VU2US/AC5 1962 Bhutan

"The Land of the Thunder Dragon".

The 1st known operation from Bhutan was in 1955 by N. Chhawna AC5PN, then in 1960 by VU2CQ operating as AC5CQ. In April 1962, Bhutan was activated by an expedition sponsored by the "Amateur Radio Society of India". The VU2US/AC5 team was recruited from licensed army operators from India stationed close to the border. They operated on CW and AM phone on 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters. They used 3 transmitters, a 100 watt homebrew using 807's in the final, 35 watts with a military transmitter, and an 8 watt homebrew rig. Receivers were RCA CR-88, Hammarlund Super Pro, BC312, BC348, and National HRO. Antennas used were a 2 element 2 band quad, vertical whip, and ground plane.

The operators were Lt. General K. Umaro Singh VU2US, Brigadier Rustom Zal Kabraji VU2BK (retired as a Major General in 1970 & became SK in 2008----fondly known as Kab on the air), Colonel P. S. Gill VU2PS, and Captain T. A. "Ram" Ramakrishan VU2TN.

VU2DK has the logs for this DXpedition.

QSL from the estate of W3WGH / W3GH
Info courtesy of G4UZN, VU2DK
Euipment info from Don Chesser W4KVX DX Magazine #163, April 14, 1962