KH6BB Operations on September 1-3

September 2, 2005 marks the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Japanese surrender papers on board the battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, formally ending World War II. Missouri will be holding extensive ceremonies on board September 2, and the ship's club station KH6BB will be on the air as well. On CW we will be using the original Vibroplex key that was used on board in 1945 to send the first news of the surrender signing; the key has been loaned to KH6BB for the event by the Maritime Museum of Monterey CA, with permission to use the key on the air.

First operations from KH6BB will take place on September 2 at 0000Z (note that this is the afternoon/evening of September 1 in the US), because this time corresponds to 0900 September 2 in Tokyo Bay, the time and date that the papers were originally signed. At this time we will re-transmit the exact message that was sent from Missouri in 1945 reporting the signing (see text of message below). Since Missouri's hull number is BB-63, the primary operating frequency will be 14.063 MHz CW. Depending on propagation, alternate frequencies will be 18.073 and 21.063 MHz. There may be combined SSB/CW operations on 14.263, 18.163, or 21.363 MHz. Operations will continue until approximately 0600Z depending on propagation.

KH6BB will also be operating on September 3 and 4 from about 0000-0600Z (Friday September 2 and Saturday September 3 local time in the US), possibly earlier depending on propagation. There may be operations on September 2 and 3 around 1600-1800Z, again depending on propagation. Check the KH6BB web page event calendar at <www.kh6bb.org> for last minute details on times and frequencies. We hope to hear LOTS of hams on the air for this VERY special event.

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Text of original message:

Quote:

2 September 1945

TO: WARCOS FOR JCS CINCPAC ADV, CG CHINA, GENERALISSIMO SACSEA CHIEF MILITARY MISSION MOSCOW GOC AUSTRALIAN MILITARY FORCES CINC AFPAC, CG USASTAF, CG FEAF, CG 6H ARMY, CG AFWESPAC, COM3RDFLT, COM5THFLT, COM7THFLT, COMPHISPAC, CINC BRITPACFLT, CT AFMIDPAC, COM ALLIED AIR FORCES, COM ALLIED GROUND FORCES, COM ALLIED NAVAL FORCES, THE JAPANESE IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT, THE JAPANESE IMPERIAL GENERAL HEADQUARTERS

FROM: THE SUPREME COMMANDER FOR THE ALLIED POWERS

NR: CAX 5017

Formal surrender of the Japanese Imperial Government, Japanese Imperial General Headquarters and all Japanese and Japanese controlled Armed Forces wherever located was signed on the Battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay at 0908 hours, I time, 2 September 1945

No Sig

TOO: 020247/Z

MCN: USFB 18

Unquote

 

will be listening for you on 14.263 USB this weekend...
working mobile from Bluewater Lake, NM...have worked you
twice before...great QSL card!!!
73...Tom

 

Caution. 14.263 is 2Kc from 14.265 - Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio - which may still be active in support of Hurricane Katrina HF Response and Recovery

 

ab8ma.....tnx fer heads-up re: 14.263 MHz...wasn't aware...
will have to try for 21.363 MHz if 15M is open...

73 Tom