National Capital Chapter 70 - Ottawa, Canada
VA3OEB Biography 
Ernst (Ernie) Brown - SK - QCWA# 29090 (Silent Key)
Background
Education / Employment History
- 1941 - Graduated from Canadian Electronics Institute, Toronto, with 2nd Class Certificate of Proficiency in Radio.
- 1941 - Radio operator on SS MAASDAM of Holland America Line. This ship torpedoed and sunk June 26, 1941. Assigned to MV TUVA, also of Dutch registry. This ship also torpedoed and sunk Oct. 2, 1941. Time for a career change.
- 1942 - Employed by Department of Transport as Radio Operator at Ottawa Monitoring Station, intercepting German wireless traffic.
- 1943 – Transferred to Edmonton Region. Assigned to Aishihik, Y.T. Radio Range Stn. Duties included CW communications with other stations.
- 1944 – Transferred to Winnipeg Region. Assigned to Dafoe, SK, Radio Range Station.
- 1948 - Promoted to Officer in Charge, Fort Churchill, MB, Radio Range Station. Duties included CW communications with The Pas, MB.
- 1953 - Promoted to Officer in Charge, Regina, SK, Radio Range Station.
- 1955 - Promoted to Radio Technician in Winnipeg Regional Office. Duties included maintenance of station equipment at Radio Range stations in the Region, and installing new equipment when required.
- 1958 – Selected for Radar training to maintain radar systems to be installed at major airports in the Region, (5 sites).
- 1960 – Promoted to Technician, Electronic, in Ottawa Headquarters of DOT T&E Section, to deal with maintenance of radar systems at airports across Canada.
- 1966 – Promoted to Chief Instructor, Telecommunications & Electronics, in the Air Services Training School, Ottawa, ON.
- 1974 – Assigned to Special Projects in the Telcom Bureau of DOT.
- 1975 - Named Senior Advisor, Manpower Development in the Telecom Bureau of DOT.
- 1976 – Retired at end of year after 35 years service with DOT.
Amateur Radio History
- 1948 - First licensed as VE5AM in Dafoe, Saskatchewan. Assigned VE4CP at Fort Churchill, MB.
- 1960 – Assigned VE3ICP on moving to Ottawa, ON.
- 1994 - Obtained “initials” call sign VA3OEB
Additional Information
Member of RAC and was a member of CARF.
1977 - Joined OARC. Served as Director in 2003-4.
1997 - Joined QCWA and SOWP.
In retirement, portable operations from a motor home became a major interest from 1978 to 2003.
2013 - Presented with 65 Year licensed Golden Certificate and pin at the May 2013 dinner meeting.
Moved to Stouffville in the Toronto area to be near family.
2014 - Received the Bletchley Park Commemorative Badge award from Her Majesty's Government and GCHQ in recognition for his service at Ottawa Wireless Station monitoring for U-Boat radio traffic during WWII.