Annobón Island lies off Africa's west coast.
Annobón Island lies off Africa's west coast. |
NEWINGTON, CT, October 15, 2003--The Daily DX reports this week that the Annobón Island 3C0V DXpedition team was given just a few hours to leave October 4 after the island's military commander reportedly objected to the Amateur Radio operators' presence. The 3C0V operation commenced September 26, and, until its abrupt and unceremonious termination, the DXpedition intended to continue until October 11. Before the shutdown, the four-member group managed to log numerous contacts on 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 meters. The Daily DX Editor Bernie McClenny, W3UR, reported this week that he spoke October 12 with team member Franz Langner, DJ9ZB, now safely home in Germany but nursing a cold.
"Franz says the 3C0V crew first met with the
governor of the island and the head of the military on their arrival there,"
McClenny reports. "At that time they had the approval to operate from both of
these officials. Gifts were even presented." McClenny says the group had a
"proper license" and a landing permit good for two years.
 Franz Langner, DJ9ZB, operating during the 3C0V DXpedition. The group says it was able to save only a few of its photographs from the DXpedition. |
"On Saturday [October 4] at 10 AM local they were told they had two to three hours to take everything down and be ready to leave," McClenny said, adding that the demand came from the military commander of the island. After dismantling the equipment and antennas and leaving nothing behind, all four operators boarded a plane to Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea. A part of Equatorial Guinea, Annobón, is located in the Gulf of Guinea off Africa's west coast.
Langner and Victor Polo, EA5FO, continued homeward on October 6, while Team leader Elmo Bernabe, EA5BYP, and Vicente Pastor, EA5YN, remained in Malabo "to resolve bureaucratic formalities," as Bernabe explained in a statement on the group's Web site. Both left Equatorial Guinea October 10. The 3C0V team reports all members "are in excellent health and safe at their respective homes."
A news update on the 3C0V Web site said that
even though the group had all necessary documentation, military authorities frequently
interrupted the DXpedition. "During our first week there, we negotiated several
times with the military authorities without success," team leader EA5BYP said. The
group this week posted all documents for the DXpedition--including licenses for
each group member and written authorization from the Minister of Transportation
and Communications to visit Annobón for two weeks--on its Web site.
 The 3C0V team in Madrid, before the DXpedition: (L-R) DJ0ZB, EA5YN, EA5BYP and EA5FO. |
"We deeply regret not having been able to fulfill the objectives of this expedition, and are very grateful for the help given us by the associations, clubs and individuals, as well as the kindness and friendship always given us by the people of Annobón," EA5BYP said on behalf of the 3C0V team. "A heartfelt thanks for your support." He kept open the possibility of a future attempt to activate Annobón Island.
McClenny says Langner told him the 3C0V logs are safe and expected to eventually be loaded onto the 3C0V Web page. He said he didn't know if the logs would be uploaded into the Logbook of the World (LoTW) database. The DXCC Desk has not yet approved the 3C0V DXpedition for DXCC.
Also known as Pagalu, Annobón was the site of
the 1999 3C0R DXpedition in which EA5BYP and EA5YN also participated. More photos and information
are available on the 3C0V DXpedition Web site.
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