The presence of DA-RC in the remote Central Pacific Ocean region has again been consolidated with the inauguration of our newest member in Western Kiribati…224DA104 Hang.
A past member of the Alfa Tango and Sugar Papa DX Groups respectively, 224DA104 Hang subsides on Tarawa Atoll’s tiny Betio (Pronounced ‘Bes-she-o’) Islet which carries the reference number OC-017 in accordance with the Radio of Great Britain’s fantastic IOTA program.
Hang’s far-flung QTH (CQ Zone: 31, ITU Zone: 65) is one of twenty four islets which make up Tarawa Atoll, of which at least 8 are inhabited. These narrow isolated islets cover an area of 23 square kilometres and are regarded by most as among the most wanted IOTA contacts in the world of radio communications.
Separated by about 4 kilometres from Bairiki Islet at the extreme southwest of South Tarawa, Betio Islet has the port, shipyard and main power station, as well as the largest population in Kiribati. “It also has a large number of war relics,” according to Hang, “after fierce fighting during the major marine assault”. During this time, apparently, aerial bombing and naval gunfire by the American forces against the Japanese who occupied the islands, stripped Betio of almost all vegetation. (Though green again, the islet has never recovered its pre-war serenity, though Hang still speaks fondly of its beauty).
A keen IOTA Hunter and an experienced DXpeditioner with over 200 confirmed island contacts to his credit, Hang hopes to activate his islet during the 2009 World Wide Radio Organisation’s Islands Festival, an event administered by the world Freeband community’s governing body, which has already attracted extensive DA-RC member support!
Also an experienced Ham, Hang is arguably the longest serving radio operator in his small Oceanic DXCC, being active on 27 MHz frequencies for more than 20 years. So famous is 224DA104 Hang in the Pacific region, in fact, that an article has appeared about him in one of the world’s best known CB radio magazines.
Away from the radio shack, Hang enjoys gazing at sunsets and exploring old WWII relics such as battered Japanese command bunkers, rusted shipwrecks and broken Japanese coastal defence guns still pointing out to sea, of which there are many scattered on the islands of Kiribati.
Welcome to the Dx Adventure Radio Club, Hang. It’s terrific having you as part of the team!
