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LORAN STATION MATRATIN
30 35.8N 18 24.2E (Oct 1, 1964)
Pictures
Fact Sheet
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Site Survey: |
22 - 27
MAR 1958 |
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Construction Date |
AUG 1958
1 MAR 1959 – Construction completed |
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Constructed by: |
American Contractor ($951,000USD)
1960-upgraded buildings – transmitter building built at base
of tower |
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Established: |
1 MAR 1959
- Commissioned |
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Disestablished: |
MAY 1970 |
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Operated by: |
USCG |
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Chain: |
MEDSEA |
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Station Letter
designation: |
SL-4 – “X”
SL-1 – “X” |
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Station code name: |
Chain Code
Name: TACK
TACK III |
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Station Unit Number: |
1961 - APO 231 |
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Radio Call Sign: |
NCI-10
5A1TL - Ham |
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Station aka: |
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On-air testing date: |
SL-4, 1
FEB 1959 - low power |
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Operational date:
Declared Operational:
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25 MAR 1959
250001Z MAR 1959
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Operations Ceased: |
MAY 1970 |
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Station Operation: |
SL-4, SL-1
– Single SLAVE (XRAY) |
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Station pair: |
SL-4, SL-1
– ESTARTIT (OCT 1962), KARGABARUN, SELLIA MARINA |
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Loran Rate: |
SL-4,
SL-1 |
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On-Air: |
SL-4, AUG
1959
SL-1, 1967 |
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Off-Air |
SL-4,
1967 Change of rate
SL-1, MAY 1970 - Station operations ceased due to host political policies |
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Monitor Rate: |
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Equipment: |
01 FEB 1959 –
AN/FPN-38/39 installation completed - 240Kw |
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Antenna Type: |
625ft TLM – Stainless Inc, Model 1100, 1959 - |
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Personnel Allowance: |
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Station Mascot |
1963 - Smedley
1964 - Moosebah |
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Miscellaneous: |
In
the site survey report it was recommended to arm each man
with an M-1.
1960-upgraded buildings – transmitter building built at base
of tower
16 FEB 1960 – Site Survey declassified - Secret
JUN 1967 –
6 day war – interrupted station operations – station closed
MAY 1970 - AN/FPN-38/39 Equipment removed from site and all other equipment, tools, furniture, everything except the buildings themselves. |
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Commanding Officers /
Officers in Charge |
1st CO:
LT Martin Groff 1958 – DEC 1959
2nd CO: LTJG/LT Lynn N Hein DEC 1959 – DEC 1960
3rd
CO: LTJG Oliver W. Barber DEC 1960 - 1961
CO: LTJG Robert Dugan 1961 - OCT 1962
CO: LTJG David Parr OCT 1962 - NOV 1963
CO: LTJG G. L. Sanok NOV 1963
CO: LTJG Michael Schiro 1964 - NOV 1965
CO: LTJG David Clements DEC 1966 - NOV 1967
CO: LTJG Thomas Omri NOV 1967 - 1968
CO: LTJG Joseph O. Bernard 1968 - 1969
CO: LTJG Doyle 1969 - 1970 |
Fred's Place Reunion Hall:
OLD
NEW
Documents:
01 JUL 1967 - General Information Book - pdf
28 FEB 1969 - SK2 Charles B. Carlson LORAN C Qualification Letter
- pdf
Pictures
The photos below were contributed by Steve
Anderson c./1960
Aerial view of the Station
Sun rising over the station
Marble Arch
C-123 Landing with Supplies
Generator & Transmitter Building
Transmitter Check
Station c./1961
Thanks Steve!
The photos below were contributed by Rich Green
c./1969
C123 over the Lybian coast into Wheelus AFB
Photo at the rec bldg near the beach. LTJG Doyle and one of the
crew (left)
Surfs Up -A safe bet I was the only surfer off the African coast
that day
C123 Naples
C123 logistics crew
Tense moments as several Libyan armed vehicles
cruise through the station
Lybian guard
Sandstorm
Thanks Rich!
The below photos were contributed by Mike Blaschum c./1963
Yes, we had PI in the desert. Conducting the PI is LTJG Sanok &
BMC Willard.
Front row from LtoR: ENC Hayes, SN Carlson, ET2
Ozolins, SN DeRosia, SN Smith, EN2 Anscombe, HM1 Tomlinson, EM1
Tipps, CS1 Lea and ET1 Woodbury.
Don't know about the back row. I
recently made Chief, so I had no uniforms and took the pictures.
Note the wind blowing the neckerchiefs. The
wind always blew there. What a miserable place!!
LtoR: Musbah Abduhabbe
Abdullah (mess cook) and Millet Salahmed Bahmud
(cleaning guy)
Two kids
Thanks Mike!
The below was contributed by Wallace Casey c./1964-65
Station Christmas Card c./1964
View from the tower
Construction
L to R: Fogg, Skipper, Burg c./Apr 1965
Mr. Schiro and Casey at beach buggy
We made this out of old parts of various vehicles -
it was a moral vehicle
Refueling British plane c./Nov 1964
The Playboy Club
Casey's ramblings while
on station - pdf (What he really thought about the place)
Thanks Casey!
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