Navassa Island

KC4AF 1958 Navassa Island

Navassa 58 KC4AF - Old Kodachrome fades, this was once a delightful color picture. You will see the sacrifice the team endured to give us a new one. Always be generous and give something for DX operations. Socorro Island was not available so the boys made this a secondary. You're viewing the Island Lighthouse at the highest elevation.

Arrival Lulu Bay, not an easy debarkation.

The little M/V Empress 58 feet long is headed for the anchor buoy ahead. Location Lulu Bay.

A wide shot of Lulu Bay by another group in 1969. Without the lift crane and 30' ladder at the entrance, nothing gets on the island.

Their lifeline M/V Empress at the anchor buoy ready to unload. Scouting party is already on the island. Described as very hot dripping humid and no water on the island. For emergency they have a cistern with brackish water. They have brought a small supply of drinking water.

No admittance to the lighthouse and a heavy padlock on the steel entry doors. First unexpected surprise, the group was advised the lighthouse would be unlocked. Prior to this, they had ideas of hauling a station up to the lighthouse, running an antenna from the top and setting the world on fire (RF wise).

Part of Dons CW cistern station; you had to go down a ladder to get in. Equipment shown is a Johnson Ranger and Hallicrafters HT32. The Collins 75A3 is to the left of the transmitters. This doesn't excite many these days, remember the old peak and dip tuning method? Don Chesser W4KVX reaching the keyer speed control to 45 WPM, rack em off Don!

Navassa sistern and boiler

Navassa Island DXpedition, March 26 to March 31, 1958. Operators were Don Chesser W4KVX, Wayne Green W2NSD, Dale Strieter W8DJN (now W4QM / VQ9QM), Narvel "Red" Reece W8EZF, Jake Schott W8FGX, Frank Koval W8RSW.

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QSL courtesy of K3GW
Photos, letter, and info courtesy of Bob Ballantine W8SU
Photos from the W4QM Collection
Sistern & boiler photo courtesy of usgs.gov