Radio “Hams” Intercept “Russian Attack” On U.S.

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28053, 22 August 1956, Page 13

Radio “Hams” Intercept “Russian Attack” On U.S.

9 p.m.) NEW YORK, Aug. 20 Amateur operators who monitor channels for the Civil Defence •jsanisation were startled today when ‘hey heard a message over the air gyine that Soviet bombers were only miles from New York. But it took them only 15 minutes expose it as a prank and catch the culprits. . The operators, who patientlv listen on an emergency Civi] Defence Jannel, thought their long efforts *ere bearing fruit when they heard ?. heavily-accented voice come crackW over the air: We are Russian bomber pilots. We 40 miles from New York city are going to bomb the city.” Soon their alarm turned to scep'•t? 0 when another voice announced: is the British Broadcasting CorWftinn frnm Moscow. This is Joe

Stalin talking. This is a broadcast tr The M amateurs. led by Mr Frank Biloon, knew it was a prank when the announcements were followed by a medlev of off-colour songs. Using direction-finding equipment, they fixed the location of the transmitter and notified the police. The police rushed to the scene and found four teenagers, a }’-X ear -°?5 girl, and three boys aged 17, 16, and 14 happily broadcasting over a _ 50watt transmitter in the car of a Cl ' r ’’ Defence official, Mr Herb Kreckman Mr Kreckman had loaned the car to his son, who apparently left it unlocked while attending a summer school session. The pranksters took it over without his knowledge. Police held the four teenagers for violating Federal communication regulations.