This December 7, we remember the attack on Pearl Harbor by Japanese forces that killed more than 2,000 servicemembers and 68 civilians in 1941. It was a devastating act of aggression on U.S. soil, thrusting an entire country into a war and calling on everyone to contribute to the cause overseas and back home— including operators in the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL).
Established in 1914 (celebrating its 110th anniversary this year), the ARRL’s contribution to the war effort cannot be understated. That’s because amateur radio almost didn’t exist during the war, but the ARRL showed the country how vital it could be.
Following the attack, amateur radio communications were completely halted by order of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This was to prevent interference with military communications and to keep amateur radio operators out of the hands of foreign stations.
However, the ARRL saw the potential a radio service could have in protecting the nation and pushed for the FCC to incorporate it in civil defense. They believed that a ham’s emergency radio preparedness and their capabilities and readiness to serve the nation could help protect it, wrote Bart Lee, K6VK, in an article about emergency operating in San Francisco during the war.
It made sense—the ARRL had already formed the Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) in 1935 with the Radio Amateurs of Canada. Still in existence today, ARES’ purpose is to help those in need when disasters like hurricanes and wildfires damage critical communication infrastructure.
So, in 1942, the FCC formed the War Emergency Radio Service (WERS). Its purpose was to alert others in the event of an air raid or an invasion. It also functioned the same as ARES in the event of a natural disaster.
WERS was made up of multiple, small shortwave transmitters and receivers reporting to central stations working on VHF. The intention of the service was for communications up to about 10 miles, so power was restricted to 25 watts. It was recommended by the Office of Civilian Defense that home equipment using salvaged parts be used to avoid using items not readily available during the war.
Instead of individual operators getting licensed, WERS’ licenses were only given to entire communities, but participants still needed an amateur radio license to use WERS frequencies.
At the end of 1944, the service included about 5,000 transmitters operated under 250 licenses.
While it never raised the alarm on an invasion or air raid, WERS was used for several disasters throughout wartime. These included providing communications for the flood of the Mississippi and Lake Erie in 1942, the Atlantic Coast hurricane of 1944, and a snowstorm in western New York in 1945, according to K6VK.
WERS ended in 1945, just after the war. In its place, the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) was created and still stands today. Formed in 1952, it was designed to quickly silence regular amateur radio if the sitting president of the United States invoked the War Powers Act of 1941. It also helps during a plethora of different disasters ranging from natural to technological.
RACES has provided vital communications assistance during a range of disasters, including hurricanes Katrina and Maria, the Northeast blackout of 2003, and the Twin Towers attacks on September 11.
In honor of the ARRL’s 110th anniversary and everything it has contributed not only to the world of amateur radio but to the defense of the country and its communities, OnAllBands wants to say thanks!
Special Operating Event
From Dec. 1 to Jan. 31, hams will be able to join in and celebrate the ARRL’s anniversary and the 60th anniversary of the U.S. Amateur Radio Stamp (below) with the Utah DX Association’s special event station K7S—all bands, all modes; 7.260, 14.260, 21.300, 28.470. The first 200 confirmed contacts will receive a used Amateur Radio Stamp. SASE will be needed to receive your QSL.
For more information on the event, click here.
