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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: |
25 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 relocated to LAMPEDUSA |
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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 – 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
1965/66 –
6 day war – interrupted station operations – station closed
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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 Mike Schiro 1964 - NOV 1965
CO: LTJG Dave Clements DEC 1966 - NOV 1967
CO: LTJG J. O. Bernard 1968 - 1969
CO: LTJG Doyle 1969 - 1970 |
Fred's Place Reunion Hall:
OLD
NEW
Documents:
28 FEB 1969 - SK2 Charles B. Carlson LORAN C Qualification Letter
- pdf
Pictures
The photos below were contributed by Steve
Anderson c./1960
Station Photo c./1960
Sun rising over the station c./1960
Marble Arch c./1960
C-123 Landing with Supplies c./1960
Generator & Transmitter Building c./1960
Transmitter Check c./1960
Station c./1961
Thanks Steve!
Station from top of Tower c./1963
Photo found on Fred's Place
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
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 left to right: 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!!
The 2 men are Musbah Abduhabbe
Abdullah (mess cook) on the left and Millet Salahmed Bahmud
(cleaning guy) on the right
Two kids
Thanks Mike!
The below was contributed by Wallace Casey c./1964-65
Station Christmas Card c./1964
View from the tower
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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