PA0QQ 1932 Netherlands

According to The U.S. Department of Commerce (Radio Divison), Radio Service Bulletin #156, published March 31, 1930, the operator was C. A. Gehrels, XEN0QQ, nPCK4, of Eindhoven.

Cor Gehrels PA0QQ did resistance work during WW2.
He and his wife helped British pilots escape using fake uniforms, he also started a foundation to help those families where needed (people being in prison, of missing, or being active abroad).

But the best amateur radio-related story is about "Radio Herrijzend Nederland" (Radio Rising Netherlands). During the WW2 years, Cor worked at Research of Philips Electronics, a large electronics firm at that time. Because of electronics research, all kinds of test fixtures were built. Cor initiated building a broadcast radio transmitter for when the Netherlands would be liberated again. The 15KW radio transmitter was split in a number of "test fixtures" that were used for "Research" and they were built right under the eyes of the Germans, and with permission of the Germans (for the test fixtures, that is). Construction of the transmitter was finished in 1942.

In 1944, allied forces landed in Normandy, France, and moved to the North, freeing Belgium and the south of the Netherlands, including the city of Eindhoven where Philips Research was housed (I don't know if you have seen the movie "a bridge too far" - it has a lot of background). Once Eindhoven was liberated on Sep 18 1944, the modules were put together and connected broadcasts started on Oct 3 1944. The broadcasts were to liberated parts of the Netherlands but also the North that was still occupied. The broadcasts were done to inform and encourage the population about the progression of the liberation. Transmissions using this transmitter continued until the Germans surrendered in May 1945, when other transmitters became available.

Unfortunately, not all is good news. Cor got arrested by the Germans, not for the transmitter but for other resistance activities, in July 1943 and was in several prison camps. With the allied forces getting closer, the Germans moved their prisoners to other camps and Cor passed away in March 1945 in a prison camp in Germany of malnourishment.

QSL from the estate of G6OM
Courtesy of G3NDC
Info courtesy of W5KNE, F2VX
Info on resistance work courtesy of PE1HZG