Stew K4SMX, Bill K1MM and Harry VK2BJL activated this extremely rare and dangerous Island group in April 1979. Traveling in the yacht "Banyandah" the DXpedition spent ten days in the South China Sea before finding an unoccupied island in the Spratly Group. After being turned back twice from other possible operation sites (once by gunfire!) the Dxpedition made a landing and operated for 72 hours making 13,226 QSOs on 10, 15 and 20 meters both phone and CW. Transceivers were Yaseu FT-901DMs and the linears were Dentron Clipperton.
The photo below was taken at sunset from the front of the operating tent which was just a few feet away from the water; you can see that by looking at the QSL. This picture became world-famous in the HAM arena because Dentron (who furnished the amplifiers for this DXpedition) used the photo in all of their Clipperton Amplifier advertisements ( CQ, QST, etc. ). They also gave away posters (24" X 12") at Dayton.
