Robert Womack
wrote:
"Did you know that the predecessor of FEN Wakkanai was an unauthorized radio station
put on the air in 1957 by members of Det 2, 6921 RGM? We called it WAKK, the Voice of
Wakkanai. We had unofficial permission from the Japan Radio Control Board to operate the
station. We got lots of records (45 RPM) from KFSD (I think this is right) at San Diego,
California and the regular stuff that AFRS sent to remote sites. AFRS stuff (music, radio
programs that included "Gunsmoke" and other shows) was on long playing records.
The station manager and program director was Author C. Doyle III. I was one of the DJs and
Doyle's chief gofer. Our studio was a hut originally designed for communications
equipment, I think (maybe HO-2 was the type). It was next to the Airmen's Club and we
painted it AF blue, if memory serves."
"FEN got wind of it when some airline flying an over-the-pole
route to Tokyo called them and wanted to know the exact location of their new radio
station. We had a Lieutenant from FEN come up to negotiate with us about shutting us down
and putting in a rebroadcast facility there. WAKK was eventually shut down and FEN
Wakkanai activated. I don't know exactly when this occurred but I am pretty sure it was
after I left (PCS) in November 1957."
