YB Land DX Club DX-ing Is Our Life
IOTA OC-053
GRID LOC RK39
WELCOME!
This DXpedition is dedicated to preserving the memory of the Forgotten 98 — a group of civilian contractors who lost their lives on Wake Island on October 7, 1943 during World War II.
Press Release
March 1, 2013
Team Leader Lou N2TU and the Management Team of Joe W8GEX, Craig K9CT, andJoe AA4NN are proud to announce they are planning a Commemorative DXpedition to a rare DX entity. This DXpedition will be to Wake Atoll (KH9) in October 2013.
Joe and Craig were the co-leaders of the very successful DXpeditions to Swains Island NH8S in 2012, and Sint Maarten PJ7E in 2010. They were also team members of the Midway K4M DXpedition in 2009. Joe AA4NN is a veteran of these as well as many other DXpeditions across the globe. Lou was also a member of the Swains NH8S team.
This operation is a Commemorative DXpedition in that it combines a DXpedition and a commemoration of an event. 98 civilian contractors working for Morrison- Knutsen, lost their lives on the atoll in October 1943. The group has been named the “Forgotten 98”. Our operation, observing the 70th anniversary of their deaths, will be dedicated to keeping their memory alive and honoring their sacrifice.
Wake ranks number 15 in Club Log’s Most Wanted Entities. A highly experienced team of 12 operators is being formed. They plan to operate five stations over a 14 day period, 160 to 6 meters on all modes, using a callsign to be announced at a later date.
Team Operators include Joe AA4NN – John K6MM – Carl K9CS – Craig K9CT –
Mike K9NW – Lou N2TU – Tom N4XP – Tom ND2T – Dick W3OA – Joe W8GEX –
Hal W8HC and Jerry WB9Z.
Wake Atoll’s access is extremely limited and the time frame is dictated by transportation issues. As such, official dates have not been set but will be announced as soon as possible. The team will gather in Honolulu and then travel to Wake. Official landing permission has been obtained.
Our website, www.wake2013.org, developed by team member John K6MM, will provide updates as they become available. Later, the group will also have an OQRS link on the website for easy QSLing.
We want to thank Elecraft, who will be supplying K3s and KPA500s for our use. Steppirwill be supplying an assortment of versatile antennas, and we appreciate their help. This Commemorative Dxpedition would not happen without the outstanding support of these companies. Others will be added and shown on our website as planning progresses.
Thanks also to Joe AA4NN, who will be the QSL manager.
73,
Your Wake Island 2013 Team
Operating Plan
We want you in our log, so please help us by following these guidelines.
If you cannot hear us – please don’t call us. Wait until propagation and conditions favor your QTH for one or more of the 11 Bands and 3 Modes. Eventually you WILL have a clear path to Wake Island. Be patient.
Unless you hear otherwise from the Operator, we will ALWAYS be operating in SPLIT MODE throughout the DXpedition.
Listen to the Operator for RX frequencies (e.g., “up 5 to 10”, or “listening on 7.155”, etc.)
You have two ears and one mouth, so please try to listen more, talk less. Be patient.
During SSB pileups, please announce your full call clearly — ONCE — using common phonetics.
During ALL pileups, listen for YOUR call on the comeback. Trust that we have two good ears.
We’re not impressed by those who add to the QRM by constantly calling out of turn. Be patient.
Please do not Tune Up on any of our TX frequencies or any of our RX slots!
If we ask for “EU” only or “QRP only” or any other specific request, please QRX. Be patient.
Resist those “insurance” QSOs. We want to maximize unique QSOs, not Dupes.
Whenever possible, we will try to listen in the General portion of the band.
Remember: We want you in our log. Please help us get you there.
| Online Log
ClubLog will be used for our online log service. NOTE: LINKS TO CLUBLOG WILL BE PUBLISHED ON THIS PAGE IN LATE SEPTEMEBER 2013. Important: Please note the header in ClubLog: “XXXXX QSOs logged up to DD/Oct/2013 hh:mmZ” This means that QSOs from the DXpedition have been uploaded through that date & time only. QSOs that you have in your log AFTER that date & time will appear in ClubLog AFTER the next upload of files. When that happens, the date & time will automatically be updated. As soon as the log files are received, ClubLog is updated immediately. Another great Cluster network is DXfor.me
Wake Island Propagation Charts NOTE: PROPAGATION CHARTS WILL BE Here is a series of Charts showing predicted propagation condition from Wake Island over a 24 hour period (0000 UTC thru 2400 UTC) for each of the 8 major Bands being used for this DXpedition. You can view a series of Band Charts or download a combined PDF file. Courtesy: Tom (NS6T) http://www.ns6t.net  The World As Seen From Wake Island
QSL Routes
We want to make it easy for you to confirm your QSOs with Wake Island 2013. Please follow these quidelines.
Questions? Please email: info@wake2013.org
OQRS by ClubLog
(Highly Recommended)
This is the preferred method to use for your QSL confirmation. After the DXPedition ends you can order either a Direct orBureau QSL card using the OQRS online QSL service provided by ClubLog.
Using this convenient online method you can easily apply for our QSL card to be sent Directly to your home or via the Bureau….without having to send your QSL card at all.
NOTE: A LINK TO CLUBLOG OQRS WILL BE PUBLISHED HERE AFTER THE DXPEDITION ENDS
Good News: If you are an existing ClubLog user, you do NOT need to fill in the QSO details in your OQRS request. Club Log does this for you, automatically, using QSO details from your existing log. Apart from being easier, this helps avoid typing errors. See ClubLog for more details about using OQRS.
If you are not an existing ClubLog user, please consider joining. It’s free and a great DX resource. See ClubLog for more details about setting up a new account.
OQRS is the the best QSL route to use to receive your NH8S confirmation quickly and efficiently!
Direct Mail
You can send your card via the regular Direct Mail system to the Wake Island QSL Manager.
Send your Direct QSL to:
Wake Island DXpedition
P.O. Box 5005
Lake Wylie, SC 29710
USA
Please refer to the following points when requesting a QSL Direct:
1. Make your QSO entries clear and readable, and recorded in sequence by date and band
2. For US-based cards, include a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) with sufficient first-class return postage. A donation with your QSL request is always welcome and appreciated.
3. For Non-US based cards, include a self-addressed envelope (SAE) with either a valid IRC (expiry December 2013) or $2 USD or 2 EURO. A donation with your QSL request is always welcome and appreciated.
4. Direct QSL requests received without a return envelope or sufficient return postage will be answered via the Bureau.
5. Direct QSL requests received with an expired IRC will be answered via the Bureau.
Bureau
QSL requests via the Bureau will be accepted and returned via the Bureau. Send to the Bureau via AA4NN. However, for an efficient and faster return of your confirming QSOs, please use the ClubLog OQRS System described above to order your QSL via the Bureau. Bureau requests using OQRS are free.
Logbook Of The World (LoTW)
Logs will be posted 6 months after the conclusion of the DXpedition.
eQSL
Sorry, but we will not confirm QSOs via the eQSL system.
Wake Island Background Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wake_Island Wake Island (also known as Wake Atoll) is a coral atoll having a coastline of 12 miles (19 km) in the North Pacific Ocean, located about two-thirds of the way between Honolulu, 2,300 statute miles (3,700 km) to the east, and Guam, 1,510 statute miles (2,430 km) to the west. It is an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States, administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior. Access to the island is restricted, and all activities on the island are managed by the United States Air Force. There is also a missile facility operated by the United States Army. The largest island, Wake Island, is the center of activity on the atoll and is the location of Wake Island Airfield, which has a 9,800-foot (3,000 m) runway.
During World War II, the Battle of Wake Island began simultaneously with the Attack on Pearl Harbor and ended on 23 December 1941, with the surrender of the American forces to the Empire of Japan. It was fought on and around the atoll formed by Wake Island and its islets of Peale and Wilkes Islands by the air, land and naval forces of the Empire of Japan against those of the U.S., with Marines playing a prominent role on both sides.
 Wake Island Forgotten 98 Rock
 Wake Island Civilian Memorial
On 4 September 1945, the remaining Japanese garrison on Wake Island surrendered to a detachment of U.S. Marines. The handover of Wake was officially conducted in a brief ceremony aboard Levy.  Coordinates: 19°18′N 166°38′E
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