Scott Base: 1960-1970 - Maritime Radio

Scott Base radio in the early 1960s

1960-61 (w/o)

Radio Officer: Bill Deverall

1961-62 (w/o)

Radio Officer: Eric Vickers

Scott Base radio room 1961-1962. Photo: Antarctica NZ

In a tent on Christmas Day 1961. Photo Antarctica NZ

1962-63 (w/o)

Radio Officer: Quentin F McLea

Scott Base radio operator 1962-1963. Photo: Antarctica NZ

Sending Morse on a Collier & Beale 557HF field transceiver during the 1962-1963 season. Photo: Antarctica NZ

Winter-over team for 1962-1963. Radio operator Quentin McLea in back row, 2nd from right. Photo: Antarctica NZ. Click to enlarge.

1963-64 (w/o)

Radio Officer: Ted Gawn

Radio operator Ted Gawn during the 1963-1964 season at Scott Base. Photo: Antarctica NZ

Ted Gawn, 1963-1964 season. Photo: Antarctica NZ

1964-65 (w/o)

Radio Officer: Ted Gawn

Scott Base radio operators 1964-1965. Ted Gawn at right. Photo: Antarctica NZ

Radio operator Ted Gawn during the 1964-1965 season at Scott Base. Photo: Antarctica NZ

Cape Hallett Station switches from permanent staff to summer-only operation.

1965-66 (w/o)

Radio Officer: Gerard Ternahan

By the 1965-1966 season, Scott Base radio station had been equipped with Racal RA-17 receivers. Photo: Antarctica NZ

Radio operator with Racal transmitter and receivers, Scott Base, 1965-1966. Photo: Antarctica NZ

Scott Base had an amateur radio station too, equipped with Collins S/Line equipment. Top: Probably a homebrew antenna tuner, Heathkit SWR bridge, Middle: 32S-? transmitter, Bottom: 75S-1 receiver. Photo: 1965-1966 Antarctica NZ

The semi-automatic key in the photo is a streamlined Eddystone S-689. It would be interesting to know whether the transmitter in the photo is one of the first generation Collins S/Line transmitters (32S-1) which were very poor CW transmitters, with various spurious emissions, or the much better 32S-3 model introduced in 1963. Unfortunately the position of the lamp in the photo makes it impossible to distinguish.

1966-67 (w/o)

Radio Officer: Norm White