Calling all CW operators during the living History day at the USS Batfish on 14 August. We have been asked to provide CW operators to man the radio on the submarine. We would like to get 2-3 operators set up so that they could relieve each other on the radios. They have asked that we wear dark blue jeans Navy blue style shirts and sailor hats and they want us to operate CW during the event from 10:00 A.M. Sat. till 6:00 P.M. Sat. We hope to operate two stations the one on the boat with the call sign WW2SUB and the one on the museum building WW2Ok.

If you would like to participate please contact me at kb5vdb@yahoo.com or 918-951-3256.  Thanks Ron

Links:
Batfish Living History Association (BLHA)
http://www.ussbatfish.com/

The workday scheduled for the USS Batfish went well, but not as well as expected. We, the Ham Radio bunch, arrived just as the museum was opening, the work crew was already working, and after meeting briefly with Rick, the park manager, we continued our meeting of the Ham Radio Operators. We then had a wonderful lunch at Fajita Rita’s in Fort Gibson, them back to the Museum for a continued meeting with Rick. (Our meeting with him was interrupted by a Oklahoma Submarine Veteran’s Organization, and a hamburger cookout for the various volunteers. The work crew called off the work because of the heat.) We did accomplish some things, basically establishing an Electrical Committee to oversee electrical work that needs to be done to the boat for safety reasons,  we talked about operating some special event stations at the submarine for up & coming events such as a “Living History Day” on 13 August, and a “Scouts At The Batfish” day on 16 October, as well as several dates. (Living History Day is a day where military reenactors dressed in period uniforms, and stand in various places throughout the submarine, and tell visitors what happened in that particular area of the boat.)  (Scouts At The Batfish will be a day where Boy Scouts, and Cub Scouts will be there talking to various groups, such as Police, Fire, Military units as well as others.)  August 21st will be another workday. There is lots of work that needs to be done, such as mowing the grass, (Which the museum currently has to pay an individual to do. One of the things that we found out was that the museum exists only on what money they collect at the front door, and donations.) Let me know if you can help with any of the work that needs to be done. Anything helps quite a bit. Thanks-Ron-KB5VDB

A work day has been scheduled this Saturday at the USS Batfish in Muskogee. This is not radio work, but general labor on the boat itself. It would certainly look good for the Ham Radio Operators if several of us showed up just to help work on the boat’s restoration. I don’t know exactly what is going to be done, but replacement of some of the Teakwood Decking is one of the things mentioned. If you drive down, the GPS coordinates are 35 47.597 North Longitude, 95 18.625 West Latitude or in layman’s terms, take Exit 33 (Port Of Muskogee) on the Muskogee Turnpike just after crossing over The Arkansas River. Turn left (which will have you going east bound) Look for the USS Batfish sign on your left. When you see the Batfish sign, turn left, (heading north) follow this road about a half mile cross the railroad tracks, go through the gate, the road will dead end into the parking lot of War Memorial Park. Please let me know if you are going to attend, but if you are not sure of your plans, and it just so happens that you can show up, I don’t think anyone will mind. Ron

(Contact Ron Lancaster  at KB5VDB@Yahoo.com or by phone 918-270-2988)

More info on USS Batfish website
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