I was at his house in Spokane one day when he was talking to (now deceased) Tom Christian (ham call sign VR6TC) who was a descendant of Fletcher Christian of the "Mutiny of the Bounty." He was known as "the voice of Pitcairn Island."
We could hear the man's clear voice transmitting from Pitcairn Island WAAAAY down in the southern Pacific Ocean.
To this day, Pitcairn Island has no airport and receives supplies only by a boat dispatched from a nearby ship as there is still no harbor at the island.
The wreckage of The Bounty, burned by the mutineers, still lies at the bottom just off shore where it sank.
Tom Christian died July 7, 2013, at age 78. When a fellow ham radio operator dies, he becomes a "Silent Key" (key referring to a Morse Code sending key).
That radio conversation was an inspiration for me to join the amateur radio hobby.
I've been a Ham for almost 20 years. I've logged 160+ countries and had some amazing conversations over the years. None are as outright cool as your description.
73's de USConservative from the murder capital of the United states of America, Chicago IL.
I remember QSO with Tom
My logs were not computerized back then so it would be tough to find. I think I remember a QSL card which would make it much easier to find
Another unforgettable QSO was with JY1, King Hussein of Jordan. I heard JY2 several times but I never talked with her
Really big 20 meter antennas up 100 feet are no longer in my plans! Ham Radio back then was a big part of my social life as all my friends were licensed. Vacations were sometimes DXpeditions centered around contest weekends. My last licensed friend that I socialized with was in my sailing friends. Ham radio was nice out at sea but not necessary so few people bothered. They typically used the marine frequencies to communicate.