VR1G 1961 Ocean Island
Gilbert & Ellis Islands Colony
Ocean Island is now called Banaba Island

John Walker VR1G, located on remote Ocean Island. John's transmitter runs about 75 watts to four 807's crystal controlled on AM phone. His antennas consist of a quad and a ground plane.

The main (and only) industry on this tiny two square mile island is mining phosphate. An estimated 14 million tons of phosphate are being mined (in 1961). The photo shows loading of phosphate at Ocean Island.

QSL from G4UZN Collection
Photos from Don Chesser W4KVX DX Bulletin #146, October 11, 1961.
Photos sent to the magazine by Bill Bennett W7PHO