KS4AQ 1951 Swan Island

Bart K6VK,
I enjoyed reading your thorough account of the history of Swan Island. It brought back memories because Swan was one of the first DX contacts that I made when I got on the air in the early fifties. It was on 10 meter phone with KS4AQ. Might you have any information on that ham? I assume that this was the pre-CIA era since you show a KS4AU QSL card dated 1953.
Thanks,
Richard W1TSP

Hi Richard, If I go to the California Historical Radio Society Museum tomorrow, I'll look in the old callbooks. 73 de Bart, K6VK ##

Hi Richard, I got to the old callbooks last weekend. Winter, 1952 shows KS4AQ as "Austin E. Sterling, Swan Island, W.I. via Tampa FLA." There's nothing on Google. I suspect he was FAA or NWS. The first CIA interaction with Swan Island that I know of was 1954. The Postmaster in Tampa had directions as to forwarding to Swan Island. 73 de Bart, K6VK

QSL from the estate of W4AIW
Info courtesy of K6VK