KG6SBM/K6 1940 Jarvis Island

George C. L. [Christian Lappe] Stillman (1914 - 1988) stayed on Jarvis Island as a volunteer "colonist" from Oct 1940 until Apr 1941 as part of a team of four young men. One of them was Henry K. Lee (K6JEG, KF6JEG, KG6JEG) who served as a radio operator on the Baker, Howland, Canton, and Jarvis islands for several terms (3-4 months each) between Jul 1938 and Nov 1941.

Another volunteer „colonist“, Robert Lieson (W1KFV, KF6SJJ), mentioned in his personal account “Hamming on Howland Island. The Story of KF6SJJ” which was published in the April 1941 issue of QST (pp. 9-11, 26) how he saw George Stillman arriving on Howland in Oct. 1940 bound for Jarvis Island: “When she ship landed, KF6OWR [Thomas Wright Bederman (1921 - 1999)] and K6BSM came ashore. KF6OWR was to take my place on Howland and K6SBM was scheduled to go on to Jarvis with KF6JEG.” (p.26)

The “RADIO” magazine wrote in its January 1941 issue with reference to an info provided by the same Robert Lieson: “Bob also says that KF6JEG is still on Jarvis signing KG6 and will be there for at least another term, which is seven months [until Aug 1941]. Just to make sure KG6 will be on the map K6SBM is there too. KF6SJJ [Robert Lieson] met him on his way to Jarvis and SBM had 1500 feet of antenna wire, an RME and a 100-watt c.w. and phone rig.” (p.114)

Already in its December 1940 issue the “RADIO” magazine had announced that “KF6JEG [is] now operating portable [KF6JEG/KG6] on Jarvis Island [and that] K6SBM is with him now and will soon be signing KG6SBM.” (p.84)

The QSO date (May 23, 1940) written on the QSL card mailed to W3EVT in June 1941 is strange. At that time the QSO could only have been made from Hawaii. If the date as written were correct, George Stillman would have used his KG6 card which he had printed presumably after his return from Jarvis to confirm a QSO made with his Hawaiian K6SBM call-sign one year before, because no other cards were at hand. However, it is not unlikely that the QSO was actually made in May 1941 from Hawaii shortly AFTER his return from Jarvis Island in April 1941 and that he might have indeed used “KG6SBM/K6” as call sign for some reason.

QST April 1941 (pp. 9-11, 26)

RADIO Magazine Jan 1941

RADIO Magazine Dec 1940

RADIO Magazine Apr 1941

QSL EA5BM Collection
Info, Articles courtesy of Norbert Maibaum