December 1942 QST
Table of Contents
Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics. See articles
from
QST, published December 1915 - present (visit ARRL
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Although the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7,
1941, was a complete surprise and shock to the nation, that
fact that the United States would eventually be drawn officially
into World War II was well known. The amateur radio community
had begun talking about the potential impact on radio communications
hobbyists earlier in the year, as evidenced by articles printed
in QST and other magazines. Within a couple weeks of
Congress declaring war, all unauthorized transmissions from
Ham stations were terminated in order to prevent both intentionally
and unintentionally conveyance of information that could proves
useful by the enemy. Along with being a patriotic bunch that
were eager to help defeat Axis powers, they also loved their
hobby and willingly (in most instances) made critical components
of their equipment available for battlefield use. Items such
as meter movements, tuning capacitors, and even energy storage
cells (lead-acid batteries) were needed for troops on the ground,
at sea, and in the air. The
American Radio
Relay League (ARRL) devoted a lot of print space to promoting
an attitude of service and sacrifice, as with this article.
Note that both experienced men and women were solicited, with
specific skills required by all branches of the service.
U.S.A. Calling

Voluntary Enlistments
If you possess an amateur radio operator license, you can
enlist direct in the following branches of the armed services:
In the Signal Corps for duty as an operator or technician.
Age limits, 18 to 50.
In the Marine Corps as a staff sergeant in the Aircraft Warning
Service. Age limits, 17 to 35.
In the Army Air Forces (unassigned) as radio operator or
technician. Age limits, 18 to 44.
In the Air Transport Command as radio operator, to be sent
to the Replacement Center at Las Vegas, N. M., for training.
Age limits, 18 to 44. You must get a letter from the Air Transport
Command to take to your recruiting office, permitting you to
enlist for this branch of the Service. For such a letter write
to Air Transport Command of Army Air Forces, Chief of Communications,
8th Wing, Temporary Building 7, Gravelly Point, Washington,
D. C., attention Lieut.-Colonel Harrington, Room 1822.
In the Naval Reserve in Class V-6 as radio technician. If
your grade on the Eddy test is sufficiently high, you can obtain
a rating as Radioman 2nd Class. Age limits, 17 to 50.
If you really want to get into radio work in the war effort,
it is advisable that you enlist in the branch of the Service
in which you are most interested. If you are physically fit,
and within the age limits, present your radio license at the
Recruiting Office. You should be allowed to enlist. If you have
any trouble in doing so, wire or write George W. Bailey, 2101
Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington.
"Advice to Young Men"
You young fellows of the 18-19 group will very possibly wish
to volunteer for radio duty in a branch of the service of your
own selection - concerning which we have an item elsewhere in
this department. If you decide to await your call in the draft,
it is very important that you succeed in getting an assignment
to radio duties when you are first tested for your capabilities.
It used to be generally possible for us to arrange for the transfer
to radio work of a good amateur who got a "pile-it" job, but
now requests from "outsiders" like us are no longer considered.
You have to put everything you've got into your first effort
to get radio duty; you can be practically assured of a communications
assignment if you do. But it is very important that, when you
are called, you take along with you your amateur and commercial
licenses and any other documents you have to certify radio ability,
such as an ARRL "Proficiency Certificate," AARS certificate,
graduation certificates from radio courses, and so on. The reason
for this is that early in your military career you will be called
before an examining board and tested to determine where you
will be most useful. Then is when you will need those documents,
particularly that operator license. Whenever you are queried,
orally or by questionnaires, we advise you to stick to radio,
insist that it has been your main interest in life, describe
your operating experience and the num-ber of years you've had
a government license, and the number of transmitters that you
have built. That'll get you radio duty.
The Y.L. Department
Here is a list of the opportunities available this month
to women whose code and theory ability has earned them amateur
operator licenses:
The Civil Aeronautics Administration is running a six months'
training course for qualifying women in a position called "Trainee
Junior Aircraft Communicator." The pay is $1440 per annum during
training and, upon completion of the course, a position in the
airways at $1620, with good possibility of further advancement.
Further details on page 23, October QST. You should apply to
Civil Service for admission to the course; details at any first-
or second-class post office or Civil Service district office.
(Men are still wanted for these jobs, too.)
The Army Air Forces are taking student instructors at $1620,
or experienced radio women at $2000, as instructors at four
schools: Scott Field, Illinois; Chicago; Sioux City, S. D.,
and Madison, Wis. Apply to your local Civil Service office.
This cancels previous instructions to apply to Knollwood Field.
The Signal Corps General Development Laboratory at Fort Monmouth
is in need of many hundreds of women to report about the middle
of December to pursue courses in radio, telephone and drafting
work. There is a salary of $1440 ($120 a month) during the six
months' training period. Thereafter the graduates assume positions
as technicians in the Signal Corps laboratories, assisting engineers
in design and development work, at higher salaries beginning
at $1620. The only requirements for these applicants are that
they have high school education, having had math, science and
preferably physics and trig while in school. They should also
show an aptitude for mechanical training. No previous radio
experience is necessary. Living conditions in surrounding towns
are very good, with plenty of furnished rooms at approximately
$5 a week. Meals available in the school cafeteria. Books and
equipment furnished free. School runs eight hours a day, six
days a week. Volunteer classes in code instruction are being
organized and every graduate of the school can be well qualified
to pass the amateur operator examination. Applications are accepted
from citizens in any part of the country, provided they pay
their own transportation to Monmouth. In addition to trainees,
the Laboratory seeks the services of women qualified to teach
radio in the classroom and laboratories. Naturally, this requires
more education and radio background. Salaries for these positions
range from $2000 to $3200, depending upon qualifications. Applications
should be addressed to the Personnel Officer, Signal Corps General
Development Laboratory, Fort Monmouth, N. J.
Positions are also available for licensed women amateurs
in several branches of the United States Navy, doing work of
a more technical nature of considerable importance. You may
apply direct to anyone of the following offices: (1) Radio Section,
Bureau of Ships, Navy Department, Washington, D. C., attention
Lt. L. B. Wheeler, Room 2N-21; (2) Naval Ordnance Laboratory,
Navy Department, Washington, D. C., attention Mr. Ralph Cautley;
(3) Naval Research Laboratory, Anacostia, D. C., attention Mr.
Fred A . Pierce, Personnel Procurement Section.
The Radiation Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
Cambridge, Mass., also has a few openings for qualified women.
Application should be made to the above address, attention Dr.
F. W. Loomis.
Radio women may enlist in WAAC and receive the regular basic
training. Then if they have high-school education, including
physics, and are mechanically inclined, they may be selected
from the ranks of WAAC auxiliaries and given the Signal Corps
aptitude test. If they pass these requirements they will be
given several months of training at the Midland school at Kansas
City, under Signal Corps supervision, to prepare them for communications
duties. We believe the chief need is for code clerks, telephone
switchboard operators, telegraph and radio operators and radio
mechanics. Training of the first group starts November 30th
and additional groups will be accepted as of December 28th,
January 25th and March 1st. Those who pass this course will
be assigned positions which release AAF and SC enlisted men
for foreign duty. The women in this service will probably be
organized into special WAAC Service Command companies. WAAC
information from your Army recruiting station.
Instructors Needed
All over this country there is a rising note of urgency in
the call for radio instructors, theory and code and shopwork,
chiefly theory. Many amateurs are finding this their niche and
the larger schools are full of ham instructors. Items on this
subject have appeared in the last three issues of QST, to which
we refer you for data to supplement the following:
The prodigious schools of the Army Air Forces in Chicago
remain in great need of instructors. There are many thousands
of students there and many hundreds of teachers are needed.
Instructors, depending upon their qualifications, receive $3200,
2600, or $2000. Those who have something on the ball, but aren't
quite qualified to instruct, are accepted at $1620 and are themselves
given a three months' course in teaching, after which they jump
to the $2000 grade of junior instructor. The qualifications
for an original appointment as a junior instructor are either
a year's experience in technical radio work, six months' schooling
in a recognized radio school, a year's engineering study including
a course in radio, a defense radio course such as ESMWT, or
possession of an amateur operator license. Interested amateurs
should write, for further information and application blanks,
to Capt. John T. Gilmore, Secretary, AAF Chicago Schools, 720
So. Michigan Blvd., Chicago.
Prefer blue grass? The Lexington Signal Depot also continues
to need civilian instructors for its extensive training program,
mentioned in our September issue. War Department indefinite
appointment; age limits, 20 to 56. Men or women, but male applicants
may not be in draft classifications I or II. Again the basic
position is known as junior instructor, with a $2000 salary.
With successively higher requirements, applicants may qualify
as assistant instructor at $2600, associate instructor at $3200,
instructor at $3800. Promotion is rapid in this service (whether
at Lexington, or at Chicago or any of the other Air Forces'
schools).
The commander of the training division at the Kentucky school
will be glad to exchange particulars with you. With information
on yourself, address Capt. W. Gayle Starnes, Training Division,
Lexington Signal Depot, Lexington, Ky.
The high schools of the nation have been asked by the War
Department and the U. S. Office of Education to install pre-induction'
training courses in several technical fields, including electricity,
radio theory, operating and mechanics. Everything that a student
can be taught before induction saves that much time later. Some
high schools are already at work on this program; others will
follow by the thousands commencing February 1st. The need for
instructors, in both theory and shop work, is going to be unbelievable.
Meanwhile, at many vocational and technical schools, thousands
of Signal Corps civilian employees are receiving instruction
in the repair and maintenance of Army communications apparatus.
High school or college physics teachers with a minimum of two
years' teaching experience are needed to instruct in theory.
For instructors in the practical shop program, the basic requirements
are for a radio service man with at least five years' experience
as such, or a radio amateur with two years' experience under
license, and with the ability to teach others. Those knowing
the subject, but without teaching experience, can frequently
arrange for a free course in that subject itself, through their
State Board of Education. These are not Civil Service jobs.
The work is done under the ordinary basis of civilian hiring,
with quite satisfactory salaries. The instructors generally
are employed by local boards of education, and must meet certification
requirements which may vary in the several states. But if you
are qualified and wish to volunteer your services, and desire
further information, you may address the State Director of Vocation
Training for War Production Workers, in care of the State Office
of Education, at the capital of the state containing the school
in which you are interested. You will find both state and local
officials much interested in obtaining qualified instructors.
We give below a list of the schools where this Signal Corps
training is in process. It will be noted that there are no such
courses in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut,
New Jersey, Michigan, Montana or Nevada. If you live in one
of these states, you may address yourself to the state director
of a neighboring state. In the following listing by states,
the name of the city is frequently indicated by the title of
the school, and is shown separately only where necessary to
establish the location.
Alabama: State Teachers College, Livingston; University of
Alabama, Tuscaloosa; Florence High School; Alabama School of
Trades, Gadsden; Murphy High School, Mobile; State Teachers
College, Troy.
Arizona: Some school in Phoenix.
Arkansas: Little Rock Trade School.
California: Schools in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Mateo,
San Jose, Santa Rosa, Berkeley, Oakland, Ventura, Kentfield,
Palo Alto, Fresno, Modesto, Santa Maria, Pasadena, Alameda and
Santa Ana.
Colorado: Vocational School for Defense Workers, Greeley;
public schools of Steamboat Springs; State Junior College, Trinidad;
something at Boulder.
Delaware: Wilmington Trade School.
District of Columbia: Chamberlain Vocational School, Washington.
Florida: Lively Vocational School, Tallahassee; Florida Normal &
Industrial Institute, St. Augustine; some school at Daytona
Beach.
Georgia: Technical High School, Atlanta; Junior College,
Atlanta; Dalton High School; Griffin High School; Savannah Vocational
School.
Idaho: Some school at Boise.
Illinois: Burr Vocational School, Chicago; Spry Vocational
School, Chicago; Bancroft Vocational School, Chicago.
Indiana: School 95, Indianapolis; Crispus Attucks, Indianapolis;
Gerstmeyer Technical High School, Terre Haute.
Iowa: West High School, Des Moines.
Kansas: National Defense Training School, Kansas City. Kentucky:
Schools at Ashland, Covington, Harlan, Lexington, Louisville,
Madisonville, Owensboro, Paducah, Pointsville, Shelbyville and
Somerset.
Louisiana: Shreveport Vocational School.
Maryland: Baltimore High School and Schools 94, 452 and 453,
Baltimore; Fort Hill High School, Cumberland.
Massachusetts: Boston Teachers College, Boston Trade School,
Medford Vocational School, Springfield Trade School, New Bedford
Vocational School, Newton Vocational School, Westfield State
Teachers College.
Minnesota: High School, Mankato; East High School, Minneapolis;
Dunwoody Institute, Minneapolis.
Mississippi: A & M College, Starkville; Mississippi State
College, Starkville.
Missouri: Hadley Technical High School, St. Louis.
Nebraska: Nebraska State Trade School, Milford; Technical
High School, Omaha.
New Mexico: Las Vegas High School.
New York: New York City Signal Corps Training School; Paul
Smith School, Paul Smith; Troy Vocational School.
North Carolina: Winston-Salem High School.
North Dakota: High School, Grand Forks; North Dakota State
School of Science, Wahpeton.
Ohio: Electrical High School, Cincinnati; West High School
and Edison Occupational School, Cleveland; Franklyn University,
Columbus; some school at Toledo.
Oklahoma: Oklahoma City Trade School.
Oregon: Some schools in Albany, Astoria, Eugene, Oregon City
and Salem.
Pennsylvania: Schools in Altoona, Bethlehem, California,
Easton, Harrisburg, Hershey, Lancaster, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh,
Reading, Stevens and Westport.
South Carolina: Some school at Greenville.
South Dakota: Aberdeen Trade School.
Tennessee: Memphis Vocational School; Hume-Fogg Technical
High School, Nashville.
Texas: San Antonio Technical High School; Luther Burbank
Vocational School, San Antonio.
Utah: Some school at Logan.
Virginia: Danville Trade School.
Washington: Something at Seattle.
West Virginia: Stonewall Jackson Trade School, Charleston;
West Virginia State College, Institute; West Virginia Institute
of Technology, Montgomery; some school at Wheeling.
Wisconsin: School of Vocational & Adult Education, Ashland;
Milwaukee Vocational School; some school at Janesville.
Wyoming: Laramie High School.
At the moment, code is being taught under this program only
in New York City. There is a possibility of its expansion, and
persons interested in giving code instruction are also requested
to register that fact with the appropriate school.
Navy U.D.F.
We renew your attention to the Navy's call for Class A and
B amateurs to enlist for radio locator maintenance and operation,
as reported on page 41 of November QST. It is possible for an
amateur who does well in the qualifying examination to be given
an initial rating of RT2c, up four ratings over the ordinary
original enlistment. As this is technical work, code knowledge
is not required. Age limits, 17 to 50. Excellent technical schooling,
including special u.h.f. stuff. Details and forms from your
Navy recruiting station.
Radar Work Needs Officers
We again report that the outstanding service opportunity
for trained communications engineers and electronic physicists
is in radiolocator work. The quest for skilled men continues
as the nation's situation becomes more urgent. This service
holds the cream of the technical fellows, who are receiving
special training and experience with intricate secret microwave
devices. Incidentally, these men are pioneering in a new technique
which is certain to have a remarkable place in civilian life
after the war. Commissions are generally hard to get these days,
but they're easily available for the men qualified for radar
work. All the arms are looking for candidates.
In the Army, this is the Electronics Training Group of the
Signal Corps. Candidates must be graduates of an accredited
college, either in science with a major in electronic physics,
or in electrical engineering, preferably with emphasis on communications.
The age limits are 16 to 46. Second lieutenancy. The equivalent
naval officers are ensigns in the branch called Aviation Volunteer
(Specialist) and must be EE graduates, or the practical equivalent,
between 19 and 50 years of age. This work in the Marine Corps
is called the Aircraft Warning Service. While similar technical
graduates are desired, in special cases two years of college
will do; and in this service there are some appointments for
specially-qualified men up to the rank of major. Correcting
previous statements in this department, the age limits for commissioned
radar service in the Marine Corps are 20 to 45 years.
If you are interested in one of these services, write full
particulars of yourself to George W. Bailey, Office of Scientific
Research & Development, 2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, D. C., to obtain fuller information. .
Volunteer Officer Candidates
Nowadays the Army makes most of its officers by selecting
enlisted men and sending them to Officer Candidate Schools.
An arrangement of particular interest to married men is set
forth in Selective Service Memorandum No. I-394, to all state
directors. It provides a method whereby "Registrants between
the ages of 18 and 45 who have been, or are entitled to be,
deferred from military service solely by reason of dependency,
and therefore have been, or are entitled to be, classified in
Class III-A, may volunteer at the local board for induction
through the Selective Service System in order to compete for
selection as an officer candidate in the Army of the United
States." Correcting a report made on this subject in October
QST, note that Class III-B is not included.
A registrant interested in this opportunity must file with
his local board a Form 175, "Application to Volunteer and Waiver
of Dependency." It must be signed by the registrant and all
his dependents over 18 years of age. Next comes a physical examination.
If he passes that, he is sent to a reception center or replacement
training center for a qualification examination, thereafter
returning home. If he is disqualified, the local board will
deny his application to volunteer and he will be returned to
Class III-A. If he qualifies on this examination, the board
will immediately change his classification to I-A and stamp
the letters "VOC" on all his documents, the V indicating that
he is a volunteer. He is then ordered to report for induction
as a volunteer on the next call for men from his local board.
The average period of his basic and officer-candidate training
will be from six to nine months, during which time he will receive
the same rate of pay as a private inducted into the Army. If
he should be disqualified at any time during his training period,
or should be found disqualified to receive a commission, he
will, at his request, be released from active duty, and returned
to his home, and will not again be required to undertake active
duty unless and until other men in the same status, with respect
to persons dependent upon them for support, are being inducted
into military service.
R.O.T.C. Data for College Students
Colleges with compulsory ROTC:
In colleges where the Army basic ROTC course is compulsory
for freshmen and sophomores, students who desire to serve in
other Services than the Army may so state their choice at the
time of their enlistment in the ROTC, and that choice will prevail
provided they are not later selected to take the Army ROTC advanced
course. When an enlistee who has chosen to serve in a Service
other than the Army becomes eligible, at the end of the sophomore
year, for enlistment in the Service of his stated choice, he
will be discharged from the Army Reserve. His discharge papers
will be forwarded by the Army Command authorized to effect discharge,
and will be designated to the Navy or Marine Corps officer authorized
to effect enlistments.
Noncompulsory Army ROTC only:
Students may enlist in the Naval Reserve or Marine Corps
Reserve any time after the ROTC selection has been made from
the freshman class.
Noncompulsory Navy ROTC only:
Students may enlist in the Enlisted Reserve of the Army or
in the Marine Corps Reserve after selection has been made from
the freshman class.
Colleges with no ROTC:
Any student can enlist at any time in any Service, provided
the quota is not filled, but he cannot be assigned to a particular
branch of the Service he has selected until his junior year.
In colleges where there is no ROTC, military training is not
compulsory.
General information:
Candidates for enlistment must be 18, but students under
18 may be included in college quotas provided they agree in
writing to enlist when they become 18 ... All candidates must
pass a physical examination ... Students must be enrolled in
an accredited college ... All colleges have quotas of students
to be enlisted ... During the second year an examination will
be given all enlisted students. Those failing to pass will be
called to active duty as enlisted men ... All graduates in the
ROTC advanced course will be commissioned upon graduation. All
others enlisted in the ROTC will be sent to the nearest Reception
Training Center and, upon successful completion of the normal
course of training, will be sent to Officer Candidate School
... Enlistments in the various branches of the armed services
will be accepted at the time when representatives of the Joint
Procurement Board visit the various colleges. Such visits are
usually made three times a year ... Enlisted students will be
deferred from induction under the Selective Service Act until
graduation, but they are subject to call to active duty at any
time during their enlistment period.
Posted January 18, 2016