The 1950 Radio Amateur Call Book Magazine shows W6ZJB licensed to Walter R Miller, the station was set up in Nose Hanger 2 at the Daggett Annex (formerly Daggett Air Field) of the Marine Corps Supply Depot in Barstow, California.  Cpl Evan Roberts was operating the station in 1955.

By 1958 the licensee is shown as MCSC, Special Services Section, Barstow CA.  The station was still in the hanger at Daggett Annex.  As the Marines come on-line to Navy/Marine Corps MARS in 1963, W6ZJB is assigned N0RTW as its call.  November Zero Romeo Tango Whiskey, the station of Lovers, Dancers and Drinkers (not necessarily in  that order)!

October of 1964 found LCpl Ed Steedle operating the station.  In 1966 SSgt Jimmie D Bogue arrived from serving with 2/1 in Vietnam and became CHOP of the station.

N0RTW moved into new digs just outside the front gate of the Yermo Annex around June 15, 1969 (see below). SSgt Bill Biggs was CHOP having replaced Jim Bogue who returned to Vietnam for duty with MARS.  MCSC Barstow went full tilt in supporting the station with new Collins S-Lines and other equipment.  In September of 1969 the station was visited by Commandant of the Marine Corps General LF Chapman who stated "This is the best MARS station I have ever seen."   In March of 1970 the station was featured in Zero Beat as the Station of the Month. Sadly in April, Bill Biggs and new operator Sgt Ed Gillespie were killed in an automobile accident.  Sgt Jim Kuhl took over temporary responsibility for the station until SSgt Doug Thomas from N0ANP arrived at the end of the month to take over as NCOIC.

The calls W6ZJB and N0MBA are no longer in use.  N0RTW is now licensed to one of its former operators, Dan Borgman (that's me!)   (06/12/2007)   Back to Top