LORAN STATION BIKATI
Station Information
| Site Survey: | 20 NOV 1943 |
| Construction Date: | 30 AUG 1944 – SEP 1944 |
| Constructed by: | CONSTRUCTION DET “D” |
| Established: Commissioned: |
SEP 1944 16 DEC 1944 |
| Decommissioned: Disestablished: |
13 JUL 1951 |
| Operated by: |
USCG |
| Station Unit Identifier: | CG Unit 84 Navy 824 |
| Mail address: | |
| HAM: | VR1C |
| Station Project code name: |
|
| Station AKA: | Makin, Gilbert Atoll, VARSITY |
| Personnel Allowance: | 1944 | 1 Officer. 25 enlisted 1949 | 1 Officer, 15 enlisted |
| Station Mascot: | |
| Station events: | Station located on Bikati (Varsity) Island. 16 AUG 1945 - DC to AC completed 05 JUN 1949 - CO Stabbed to death by a SN. Mistaken identify believing the intended person was a TAD CPO. |
| Commanding Officers: | 1944 - 1945 LTJG Charles A. Rollston (? - 21 OCT)* 1945 - 1946 LTJG John F. Thomas (21 OCT - ?) 1946 - 1947 LTJG Ellsworth A. Winette 1947 - 1948 1948 - 1949 LTJG Roger G. Devan (SEP - 05 JUN 1949) 1949 - 1949 LTJG Dudley C. Goodwin (JUN 1949 Temporary) 1949 - 1950 LTJG John P. Obarski (? - 12 AUG) 1950 - 1951 ENS Darrel W. Starr (12 AUG - ?)* 1951 - 1951 LTJG Richard C. Green (Decomm) * Promoted to the next higher rank during tour |
Letters of Relief:
12 AUG 1950 LTJG Obarski / LTJG Starr - pdf
Station Operations
LORAN-A
3 16 19.8 N 172 40 35.9 E MIT 1948
3 15 28.13 N 172 41 13.47 E Google Earth
| Chain: Station pair: Loran rate: Coding delay: Baseline: |
MARSHALL ISLANDS BIKATI (S) - ROGURON (M) 2L3 1000 us Approx. 257 Nautical miles |
| Declared Operational date: |
25 NOV 1944 |
| Operations terminated: | JUL 1951 |
| Station Letter designation: | "L" |
| Radio Call Sign: | |
| Station Operation: | Single SLAVE (SS) |
| On-air testing date: | 2L3 | 20 OCT 1944 |
| On-Air: | 2L3 | 25 NOV 1944 |
| Off-Air: | 2L3 – JUL 1951 Chain reconfiguration |
| Monitor Rate: | |
| Equipment: | Model C Timers sn: 179 & 180; TDP transmitters |
| Radiator: | 120 ft vertical steel tower |
Fred's Place Reunion Hall:
OLD | NEW
Awards:
Coast Guard Restricted Duty Ribbon
Documents:
22 JAN 1948 CGC KUKUI Inspection Report - pdf (not complete)
Pictures:
1944 Robert Henchal photo album with CD "D" - contributed by his daughter Tess - Thank you Tess
Coast Guard Official photos