K4NI April 4, 1929 Navassa Island

Here is a very rare K4NI Navassa Island.
The operator was Russell Dunaja, Jr. (1905 - 1989), 1st licensed as 3ADY in 1921 and later W3BBF.
Russell was lighthouse keeper and radio operator on Navassa Island from 1928 to 1929.
A spark gap transmitter was used and later a CW transmitter was built. The receiver was a UV199 detector with a UX222 RF stage to an audio amplifier.
The antenna was an 80 meter Zepp from the 160' lighthouse to a 60' pole. Amateurs from all over the world were worked, mostly on 20 meters.
The island offered papaya trees, limes, and very hot peppers.
Russell and 2 others on the island would catch goats, tropical fish, red snappers, and crabs.
They were supplied from Guantanamo Bay every 3 months with dried fruit and vegetables, canned fruits and smoked meat. They drank rain water collected in a cistern.
Staying on the island was very primitive and lonely. Russell said he would not have stayed on the island if not for amateur radio.

Russell was first licensed as 3ADY in 1921. Last call W3BBF. Member of Old Old Timers Club (member #1210).

Read the 1969 QST article about this operation by Russell Dunaja, Jr. W3BBF

Russell K4NI was one of the Navassa lighthouse keepers during 1928 and 1929. The island was supplied by the U.S. Navy at Guantanamo Bay, hence the Navy postmark on his QSL card.

Burial: Eden Cemetery, Crescent City, Florida: Russell Dunaja, Jr.
Notice the bottom line of headstone inscription: "Amateur Radio Operator."

QSL from the estate of W3CJ
Photo courtesy of W5KNE
QST article used with permission from ARRL
"courtesy December 1969 QST"