Messages

1

Museum Submarine Discussion / Re: New effort to save USS Clamagore

« on: August 14, 2014, 04:42:40 PM »

The group in East Tennessee is well aware of the hurdles ahead of them.  The have gotten some good publicity already, though:

http://www.local8now.com/home/headlines/East-Tennessee-man-wants-to-bring-World-War-II-era-submarine-to-Knoxville-271172841.html

http://www.wbir.com/story/news/local/2014/08/13/group-wants-to-bring-submarine-to-knoxville/14023279/

Don Keith
www.donkeith.com

2

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
 
 

3

Museum Submarine Discussion / Re: As we look at OUR museums around the country struggling by

« on: August 07, 2014, 04:36:33 PM »

Please note that there is another move afoot by a group to try to save Clamagore.  Let's not only wish them well but support them any way we can.

See:  https://www.facebook.com/friendsoftheclamagore

Don Keith
www.donkeith.com
 

4

Museum Submarine Discussion / Re: Books about our submarine museum boats!

« on: August 07, 2014, 04:17:28 PM »

Tom's book is FANTASTIC!  You'll feel like you are back inside a diesel boat when you thumb through all those great photos.  It also shows just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the work he and Leslie have done to restore the DRUM.

Congrats, Tom!

Don Keith
www.donkeith.com

5

Museum Submarine Discussion / Re: Books about our submarine museum boats!

« on: February 21, 2013, 08:12:29 PM »

Tom, that is great!  Glad you are still in those tanks and keeping the old girl pretty and painted up. 

On the books, I lost contact with the lady at the Barnes & Noble in Daphne.  She was the one that was checking with the gift shop to see if they needed copies of FINAL PATROL.  I still think the gift shop could get better prices from whatever distributor they use for other books and make more money that way for the museum.  Let me know if they get the book back in and next time I'm down that way I'll come by and sign any copies they have in stock.  That might help them sell, too.  The gift shop can just tell the distributor they want to order ISBN 0451219511.  They can buy them through a distributor cheaper than I can!

All the best, Tom, and it is great to hear from you.

Don Keith
www.donkeith.com
 
 

6

Museum Submarine Discussion / Re: Books about our submarine museum boats!

« on: February 21, 2013, 06:29:05 PM »

You're right, Blackwing.  If none of us post, the posts get old!  I've heard good things about the Batfish book but I have not yet read it.  I've WRITTEN more books lately than I have READ!  But that's the nature of what I do.

Since my last post, I've done a book on Commander Dudley "Mush" Morton and the USS Wahoo titled Undersea Warrior.  See more at http://www.donkeith.com/index.php?p=18.  Commander (USN Retired) George Wallace and I have also published our second novel, a submarine thriller, Firing Point.  Details at http://www.donkeith.com/index.php?p=20.  It is still in pre-production as a major motion picture.  But if Hollywood was a U.S. fleet boat, we'd be speaking Japanese now!

I saw the Drum from a distance a while back and it looks like Tom Bowser and the crew are doing some great work over there.  Does anyone have updates on Clamagore and Cavalla?

Don Keith
www.donkeith.com
 

7

Website Updates and Off-Topic Discussion / Re: HAM Radio Operations

« on: July 15, 2010, 11:08:55 PM »

Charley, I did write up an article about my special event station--N9N--from the USS Nautilus back in 2008, and submitted it to QST.  However, they only ran it on their web site.  It still comes up if you do a search for my call sign but it shows the page is no longer available.  I also wrote up an article for the K9AY newsletter and they ran it last year.  I have no idea how to access their archives.

There is also an article with pictures about the operation on my web site at: http://www.donkeith.com/n4kc/article.php?p=11

I also wrote an article about the museum ships weekend that ran on eham.net.  You can access it here:  http://www.eham.net/articles/21695

You see that I am trying!

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

8

Museum Submarine Discussion / Re: Books about our submarine museum boats!

« on: December 24, 2009, 06:24:44 PM »

Tom:

I was down your way for a signing in October in Fairhope and in November at the Junior League Christmas Jubilee but did not get a chance to get by the Drum either trip.  I did ask the Barnes & Noble folks if they were still supplying FINAL PATROL to the gift shop but they weren't sure there had been any copies sent over there lately.  I still think the gift shop can buy them from a distributor cheaper and make more for the gift shop.

I brag about you and all the work you do on the boat all the time.  Hope the "Old Girl" is hanging together and that millions are going through her "innards."  I hope to see you all soon.  Good to hear from you and the best of the holidays to everyone there at the Alabama and Drum!

Don
www.donkeith.com

9

Museum Submarine Discussion / Re: Books about our submarine museum boats!

« on: December 23, 2009, 10:34:14 PM »

Thanks for all the great comments about my submarine books!  Some news:

We are hoping to be able to announce THE ICE DIARIES in paperback after the first of the year.  The book has done very well and reamins on many of Amazon's bestseller lists.  More on that book can be found here:  http://donkeith.com/index.php?p=13

I have a new book coming in late March 2010.  WAR BENEATH THE WAVES tells the story of the USS Billfish and a 15-hour depth charge attack that brought out the worst but also the absolute best in her crew.  You can go here to learn more: http://donkeith.com/index.php?p=2

Glad to see so many other authors are working on books about the various boats.  We MUST tell these stories!

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

10

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
 

11

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
 
 

12

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
 

13

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
 
 

14

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

15

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

« on: March 13, 2008, 09:06:48 PM »

Mark, I've worked WW2SUB several times and have the QSL to prove it. 

Lance, thanks for the kind words.  I had a pretty good co-author on that book who lived much of the story...and lived to tell about it!

And it's not true.  Tom Bowser DID pay me to say those nice things.  Funny thing is, I would have said them for free!

Don Keith
www.donkeith.com