEBS, Southern European Bc Service, are not covered here.

6. BFN ITALY.

This note from 1946:

565 BFN Milan

1487 BFN Italy. Noted in 1946, it is unclear which site that was used.

7.AFRS/FBS IN TRIESTE.

1304 AFRS Trieste(1952) 1 kW

Sched: 0600-0800, 1000-2400, Sat: 0600-2400, Sun 0900-2400.

Addr: Via Piccardi 16, Trieste.

1385 FBS Trieste(1952)1 kW. Sche: 0630-0830,1200-2400. Was on 15120 kHz SW testing in June 1953. The schedule then was 1600-2300.

Sched: 0630-0830, 1200-2400, Sun: 0730-2400.

Closed October 1954. Call sign MF2AA.

Addr: FBS, British Forces Station, British Element Trieste Force, Via Bellosguardo 8, Trieste, Trieste Free State.

8. CANADIAN MILITARY STATIONS.

In BBC Engineering 1922-1972, the number of Canadian Military Stations in the UK during WW II, is mentioned as 6, and two of these stations were at Hindhead and Aldershot.

In March 1946, I have a listing of a Canadian Military Station, still on British soil:

1438 CFRS Ludshot

In the late 50s, this station is found on

560a: CBL Langar. It operated from the RCAF base at Langar near Nottingham. It was a LP operation of around 10 watts[25]

“In 1951, the department of national defence requested CBC to provide radio programs on shortwave and tape for rebroadcast by Armed Forces stations in Korea, England, France and Germany. By 1956, six stations had been established to serve air bases from Metz, France, and army bases from Werl, Germany. The CBC’s Northern and Armed Forces Service contributed both programming and specialist managers. When Canada’s NATO Forces were consolidated at Lahr and Baden-Soellingen in 1967, CFN/RFC assumed its present form.”[26]

I have discovered 3 AM transmitters so far:

1620 CFN Zweibrucken,Germany 10 watts,No.3 fighter Wing RCAF, Addr: CAPO 5052, Zweibrucken, Germany. 1954. Schedule: Mon-Fri: 2000-2400, Sat-Sun: 1300-2400. Rel.CBC, CBC tapes, local request show 2300-2400.

1620 CFGT Grostenquin, France, 10 watts, on air Dec 1954. RCAF stations

1640 CFNY Marville, France, 15 watts, on air August 1957. RCAF station,[27]

For your information, also CFN Werl, 96,9 FM was in operation by 1958. None of the other CFN FM operations are covered here.

Does anybody know if French FFB Radio originally had AM operations?

Even if they fall slightly outside of the range of this article, Central Europe would not be complete without these:

283/722/7615 were the original frequencies(now 261, x263) of the USSR operation of Radio Wolga, transmitting from Burg, nr. Magdeburg, an operation “on the other side,” together with

908 Freiheitssender 904, Burg.= German Freedom Station 904, VO Emigrant, VO Italian Workers, VO Greek Democrats Abroad.

935 Deutscher Soldatensender, Burg= German Soldiers Station.

The US funded operations of RIAS Berlin,(629/686/989/855/719), and Sendergruppe ROT-WEISS-ROT(Austria), 1267/1250; 1294/1394; 1429/755, Sendergruppe ALPENLAND(Austria,British funded), 565/519;886/1025;1285/719(syncro), Sendergruppe WEST(Austria,French funded), 519/629 (syncro), and RAVAG, 592/584;1312/1475,

(Austria,USSR funded) are not mentioned here.

9. US OPERATIONS IN GREECE.

1390 VOA Courier Radio Ship: “VOICE OF AMERICA SEABORNE RADIO STATION DODECANESE ISLANDS.” Part of “Operation Vagabond”,it tested in the Panama Canal Region Spring 1952, and commenced transmissions off Dodecanese Isl. in September 1952, still on a Panamanian Channel, and Region 2 channel spacing! Remember also that Radio England/Britain Radio had planned 650/850 kHz,[28] and Laser originally billed itself Laser 730!(The balloon antenna system on the Courier was the model for same on Laser 730, with considerably better success, plus TV Marti?)This later changed to 1259 kHz. In 1964 replaced by VOA Rhodes 1259, later 1260.[29]

In 1955, the local ID was: “This is the COURIER, seaborne radio station of the Voice of America.” Schedule on MF: 1500-2130. Also SW 6185, 7125, 9530, 11760 and 15195.(1415-0130) Its local address was: VOA, Courier relay Base, c/o American Embassy, Athens. Greece.

791 VOA Thessaloniki, listed as such in WRH 1952. 50 kW. Later 791/2 VOA Kavala, from 1972.The sites shared the channel for some time.Thessaloniki then went to NHBI/ERA on 1043/4.

1016 YENED(Later ERA, 1314,) Tripolis noted with VOA programs in November 1972. The same also on 1178 Thessaloniki(presumed) around the same time.(It was doubted at the time that this could be Greece, as the signal was quite weak, and North Africa was suspected.On 261272 was noted with GMT! Also noted on 190174 on 1016,5 with strong fading.)

1590/1580 AFRS Athenai airport, Athens started April 1959, changed to 1580 Feb 1960. Later on

1594, and later added a relay at

1484 Kato Souli.Heard in Norway on Oct.1st,1974 w. sports//AFN Germany and again w. AT 40 and Casey Kasem 120175? A Norwegian logging(BH) 150377, direction 50g. After the Geneva Plan came into effect, the channels became 1584(Heard 241080) and 1480![30] Now called AFEBS or just EBS(European Broadcasting Squadron)

Addr: Operation Location #13, 7122nd Support Sqdn,(AFRS-TV) Athenai airport, Athens, Greece.

1500 UNID noted here by Per-Ole Stenman 190174, w. AFRTS nx at 0300, c/d 0306. Ment’d 7122 nd broadc. sqdn..broadcasting 20 hrs a day, 7 days a week on a...frequency of 1484 kHz, inviting you to join us at 6am when broadcasting will resume...”

1570 AFRS Iraklion noted 1958. Regularly heard in the 70s and 80s on this channel,”15-70 Kc, this is AFRTS, Iraklion, Greece,” ”R.15-70,” later 1584 kHz. 250 watts.” Total Radio 15-84, Iraklion.”

10. BFBS IN MALTA.

870 FBS mentioned here in 1948.

1425 BFBS Valetta heard in Norway during the 1961 season, verified to Sweden January 1962. Had 800 watts.Then part of “FBS Near East.” Addr: FBS, BFPO 51. In February 1968 on

1430 with 1kW.Later, Radio Malta used this channel.

1430 BBC, “21? metres MW” 160472 PI.Malta?Cyprus?

Note: BBC Delimara Point started in 1960 on 1079, and went to 1178 in March 1961. In September 1969, it went to 1546, and was last heard on 1511 in 1971.

11.AFRS IN NORTH AFRICA.

601 The US operational forces used a floating radio station aboard the USS Texas in the Mediterranean, transmitting VOA programs to counter Nazi propaganda. Programs commenced on Nov. 7th, 1942, with a power of 5000 watts, targetted at North Africa. However, the project finished the same year.[31]

Listener logging: 1080 Constantine, Algeria closed at 23:20 with American ID and Star-Sprangled Banner. Power 100 watts.(JER) NOTE:According to AFRS monitoring, AES Casablanca, French Morocco was established Dec. 15th, 1942 and operated on 1080 kc/s from a 1000w transmitter also in the spring of 1943. AFRS programs also broadcast on limited scale over Algerian network, including Constantine, 250 watts.[32]

1484/1490/1512,5 WNAF, later WNAA Port Lyautey(American Naval base) 50 watts, boosted to 250 watts, and later AFRTS Kenitra 1956 1 kW(Navy BC Sce) Was in the WRTH 1978. Heard in Wales and Sweden(Lars Ryden, w 250 watts) 1953. Heard regularly in 1966/67 in the UK. Addr: Station WNAF, Navy #214, Box #4, c/o Fleet post Office, New York, N.Y. Later: Box 21, USNTC, FPO, New York 09544.

And then it’s over to Gene Richardson:

“My name is Eugene Richardson and I built the station WNAA[33]. It started out as an audio output, then the first transmitter was a modified Collins TCS-12 15 watt. I was pleased to find someone after all these years who had an interest in the things we did as young people. The station for the first two years was a singular event. I designed, purchased parts, made the entire station solo. It was turned on at 6:00 AM and turned off at 12 Midnight. Seven days a week 18 hours a day with no help. The only thing to come of this was a commendation for my effort.”

A photo of the entrance to WNAA. The reference to "Telex network" refers to field telephone wire that was used prior to going 'on the air'.( Gene Richardson.)

The following all 50-100 watts:

1594 AFRS KFAD Rabat 100 watts, “Your voice of information in Rabat.”

1594 AFRS WCOX Sidi Slimane airport, Tangier,”Your voice of home.” “Radio Sidi Slimane.” USAF. 100 watts. On the air April 1959. Also on

1586. Sched: NSP, but silent MMs. Addr: Operating location #11, 7122nd Support Sqdn,(AFRS-TV), Sidi Slimane Air Base, Sidi Slimane, Morocco. Heard by Arvo Widell, Sweden.

1594 AFRS WLEM later WBOS Ben Guerir 100 watts(1956)

1594 AFRS WIND Nouasseur 100 watts. USAF. “The news broadcasting system”(1955-56) Often heard in Sweden. Several QSLs.

Also in Libya

1510 AFRS KVOH Wheelus Field(Tripoli Airport?) On the air March 1954. 100 watts, 1956 1 kW. Reported on

1590 in June 1966 in the UK.

1594 was the channel for tentative loggings in the UK in May/June 1967.[34] Addr: Station AFRS, 1603 D Air transport Wing, APO 231, c/o Postmaster, New York, N.Y.

BRITISH OPERATIONS IN NORTH AFRICA:

FBS Algiers December 1943 with ex German tx[35]

1420 FBS Benghazi, Also SW 4782/4930/4965/7220. It seems the station stayed here after the Copenhagen plan, the planned channel being

1594.

881 FBS(no.5 under FBS Middle East) Benghazi. Verified to Sweden December 1953. 1000 watts.

Benghazi also the likely source of a BFBS logging in Norway 1964 season on

1394. Later noted September 1966 and December 1968 in the UK on

833.

1420/1484 FBS(no.1 under FBS Middle East) Tripoli 7,5kW. Also 4782, later 4965/4985, 250 watts, this one was verified in Sweden May 1953. I have also noted Tripoli on 1055, which is the same channel as was used by Radio Tripoli in 1955.

In 1968 the set-up was:

1439 Tobruk. Heard in Norway as early as 1961 season by Rolf Løvstrøm.

1484 El Adem, both 1000 watts.

12.FBS MIDDLE EAST:[36]

ID: “This is your Forces Broadcasting Service, Middle East,” or “You are tuned to the FBS, Middle East.”

Listener Loggings:

795 JCFA Middle East Forces, Suez Canal Zone, Egypt. Testing late 1944. (Parade 226, Dec 2th, 1944, via Arne Skoog)

795 JCPA Middle East Forces, Jerusalem. QSL 1947 from Middle East Land Forces, Jerusalem N.W. 1 kW. Originally mobile. (JER)

7192/7220 JCKW Middle East Forces, Jerusalem. QSL 1946, signed by Ken Ellis. Originally mobile. (AS, JER)

833 360 JCCA FBS Benghazi(Forces Radio Times, 30/2 June16th, 1946, via Arne Skoog)

950 JFPA Middle East Forces, Basra, Iraq (JER)

1010 JCLA Middle East Forces, Beirut, 300 watts. Opened late 1944. For troops stationed in Lebanon and Southern Syria.(Parade 226, Dec 2th, 1944, via Arne Skoog)

1080 JCLA Middle East Forces, Beirut, 300 watts (JER)

1389 216 JCPA Middle East Forces, Jerusalem. Opened August 1944. Serves Palestine, but heard as far as the Canal Area.(Parade 226, Dec 2th, 1944, via Arne Skoog)

1391 JCFA Middle East Forces, Suez Canal Zone, Egypt, 300 watts. (JER)

1409 213 BLA 4 Station of the British Liberation Army(ES)

1420 FBS Kabrit(Suez) is mentioned 1948, 7500 Watts. Verified to Sweden December 1953.

1450 and 41,55 JCJC Middle East Forces, Cairo. Different programming on Shortwave. Opened late 1944. QSL March 1945. (Parade 226, Dec 2th, 1944, via Arne Skoog)

SW/7220 JCJC Cairo(1945-49)

1420 FBS Nairobi was FBS Middle East no.2, this one not covered here. It closed in 1964.

FBS CYPRUS:

An old note from 1945-49 has this one as:

SW/41m FBS Cyprus. No.4 under FBS Middle East.

1420 was the FBS Cyprus channel in 1948, a change to

1484 after Copenhagen is mentioned.

890 BFBS was used from Limassol in 1968 with 7500 watts.

1093 was the frequency when this verified to Sweden in January 1955. The site was Akrotiri, same as was used on

1089 and frequently heard during the 80s.”BFBS-The Radio in touch.”It also referred to “BFBS DK”, Dhekelia?

1403 BFBS Zyvi, heard April 1964 in Sweden, 7500 watts. The same site(owned by DWS, Diplomatic Wireless Service) later used for BBC East Mediterranean Relay on

1421/1457(tests heard 050472 and 130573 by RB/SM)/1322/1323.

1502 BFBS was used from Nicosia in 1968 with 1000 watts,later 1503, and evidently same as

1044 BFBS Dhekelia?According to other information this started on MF 260581 w.100 watts,//2nd programme,and 1089.The first programme only FM.In 1988 found on

981.Closed same year.

Addr: No.4 FBS, Cyprus District MELF 3, later: BFBS Cyprus, British Forces Post Office 53.

13.BFBS ADEN.

1241 Steamer Point heard in Sweden November 1962. The same site later used for 755 and 1188 DYBS.

Addr: FBS, Steamer Point, BFPO 69. Also used 930?(ARC,1962)

14.AFRS SAUDI ARABIA.

1215 AFRS Dharan(1958), it was verified in Sweden for reports late 1960.

1195 AFRS logged November 1971 in UK.19

Addr: Area Command #2, Operating Location #2, 7122D Support Sqdn(AFRS-TV) APO 616, U.S.Forces.This one doubtless re-appeared in connection with the Gulf War, but not on MF?

AFRS programs on Y15KG/HNF Baghdad 1944. From DX-Radio Sweden.

15.AFRS TURKEY.

1570 CFRN, Communications Facilities Network, Diyabakir, 10 watts, this one noted 1958, later a relay of Adana. Closed around 1980.

1590 CFRN, Adana, Incirlik Radio CFRN, 10 watts,This one heard by Norwegian DX-ers Arvid Frøsland, and Ole Forr in Lakselv, 2328 on 070974, 2250 221074, “American Forces Radio,” nx 2300, from the wires of UPI and AP, wx forecast: winds from northeast, temps outside of our studios 61 degrees, in Adana you have 64.” Fine jingles. 2400 TC: “It’s 3 o’clock in Turkey, this is the news.” ID: “Communications Facilities Network.””R.CFN.” Has announced 10 kW! Later, also heard in Sweden and Finland.(PED 4)Heard on 1580 281081 by JK(Finland) from 1955-0000.

Also

1590 KCFR, Radio 1590, Karamursel, 10 watts.Closed around 1980.

16. AFRS TEHERAN.

Listerner logging:

1492 201,1 metres 1944 AFN The Air Force American Expeditionary Station in Persia 6.30-23.50. (ES)

620 was the channel in 1958, power 250 watts. Later,(1974) the station is found on

1555, 1000 watts. Here it was regularly heard.Heard in Norway by Bjarne Hansen 171075. Closed as such 230976, but was heard by John Ekwall in Sweden the day before! Became NIRT, 20 kW, where it is listed in WRTH 1978. Closed after the Islamic revolution?

17. OTHER US/AFRS/FBS OPERATIONS IN AFRICA AND MIDDLE EAST:

BFBS Gibraltar not mentioned here.

1204 AFRS Lebanon(1946)

FBS Kuwait, mentioned by Keith Skues[37] in connection with the crisis in 1961. Also a FBS Bahrain?

Picture of Vern Carstensen, later of 5th Army Mobile Radio Station in Italy on Armed Forces Radio Asmara in the early years. From Jerry Pry’s site[38].

When the Italians surrendered, American forces moved into Asmara and set up an AFSA station called Radio Marina on the grounds of an Italian utility radio station in January 1942. It is unclear if this means that there also were similar statiuons at other US installations such as Massawa, Ghinda and Dongollo.

1000 AFRS/KANU Kagnew Air Base, Massawah, Asmara, Eritrea(1955) Had 50 watts then. Sche: 0330-2400. Later went to

1500.(1958) Heard in Norway all seasons(TW 0571) between 1970 and 1973 on newer channel

1475, usually after the Spanish SER stations closed, from around 0000-0300. Had deep fades, but fine peaks. From 1973 log: Moody Blues, Jackson 5, Carpenters, Mott the Hoople, also country show, “All American Radio.”Last noted logging was DAM on 070374.

1480 R.Raja(Hope), Mogadishu, was a psyops station intended to make Somalis compliant to the Allied campaign 1993. On the air 0930 and 1500 UTC. The 400 watts transmitter was the same used at Homestead AFB in Florida. Addr: Officer IC, Radio Raja, 22nd Military Public Affairs, Fort Bragg, NC 28307.[39]

1600 Here might be the place for this logging of an AFRS(?) signal at 0302 UTC April 16th, 1974, when Bayerischer Rundfunk was off the air for maintenance. The station sounded like a NA, but obviously was not. I tuned in at the end of the news, and then it was said; “..... The main points again...Outside the KO..broadcasting studios it is now XX degrees, it went into a jingle: “K... more music!” Then MoR/EZL music, and vanished. I have of course thought of Ascension Island, ZD8VR Volcano Radio, as the conditions were typical La Plata and Chile. But was this an AFRS outlet not listed anywhere?

1600 ZD8VR Ascension Island, 1kW, not heard in Europe according to our sources. Not an official AFRS outlet, but AFRTS material. Addr: Volcano Radio, Box 4608, Patrick AFB, FL 32925, USA.

1205 Continental Transmitters tested here for the DWS in the spring of 1963 with 10 kW. Heard in Sweden(Bengt Dalhammar, early April) and Great Britain with BBC General Overseas Sce. Later in the year, the channels were 1335 and 552,5, 1800-2400 UTC. To no avail, the order went to Marconi![40]

18.AFRS IN NEWFOUNDLAND.

1480 VOUS Argentia, NF,50 watts! Noted in Norway by OJS 190291 at 0730 w AFRTS ID, and 1992 in Sheigra, Shetland Islands. AFRTS pgms off satelite.V/s Ted Eisenman,RMCS(SW)US Navy Communications Officer.Addr:PSC 1006, Box 2, FPO AE 09730.(Closed in 1994)Heard and verified in Sweden 1959, by RW.David W.Nevins, Stn.Man, was the V/s.Heard in the UK also in the 50s. In 1958, this one had 3 sisters, also on 1480: St.Johns, Goose Bay,(this one RCAF), and VOHF/Harmon Field(Stephenville),1490.The latter closed in 1966.[41]

19.AFRS IN GREENLAND.

850 WXLS Narsarsuaq(Listed from 1945, also noted 1955)1 kW. The name means “The big plain”, and the base was founded during WW II, and was an US base for operations in the Davis strait. As it was located midway between the nearest Canadian and British airport all airplanes from the USA would stopover on their way to the battle in Europe. It was then termed Bluie West One[42]. At the end of 1945 up to 5000 people lived there, the base had 2 cinemas, a theatre and a restaurant with a 12 piece Swing orchestra! This made Narsarsuaq Greenland’s most populated place.Only ruins are left now, of the base that was closed in 1958, the channel then being

900.[43]

1375 WHEN Ikatek, listed from 1945, 10 watts. Bluie East Two[44] was a minor USAAF airfield at Ikateq, East Greenland. The base was operational from 1942 to 1947.

1210 AFRS Thule heard frequently in the 70s and early 80s.250 watts.Different programs from 1425,(Relay AFRTS Los Angeles?) and served Thule town. Fade-in 2135 151074.

1420 WXLC Sondrestrom(Kangerlussuak)(1955) 250 watts, later 1kW. At Søndre Strømfjord airport, where Trans-polar flights with DC-4s,DC-6s and DC-7s a.o. stopped for re-fuelling.Heard a couple of times in the early 80s by Norwegian DX-ers in Jan Mayen and Finnmark, as just AFRS Sondrestrom.”The sound of the 80s, time for news on 14-20 Radio.”

1000 WXLX Sondrestrom(Listed from 1945, also noted as Radio 1000 Sondrestrom, 25 watts by CE Torben Larsen 1976-1979, also mentioned with 1490 mentioned as twin channel in 1983.

1425 KOLD Thule AB(1955) 1 kW. “Far North Voice of Information and Education.” Originally KRIC, started 1941/42.Heard in Sweden(Staffan Danell) March 1954. Heard by SM w wx info and jingle:”American Forces Radio”, at 0139 Dec.14th,1972. On 151074 fade-in 2153. It changed channel to

1430,around May 1982, near the end on MF. Still on in late October of that year.(251082)

Addr: APO 23, c/o PM, New York, N.Y. USA.

An input from engineer Torben:

I may be able to provide you with some information about the AM-transmitters in Sondrestrom / Søndre Strømfjord, now Kangerlussuak, Greenland.

From 1976 to 1979 I worked as the main station engineer at the AFRTS-station based there with the 4684^th Air Base Group.

Radio & TV studios besides engineering facilities were located at the shores of fresh-water Lake Ferguson, about 3Km’s off base.

This site hosted the TV-transmitter, early in the period featuring only B&W transmissions from filmprojectors with cinescopes.

Later I installed a complete Color-TV transmitter with U-Matic VTR’s for program source and a new switch-board that allowed us to build a live-studio, first transmissions done with a Bang & Olufsen converted B&W videocamera I had bought in Denmark.

The site also featured an AM-transmitter called Radio-1000 on 1MHz.

The transmitter was a small 19” rack-mounted unit with self-contained modulator. I believe I remember the modulator- and RF-tubes were 6146’s.

On a fair day it would put out around 25Watts of RF, just fine for covering the base-area.

I remember servicing the transmitter at some point when the power-transformed burned-out.

You won’t believe how much smoke the factory had packed inside this transformer.

Situated on-base was the Gates/Harris (BC1H..?) 1KW main AM transmitter on 1420KHz.

It usually ran at 250W RF-out to fully cover the base, civilian and port areas.

On the 4^th of July and possibly during Christmas it was customary to raise the transmitter to full output for the benefit of the costal villages and the capitol city, Nuuk.

The transmitter was fed from the remote-studios with the help of ordinary twisted-pairs phone-lines.

NOT the highest fidelity in the universe!

20.AFRS IN ICELAND.

1400 AFRS Høfn, 10 watts. Started to be heard in the 80s,(first logging SW,Sweden, 011278,SM Norway 050280) a good indicator for NA conditions.Fine East Coast NA conds might prevail soon after it was noted with some strength.Heard 300482 at 0800//1485, Iceland 1510 also strong, as was Ammassalik, Greenland on 1100. On 160485 it was heard at 0635, 2 hours after SR! (It might also be quite strong with almost no NA, making it quite instructive in learning about signal paths.) Seems to relay 1485 all the time.

1484 TFK,AFRS Keflavik, 250 watts(1955). ID: “This is TFK, Keflavik Airport, Iceland.”

Changed to 1485 after the implementation of the Geneva plan, and is a North Atlantic powerhouse of 1000 watts! Typical NA indicator in Scandinavia.(Reception data Logbook 1980) Has recently changed to

1530 kHz. Now known as ”Information and Entertainment, this is AFRS, Keflavik.” “The Navy Broadcasting Service, Keflavik.”

Addr: Keflavik Airport, Iceland,or Box 25, US Air Base, IS-235 Keflavikurflugvøllur.

?? FBS ICELAND. Nothing is known here,

21. AFRS IN NORWAY.

AFRS Stavanger 101,5 FM relays mostly AFN Germany. This forecast of the station is from Stavanger Aftenblad October 8th, 1994.(Bernt Erfjord) The station was still on the air per August 7th, 2010 relaying AFN ”The Eagle” from Germany. It has a very wide coverage taking in the southern part of Sveio, and parts of Bjerkreim and Strand municipalities.

22.AFRS IN THE AZORES.

1500 CSB-83 AFRS Lajes Field, Terceira, Azores, 250 watts(1953)100 watts in the 70s? Here it was regularly heard each equinoxial period of September and March.Noted for instance 130973 by Arvid Frøsland with MoR mx 0300-0400, then t40 mx 0400-0500, nx 0500, temps&wx: “AFRS, Lajes Field, the Azores, Portugal.””You are listening to the morning show Monday to Friday on CSB-83...Lajes field,...Portugal.””American forces Radio, CSB-83.”

Now on

1503, where the author heard them in the Mid-80s along with Stoke, WKLR of Bandon, Co.Cork, and Radio Sovereign, Twickenham!(Not all 4 at the same time, but the channel was fun!) The station last heard during 1989- season in Norway, but at Sheigra 1992, AFEBS ID. Belongs to 1605th Air Base Sqdn.

Addr: Radio station CSB-83, Azores Air transport station, APO 406, c/o Postmaster, New York, N.Y.

650 is the channel for FAP/PAF, Lajes. Heard by Rolf Mong w. Port.NA, “A Portugesa”, & ID as “Aqui Lajes, Forca Aerea Portugesa,” at 0100 on November 9th, 1973.Later on

1584.

23.AFRS IN VIETNAM.

Documentation from World Radio TV Handbook:

WRTH 1975: No listing. But still maybe 99,9 see WRTH 1974 and older:

WRTH 1974: AFVN Saigon 99,9 100 kW

WRTH 1973: AFVN Saigon 540 50 KW/99,9 100 kW

Pleiku 560 20 watts

Da Nang 850 1 kW

Nha Trang 900 20 watts

WRTH/Summer Supplement 1971:

AFVN Saigon 540 50 KW/99,9 100 kW

560, 770, 850, 900 10 kW

930/1120 1 KW

+ (FM)4 stns 25 kW.

WRTH 1971:

AFVN Saigon 540 50 KW/99,9 100 kW

560 50 KW

770, 850, 900 10 kW

930, 1200 1 kW

+ (FM?)3 stns 25 kW.

WRTH 1970

AFVN Saigon 540 50 KW

560 50 KW

770, 850, 900 10 kW

930, 1200 1 kW

WRTH/Summer Supplement 1968

AFVN Saigon 540 1 KW

WRTH 1968

AFVN Saigon 540 1 KW

1360 Khz, all 50 watts:

Ban Me Thoit, Can Tho, Da Nang, Duc My, Gia Nghia, Kontum, Nha Trang, Oleiku, Quang-Ngai, Qui Nhon, Soc Trang.

Phu Bai RVN had a station 1968/1969. Same as any of the mentioned stations?(Editor.)

WRTH 1966

AFVN Saigon 1360 1 KW(2200-1600)

Also Saigon 820 1 KW

WRTH 1965

AFVN Saigon 1360 1 KW(2200-1600)

The Blue Eagles[45]

In "Brass Button Broadcasters" by Trent Christian there is a Vietnam chapter where he discusses airborne transmissions from the Blue Eagles and not only were they TV stations but each also had a 50 kw AM station!

Look also up this You Tube Video for the airborne transmissions.

In the comments to the video posting Channel 11 VHF is mentioned, and so is Channel 78 UHF.

Regarding radio, one of the comments mentions a“Jenny” equipped with AM/HF/FM/TV as well as (another radio plane?)"627") operating out of DaNang in the 1966-67.

A C-121 Super Constellation Blue Eagle(from "Brass Button Broadcasters" by Trent Christian)at Ton Son Nhut. Picture credit: Roger Maynard.

A lot of heritage might be found when googling "AFVN", such as[46]

A B29 TV broadcasting over Pittsburgh, PA in 1955. Unknown photographer.

760 VOA Hue, heard by Reidar Bø, 1967. Also November 1974 by Arvid Frøsland.

VOA Hue QSL to Jorma Mantyla in Finland, 1971.

24. PHILIPPINES.

1140/1143/1147,5 DWVA VOA Poro Point, regular, early fade-in.

25. AFKN KOREA.

Here I pass the microphone to veteran military broadcaster Jack Broitman:

”In 1946 I was the morning announcer on the AFRS Station #1 Seoul, Korea as Jack the Bellboy. The only other name that I remember from those days was Lloyd Moss, who later became well known in New York FM radio.

This radio station was located in the 24th Corp Building in the heart of Seoul during the Occupation that immediately followed hostilities of World War II in the Pacific. I was part of the occupation force, a replacement for the guys who had fought their way through the Pacific theater of operations to occupy South Korea and to peacefully accept the surrender of the Japanese forces in that country. The 38th parallel had just been formed and Japanese refugees were streaming south to be transported to Japan, a country most of them had never seen since Japan had occupied Korea for 40 years at that point.

The radio station was located on the second floor of a rather modern building. It consisted of a control room and a studio with sleeping accommodations in rooms in the building hallway. My sleeping accommodation was the control room, on a cot, situated between the transmitter and the board. I could turn both ON without leaving the cot. As they warmed up for broadcast I folded the cot, got dressed, and prepared my morning shift of 6 AM to 10 AM. Toward the end of my shift I woke up my relief man and when he went on the air I continued my sleep in his bed.

Sundays we did a March of Time like show based upon news of the week. Our newscasts were picked up by shortwave from Japan, and transcribed by one of our staff for us to read. We worked seven days a week, four hour shifts on the air, and usually went off the air at midnight, as I recall.

I would be very happy to make contact with anyone who served on that station from about April 1946 to January 1947.[47]”

Jack Broitman with Eisenhower jacket with an arm patch created especially for Armed Forces Radio Station #1, Seoul, Korea, taken in 1946 where he broadcast the morning program as Jack The Bellboy.  The photo was taken in the control room which also served as his bedroom for most of the time he served in Armed Forces Radio Network.( Jack Broitman)

1270 VUNC Khangwa Island, logged by Torgeir Woxen 091265.

1440 AFKN “Mercury” Kunsan, logged by Geir Stokkeland, 020485.

AFKN Kunsan QSL to Jorma Mantyla in Finland, 1983.

26. TAIWAN.

1548/ex1550/ex1560 AFNT Taipei, Torgeir Woxen 1965, Arvid Frøsland 101074. Became ICRT after withdrawal.

1570 ICRT, ex AFNT, Taichung, Arvid Frøsland 171079.

27. JAPAN.

650 FEN Naha, Arvid Frøsland 061076. “Military Information from Okinawa.”Heard in Sweden by Olle Alm on 648 120387 at 1905.

FEN Okinawa QSL to Jorma Mantyla in Finland, 1985.

810 FEN Tokyo Arvid Frøsland, Lakselv, 061076(Ex WVTR)

1178 VOA Okuma, Okinawa, regular, Started in mid-53, closed March 14th,1977. Heard in the 50s in Sweden, early fade-in.Heard by SM March 15th,1972 at 1626 after KSBU 1360 nearby was heard 1625! Tx hours: 1100-1600.Last heard in Norway by DL, 071276.

1450 Britcom Base Broadcasting Station, Kure, Japan, 500 watts, British Commonwealth Force in Korea, heard by Bengt Ericsson, ARC,070156. Addr: Kure, Japan, B.A.P.O. 5.(Was // SW 6090 and 6105, another 1290 channel was called Crown Radio.) Ex British Commonwealth Occupation Forces Radio, BCOF, WLKS Kure, Japan.

1550 FEN, Itazuke, Torgeir Woxen, 151265.

1575 FEN Iwakuni, Geir Stokkeland Bjørnøya, 150984.1575/1580 VOA/VO Free Asia Ban Phachi/Ayutthaya. Regular, early fade-in.

28.CARIBBEAN

790 ACA20 AFRS/SCN Ft.Clayton, Rolf Mong, 051075

960 ZFB1 Hamilton, Bermuda ran VOAs Breakfast Show in the first part of the 70s, heard 300871 by Svenn Martinsen.

1040 VOA Sugar Loaf Key, FL., Rolf Mong 1962.

1180 VOA/R Marti Marathon Key, FL., Rolf Mong, first time 1962.

1340 AFRS Guantanamo Bay.”VO Information for American Forces.””American Forces Radio Guantanamo operates on 1340 kHz, with a power of 1.000 watts, as authorized by the FCC.”Heard in Brighton by Geoff Trower 020575.

1420 ACB20 AFRS/SCN, Fort Davis. Svenn Martinsen, 030987.

1450 WGBY Guantanamo, Cuba. 30 watts heard in Sweden.(Staffan Danell, March 1954)

1470 ACE AFRS/AFCN Puerto Rico, 50 watts heard in Sweden.(Staffan Danell, March 1954)[48]

(Fort Buchanan, later 1040?Closed now?)(”Spots, jingles and a variety of mx”,IRCA)

1580 VOA Antigua. Heard by Ole Forr 070681, frequent in the 80s.Closed.

1580 VOA Belize.Heard in Sheigra, November 1992.

29.AFRS ALASKA

890 AFRS Adak Island, AK., Geir Stokkeland, 230383

890 AFRN Anchorage 1000 watts Emergency operation.

1360 AFRN Ft.Greely, AK, Geir Stokkeland, 260183.An AFRN outlet with local programs,but here //1490.

1490 AFRN Syncro, Geir Stokkeland 281082.”AFRN-The sound of Alaska:”

1490 AFRN Campion AFB, Galena, AK, Geir Stokkeland, 230183.Local request program. 250 watts.

1490 AFRN Eielson AFB(Karesuando 231077 at 1405, AFRS-ID+TC for Eielson.A,Sweden) 50 watts.Heard 091182 w.Eielson as studio source.Also head of AFRN Northern Network.(Can also serve all net instead of Elmendorf. Also Ft.Greely 1360. Tok Jnct.RRS 1400 and Clear AFS 1490.)Later called AFSN.

There also have been many other BFBS, AFRS and VOA operations. Most notable loggings of these in Norway(including some special Swedish loggings) are:

1260 UNID by BH:”Bcasting to SE Asia, VOA Breakfast show and unid language.110175.

1350 VOA Bahrain, Heard in Norway by TJB 250291. A newer operation, this one established in connection with the Gulf War.

1485 AFRS Diego Garcia, a curiosity, heard regularly in Tanga, Tanzania, by Tore Nilsen, between 1730-2000 local time. “This is the Navy Broadcasting Service, Detachment 3, Diego Garcia, BIOT.”

The editor would be interested in further inputs from anyone who worked or are generally interested in these stations[49]. Especially: Those of you that were AFN London listeners do you remember which (of the) MW channel(s) you listened to?

I am also interested in more clues as to which broadcasting sites that were used(only 30+ sure as yet, originally over 50), and pictures of same.

Do you know of any recordings?

Email:

svennam@hotmail.com

---

[1] “Radio-My Escape from Solitude”, by Roland C. “Buster” Pearson in Listen to the World, supplement to WRTH 1981, p.568. http://www.stellamaris.no/htl.html

[2]”History of AFN Europe”, from AFN Answer Book, AFN Europe Command Information Booklet 1-90, p.70

[3] DX-Gnistan 1983: “40 years with AFN,” and “AFN Europe, part 1,” (Norwegian) DX-News 1989.

[4] AFRN Brochure February 1981.

[5] Kodiak Daily Mirror, Feb.9th, 1987.

[6] Written by Edward Pawley.

[7] ”Armed Forces Radio Service. Circuit Outlets list,” August 1st, 1945.

[8] Listener input also indicate Bulford? Lark Hill, and Wilton, all in Wiltshire.

[9] http://www.flypast.com

http://www.keypublishing.com

[10] Also called 1st Combat Wing, editor.

[11] http://www.flypast.com

http://www.keypublishing.com . For more information of the US Military Organization in the West Country, please consult Ken Wakefield’s interesting essay in the D-Day Special: ”Grasshoppers!(p.6-)

[12] “USA in World War II”, p.244, by Heiferman/Rutherford/Siefring, Chartwell Books, Secaucus, NJ 1980, Bison Books, London SW7, 1980, ISBN 0-89009-311-3. Essential are also:

Airfields of the Eighth 
then and now, by Roger A. Freeman:

http://www.afterthebattle.com/eighth.html

Airfields of the Eighth 
then and now, by Roger A. Freeman:

http://www.afterthebattle.com/eighth.html

UK airfields of the Ninth 
then and now, by Roger A. Freeman:

http://www.afterthebattle.com/ninth.html

Glenn Miller in Britain 
then and now, by Chris Way:

http://www.afterthebattle.com/miller.html

Additional airfield information might also be found in

Bases of Bomber Command
 then and now, by Roger A. Freeman:

http://www.afterthebattle.com/bomcom.htm

Also, material might be found in the 9 part book series: “Action Stations:” 1: Military airfields of East Anglia, 2: Lincs and East Midl, 3: Wales& North West, 4: Yorkshire,5: South-West, 6:Cotswolds&Midlands,7: Scotland, North East and N.Ireland, 8: Greater London, 9: Central, South and SE England. 1&6 is by Bowyer, 2,4&8 by Halpenny, 3&7 by Smith, and 5&9 by Ashworth. The series is for sale from Motorbooks, 13-15 Cecil Court
St Martin's Lane
London WC2N 4AN.

[13] http://www.flypast.com

http://www.keypublishing.com .

[14] On 583, the Third programme started in September 1946.(BBC Engineeering 1922-1972.)

[15] See more on Miller and the AAF Band’s UK concert and other appearances in the excellent:

Glenn Miller in Britain 
then and now, by Chris Way:

http://www.afterthebattle.com/miller.html

Amazon.com sells CDs with recordings of Miller on Allied Radio in the UK: The Lost recordings, and Secret Broadcasts.

[16] You might also be interested in another AFN essay by Patrick Morley: ” AFN: The Vanished Shooting Star”

http://www.rwonline.com/pages/s.0106/t.6223.html

[17] http://www.historytoday.com/MainArticle.aspx?m=13594&amid=13594

[18] According to listing in Norwegian” Hvem Hva Hvor”, p.420-424 for 1946.

[19] BBC Handbook, 1947

[20] 1st Army(Hodges), 3rd(Patton) invasion from West(Normandy).

5th Army(Clark) started in North Africa and invaded Italy.

7th Army invasion from South(Riviera).

15th Army also Mediterreanean Theater.

[21] (Reflected in WRH 1950)

[22] For all references to Sweden, and much of the material on AFRS and FBS outside of Europe, I am grateful to fellow ARC DX-er Lars Ryden.

[23] Mentioned in a Verification section, MWN 1972, as well as in “Listening in a dx paradise,”(MWN) by the late Arthur Cushen, Invercargill, N.Z.

[24] According to Stefano Valianti, MWN.

[25] According to Steve Whitt, MWN.

[26] CFN Information brochure, 1990.

[27] QSL and information to Lars Ryden from Zweibrucken station and EBU.

[28] John England in Offshore Echo’s no.82, August 1990.

[29] Offshore Echo’s no.92, December 1992.

[30]Distance-R and MBH, Mellombølgehorisonter.

[31] Offshore Echo’s no.92, December 1992.

[32] ”American Expeditionary Radio stations. North African theater. History and operation.”(1943) ”North African Radio.”(1943)

[33] See more at these web locations:

http://www.portlyautey.com/

http://unitpages.military.com

http://northeastairchecks.com/ Scroll to: "Howie Castle".

Gene may be contacted at

gene-richardson@sbcglobal.net

[34] UK info per Steve Whitt, MWN.

[35] Tom Williamson, “The British Forces Broadcasting Service,” DX Ontario, September 1991.

[36] For more BFBS information, see “A microphone and a frequency”, by Doreen Taylor(Heinemann). There is also a large amount of BFBS material at the UK National Archives, Ruskin Avenue, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU, phone 081/876 3444.

[37] Radio Onederland, 1967, p.48.

[38] http://www.gpry.net/ArmyPics/armypics.html

See also http://kagnewstation.net/scrapbook/index.html

[39] Washington Post, MWN.

[40] Gunhard T.Kock’s “BBC Relay Stations” series, in

DX-Clusive 1973.

[41] (Per-Ole Stenman:På upptäcktsfard i Newfoundland, MV-EKO,ARC.)

[42] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narsarsuaq_Air_Base

[43] South Greenland Tourist News 1987

[44] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluie_East_Two

[45] “It all began back in 1962 during the Kennedy Era and the Cuban Missile Crisis. A large cargo plane operated by the United States navy was quickly stowed with broadcasting equipment and flown over the waters separating Florida and Cuba. For these inaugural broadcasts, a radio receiver in the plane took an off-air program feed from the VOA mediumwave station at Marathon in Florida. The ground-based VOA channel was 1180 kHz and the plane re- transmitted this programming on 1040 kHz. Since this historic though unannounced beginning, airplanes have been used for local broadcasting in the mediumwave, FM, TV and shortwave bands while flying over a total of at least 11 different countries. Two years later, in the summer of 1964, a series of mysterious radio broadcasts were heard by DXers living in the central coastal areas along the Atlantic seaboard in the United States. These broadcasts were first noted on the shortwave channel 19,100 kHz and later on 532 kHz on the lower edge of the mediumwave band with identification announcements as ``The Blue Eagle``. Programming consisted of their own presentation of popular music, and sometimes a relay of local mediumwave stations such as WLDB and WMID in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Subsequent information revealed the fact that these broadcasts from the ``Blue Eagle`` were actually test broadcasts from an airplane before transferring over to Vietnam for use as an aerial broadcast unit. It should be noted that the Blue Eagle is a symbol of the United States navy. A total of six Lockheed Constellation C130 aircraft were fitted out with similar equipment for the purpose of aerial broadcasting and these are operated by the 193rd Operations Wing of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. Currently, new Constellation aircraft are beginning to replace the 30 year old planes, though the same electronic equipment will be transferred from the old planes into the new. The broadcasts from these airplanes were originally identified on air as ``The Blue Eagle``, though this radio broadcasting network of 6 Constellations is now known collectively as ``Command Solo``. On each occasion of active deployment, the identification is changed to  meet local circumstances. When flying over Vietnam during the Vietnam War, the Blue Eagles identified as ``AFRTS, the American Forces Radio TV Network``. In Vietnamese, their programming identified as VPMF, ``The Voice of Patriotic Militiamen’s Front``.”(Adrian M. Peterson, AWR Wavescan 359 for November 11, 2001, via Glenn Hauser’s DXLD(DX LISTENING DIGEST 1-172, November 15, 2001.) 

[46] http://www.afvn.tv/

http://www.afvn.tv/ProjectJenny/

http://webspace.webring.com/people/rr/rmorecook/index.html

http://www.chairborneranger.com/AFVNSounds.htm

[47] He may be contacted at jack.broitman(at)sbcglobal.net

[48] DX-ing on the Medium Wave Band, by Jan Erik Räf, How to listen to the world, 1956.

http://www.stellamaris.no/htl.html

[49] Some stations of German origin has now also been uncovered from Swedish sources from WW2.

Fra MV-DXingens historia fram till 1950-talet and

MV-DXingens historia: andra världskrigets slut”, by Jan Erik Räf(JER)

http://www.stellamaris.no/mv.htm

Röster i Radio(RiR) Sweden, inputs by

Lars Kalderen

Eric Saremba

DX 205(JER, Jan Erik Räf?)

DX 716

TS, 16/1945.

The listeners are indicated by their club numbers in brackets:

795 kHz 378m Radio Arnhem October 1944. ”This is Arnhem calling”. Also Shortwave. Only in English for the Allied Forces on the West Front. Relayed Allied Expeditionary Forces inclusive ID and the Greenwich TS! BBC News at 21:00 when a female voice said: ”Now you will have news from home.” Station had own news at other times. In the beginning close at 23 with God Save the King”, from early 1945 a good night waltz. The book Hitler’s Airwaves(”The inside book of Nazi Radio Broadcasting and Propaganda Swing”) might describe some of the background of the above story. In chapter 8: ”The Battle Stations” and Radio Arnhem”(The latter also heard by Jan Erik Räf) it is indicated on p.224 that ”several mobile transmitters were established…in co-operation with units of the Wehrmacht propaganda Department(OKW/WPr) and the ”SS-Standarte Kurt Eggers”, which had a broadcasting section of its own…”(Horst J.P.Bergmeier and Rainer E.Lotz: Hitler’s Airwaves, Yale University Press, New Haven, CT/London, UK, ISBN 0-300-06709-7) More about the origins of Radio Arnhem on

http://www.stellamaris.no/konigs.htm

1500 kHz 200 Jan.7th, 1945 at 0.00 and 0.01 ”Achtung! Hier spricht Sender Ingeborg. Die Kapelle. Rübezahl.” This was all the content. Very mysterious German-speaking station.(DX 205)

1460 kHz Jan.8th, 1945 at 0.00 and 0.01 ”Achtung! Hier spricht Sender Pauline. Die Kapelle. Rübezahl.” (DX 205)

1400 kHz Jan.9th, 1945 at 0.00 and 0.01 ”Achtung! Hier spricht Sender Anne Lore. (Hannelore?) Die Kapelle. Rübezahl.” (DX 205)

Bernd-Andreas Moeller in Chemnitz seems to have found an explanation to Sender Rübezahl. In "Frontzeitung der Festung Breslau", Schlesische Tageszeitung for May 4th, 1945, a station with this name is listed on 300 kHz, 1000 metes with transmission hours 8-8.45, 13-14.15 and 17-24.

Moeller says that S.Ingeborg etc. must have been tactical military stations, also transmitting common broadcasting programmes.