AC5PN 1955 Bhutan

AC5PN, N.Chhawna was the first Bhutanese to go on the air in 1955. He was followed 7 years later by a group sponsored by the "Amateur Radio Society of India". The April 1962 VU2US/AC5 team was recruited from licensed army operators from India stationed close to the border. The operators were Lt. General K. Umaro Singh VU2US, Brigadier Ram Z. Kabraji VU2BK, Colonel P. S. Gill VU2PS, and Captain T. A. "Ram" Ramakrishan VU2TN.

AC5PN was also instrumental in helping Gus Browning W4BPD get operating permission for his Bhutan DXpeditions.

"As an amateur radio entitiy, Bhutan was until 1945 part of India (AI, from 1929: VT). There is no recorded activity from Bhutan. Bhutan was first activated in grand style after 1945 by an expedition sponsored by the "Amateur Radio Society of India".
This leaves one with the impression that Bhutan was "first activated" by the ARSI expedition which is not true. You clarify that in the next section but I would move the section about the first genuine activity being done by N. Chhawna, AC5PN.
I'm glad you clarified that A51PN is not the same person as AC5PN. I think many may be confused by the similarity in calls but they were actually 2 different operators as you stated.
73, Bill W4ZV (ex-K4RID)

QSL Patrick Rigg Collection
Info courtesy of W4ZV