Topics

1

Museum Submarine Discussion / New effort to save USS Clamagore

« on: August 07, 2014, 04:39:20 PM »

There is a new effort being made by a group to save USS Clamagore.  We should support them any way we can in this effort.  Otherwise, this piece of WWII history will soon be an artificial reef in the Atlantic Ocean.

For more info, see:  https://www.facebook.com/friendsoftheclamagore

Don Keith
www.donkeith.com
 
 

2

Museum Submarine Discussion / USS Cod in NAVAL HISTORY magazine

« on: March 23, 2009, 01:56:36 PM »

NAVAL HISTORY magazine--a publication of the U.S. Naval Institute--has a nice article and verbal tour of USS Cod in Cleveland in their April 2009 issue.  You have to be a member to see it online (http://www.usni.org/magazines/navalhistory/) but your local library or newstand might have a copy you can take a look at.

Don Keith
www.donkeith.com
www.n4kc.com
www.n4kc.blogspot.com
 

3

Museum Submarine Discussion / Amateur radio event from USS Nautilus/Sub Force Museum

« on: March 23, 2009, 01:51:14 PM »

I had the distinct pleasure of ramrodding an amateur radio special event station that operated from the Submarine Force Museum in Groton...and mere steps away from USS Nautilus.  It was last August, on the 50th anniversary of Nautilus reaching the North Pole.  I did a write-up on the event that may be of interest to submarinemuseums.org members, and especially those who happen to be amateur radio operators.

You can read it (and see some photos) here: http://www.donkeith.com/n4kc/N9N.htm

The publication "K9YA Telegraph" also had an article about the event in their March issue.  It's a free publication, but you have to go to www.k9ya.org to sign up to be able to download it as a PDF.

Don Keith N4KC
www.donkeith.com
www.n4kc.com
www.n4kc.blogspot.com
 
 

4

Website Updates and Off-Topic Discussion / Info on USS Billfish SS-286

« on: December 22, 2008, 01:40:10 PM »

 am working on a new book about USS Billfish SS-286, one of the first Balao-class submarines.  I'm especially interested in any information I can find -- deck logs, crew lists, personal accounts -- on her second patrol in November 1943.

On that patrol, she came under an intense depth-charge attack that lasted more than 15 hours, and that forced her to go near 700 feet deep--almost 300 feet below test depth.  During that attack, there were numerous examples of heroism that I plan on detailing as part of the book.

Any info would be appreciated.

Don Keith
www.donkeith.com
don@donkeith.com
 

5

Submarine Related Chatter / USS Billfish SS-286 Information

« on: December 22, 2008, 01:38:22 PM »

I am working on a new book about USS Billfish SS-286, one of the first Balao-class submarines.  I'm especially interested in any information I can find -- deck logs, crew lists, personal accounts -- on her second patrol in November 1943.

On that patrol, she came under an intense depth-charge attack that lasted more than 15 hours, and that forced her to go near 700 feet deep--almost 300 feet below test depth.  During that attack, there were numerous examples of heroism that I plan on detailing as part of the book.

Any info would be appreciated.

Don Keith
www.donkeith.com
don@donkeith.com
 
 

6

Museum Submarine Discussion / Amateur radio event from Historic Ship Nautilus

« on: June 24, 2008, 09:34:05 PM »

Any participants on this board who are also amateur radio operators or shortwave listeners might be interested in a special operating event coming up the first weekend in August.  We will be operating stations on several amateur radio bands, including 7.279 mhz and 14.343 mhz, from the vicinity of the Submarine Force Museum and Historic Ship Nautilus in Groton, CT.  We will be using the special callsign N9N, signifying the historic radio message transmitted by Nautilus--"Nautilus 90 north"--when she emerged from beneath the polar ice cap after successfully navigating across the top of the world, through the North Pole.

Nautilus actually "pierced the Pole" at 11:15 PM EDST on August 3, 1958, becoming the first vessel to do so.  We plan on keeping the stations active until one ham operator somewhere in the world actually contacts N9N at the exact moment of the 50th anniversary of that historic polar crossing.  Thanks to the Southern New England Navy Marine Corps Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) operators for assisting me in setting up and operating the stations.

For those in the area, that would be a great time to visit since the staff at Historic Ship Nautilus and the library/museum will have many special activities going on.

73 (ham radio lingo for "best regards"),

Don Keith N4KC
www.donkeith.com
www.n4kc.com
www.n4kc.blogspot.com

7

New Member Introductions / What a great idea! Thanks, fellas!

« on: March 13, 2008, 02:43:18 PM »

I was thrilled to see that you had started this website and forum to help with the preservation of these wonderful boats.  I had the pleasure of writing a book about the 17 WWII museum ships called FINAL PATROL, published by Penguin Putnam and available also to Military Book Club members.  It spins a brief history of each boat and tells how it came to be where it is today.  It is written primarily for the non-submariner, and my real purpose in writing it was to call attention to the museums and to the plight of some of the boats. 
A number of the museums sell it in their gift shops and my publisher makes them available on consignment to any of them that are non-profit, priced at a special rate so they can make a decent profit on them to benefit the upkeep and restoration of the boats.  I'm not posting here to promote the book, but if anyone is interested in this one or my book about USS Batfish, visit www.donkeith.com.

For those among your members who may be ham radio operators, we will be doing a special events station operation from the USS Nautilus at the Submarine Force Museum in Groton on August 2 and 3.  That's the 50th anniversary weekend of the trip to the North Pole by Nautilus in 1958.  We'll be using the call letters N9N (for "Nautilus 90 north," the historic radio message sent after the successful transit beneath the polar ice pack) and will be active on several bands.  The purpose is to make amateur radio operators worldwide aware of the anniversary and of the contributions of submarines throughout history.

Again, thank you for the site.  I've had the pleasure of being aboard Drum, Batfish, and Razorback, and talking at length with crewmembers and volunteers from several of these submarines.  Tom Bowser at the Drum in Mobile is one of my favorite people in the world.  He is a jewel!  If we had a couple of dozen more like him, these boats would all be ready to go to sea if needed!  What a great bunch of guys...and thanks to them for what they did for this country.  Let's do all we can to preserve these invaluable boats and help mark their place in history.

Don Keith
www.donkeith.com
www.n4kc.com