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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