The White Falcon - 29.11.1991, Side 4

f .... |
Broadcast operations have originatedfrom building T-44 since the late 1950s. Over they ears, the building has changed more than the mission. (File photo)
Navv Broadcasting Service Detachment. Keflavik
In the groove and in the news for 40 year^
The movie “Good Morning Vietnam” young man he saw that the future of broadcast- accomplished a lot as we are the only AFRT^^^P
hrnnoht to thp hia sr’.rpp.n and to thp. world thp. ino would hp. a vital linlr of r.ommnrnr.ations for ontlpt in thp. world whir.h offp.rc qo mnr.h ”
brought to the big screen and to the world the
story of Armed Forces Radio and its impor-
tance to servicemen and women during the
Vietnam War, but what it didn’t tell you is that
long before then, sailors and airmen were saying
“Goooood Moormning Keflavik” in the land
of Ice and Fire.
Everyday when we turn on and tune-in to the
numerous cable radio services and television
channels, we are listening to the Navy’s third
oldest broadcasting detachment. Even though
the original 25 watt signal has increased to 250
watts and they have expanded from radio to
cable television, the mission of Navy Broad-
casting Service Detachment, Keflavik hasn’t
changed from what the mission was 40 years
ago.
On November 15,1951, TKF, the Icelandic
call sign for the American military radio sta-
tion, started bringing military members news,
information and entertainment.
Sigurdur (Siggi) G. Jdnsson, Chief Engineer
for the station for more than 32 years recalled,
“In the early days the radio station was located
where the elementary school is today and it
was operated by the Air Force. Later, the
station moved to it’s present location and since
1961 has been run by theNavy.” Jdnssonis the
first foreign national to be hired by Aimed
Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS).
In 1989 he was awarded the Col. Thomas E.
Lewis Award, the first civilian to receive the
award, for his efforts over the years as NBS’s
liaison with the Government of Iceland. As a
4
ing would be a vital link of communications for
Iceland. “Did you know that the base had the
island’s first television station?” he quizzed.
“I have seen many changes here. Today, we
are better equipped and have one AM radio
station, three stereo and two mono FM radio
stations and have recently expanded the cable
television services to 15 channels. We have
outlet in the world which offers so much.”
For 31-year-veteran Teitur O. Albertsson,
also an Icelandic technician, the challenge is
what makes his job interesting, “Technical
changes and the fact that the broadcasters keep
breaking or running down the equipment keep
us, the technicians, in business. We have
constant training, we must. Over the years the
Sergeant Brian Carpenter ques up an audio tape for the FM radio station. (Photo by JOC Terry
Bamthouse)
The White Falcon