KP6PA Palmyra Atoll DXpedition

{{Short description|Amateur radio DXpedition to Palmyra Atoll}}

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| title = KP6PA Palmyra Atoll DXpedition

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| image1 = File:Palmyra Atoll on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg

| caption1 = Location of Palmyra Atoll

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| image2 = File:Palmyra Atoll NWR aerial FWS.jpg

| caption2 = Photo of the coast of Palmyra Atoll

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| label4 = Dates Operated

| data4 = June and July 1974 {{cite magazine |last=Schenck |first=Bob |date=2016-07-01 |title=The Northern California DX Foundation: Supporting DX and DXing for 44 Years |url=https://s21arsb.com/book/CQ%20Magazine/CQ%20Amateur%20Radio%20-%20July%202016.pdf |magazine=CQ Magazine |location=Hicksville, NY |publisher=CQ Communications Inc. |access-date=2022-10-21|editor1-last=Moseson |editor1-first=Richard |editor2-last=Feldman |editor2-first=Jason}}

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| label5 = Bands Operated

| data5 = 10m-160m {{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/KP6PA-QSL-on-KP6-1974-06-23 |title=KP6PA QSL on KP6 (Palmyra Atoll) 1974-06-23 |date=1974-06-23 |language=English}}

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| label6 = Modes Used

| data6 = CW, SSB

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| label7 = Number of Contacts

| data7 = 6235 {{cite magazine |last=Essery|first=E. E. |date=1974-08-01 |title=Communication and DX News |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Short-Wave-UK/70s/SWM-1974-08.pdf |magazine=Short Wave Magazine |location=London, UK |publisher=Short Wave Magazine Ltf. |access-date=2022-10-21 |volume=32 |issue=370 |editor1-last=Forsyth|editor1-first=Austin}}

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| label8 = Number of Operators

| data8 = 4 {{cite magazine |last=Johnson |first=Glenn |date=2016 |title=K5P Palmyra 2016 |url=https://www.ncdxf.org/newsletters/2016-SPRING.pdf |magazine=NCDXF Newsletter |location=Oakland, CA |publisher=Northern California DX Foundation |access-date=2022-10-21|editor1-last=Shank |editor1-first=Debi}}

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The KP6PA Palmyra Atoll DXpedition was an amateur radio expedition that took place in June and July 1974. The team operated two Yaesu FT-101B transceivers{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/KP6PA-QSL-on-KP6-1974-06-23 |title=KP6PA QSL on KP6 (Palmyra Atoll) 1974-06-23 |date=1974-06-23 |language=English}} and was able to make approximately 6235 confirmed contacts using morse code and SSB voice.{{cite magazine |last=Essery|first=E. E. |date=1974-08-01 |title=Communication and DX News |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Short-Wave-UK/70s/SWM-1974-08.pdf |magazine=Short Wave Magazine |location=London, UK |publisher=Short Wave Magazine Ltf. |access-date=2022-10-21 |volume=32 |issue=370 |editor1-last=Forsyth|editor1-first=Austin}}

During the activation of Palmyra Atoll the team helped rescue Duane "Buck" Walker; and his girlfriend, Stephanie Stearn who had run aground on a reef due to an inoperable engine.{{cite interview |last=Epps |first=Rusty |interviewer=Jesse W Johnson |title=Epps Discussing Palmyra Atoll |type=Phone Recording |url=http://archive.org/details/Rusty-Epps-Discussing-Palmyra-Atoll |access-date=2022-10-22 |work=Palmyra Atoll Digital Archive Collection |date=2016-01-28}}{{Cite web |last=Wright |first=Andy |date=2015-12-07 |title=The Secret World of Ham Radio Tourists |url=http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-amateur-radio-obsessives-who-send-messages-from-the-ends-of-the-earth |access-date=2022-10-22 |website=Atlas Obscura |language=en}} Due to tensions with Walker the expedition was ended a day early and the team left for Kingsman Reef. After the team left Walker murdered Mac and Muff Graham who had anchored at the atoll and would later steal their boat the Sea Wind.{{Cite news |last=Turner |first=Wallace |date=1981-07-13 |title=Mystery On Pacific Atoll Leads To Murder Charge |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/13/us/mystery-on-pacific-atoll-leads-to-murder-charge.html |access-date=2022-10-22 |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news |last= |date=1985-06-13 |title=Jury Finds Boat Thief Guilty In 1974 Pacific Island Murder |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/06/13/us/jury-finds-boat-thief-guilty-in-1974-pacific-island-murder.html |access-date=2022-10-22 |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Linda |date=2010-06-09 |title=Notorious atoll murderer dies after parole to Willits area |url=https://www.willitsnews.com/general-news/20100609/notorious-atoll-murderer-dies-after-parole-to-willits-area |access-date=2022-10-22 |website=The Willits News |language=en-US}} Walker would be convicted of murder in 1985 and the book about the Sea Wind murders would become a bestseller.{{Cite news |last=Ray |first=Karen |date=1991-02-10 |title=In Short: Nonfiction |pages=18 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/02/10/books/in-short-nonfiction-444091.html |access-date=2022-10-22}}