National Capital Chapter 70 - Ottawa, Canada
VE3UD, ex VE3BDO Biography 
William (Bill) Deacon - SK - QCWA# 14537 (Silent Key)
Background
Education / Employment History
- 1930 - Bill graduated with “Certificate of Proficiency in Wireless Telegraphy” from Vancouver High School of Commerce “Room 19”
- 1930-1939 - Bill served as a commercial radio operator aboard 26 vessels from deep-sea tugs to trans-Pacific Empress liners, many of which used spark rigs. He also spent 10 months at a logging camp in the Queen Charlotte Islands during which radio operating was only a minor function.
- 1939-1964 - Bill joined Trans Canada Airlines (now Air Canada) initially as a radio operator. He served on air/ground and point to point position in Vancouver and Winnipeg and also was posted by TCA to Lethbridge, Alberta and London, England. From 1950-1964 Bill was at TCA HQ in Dorval where he eventually became responsible for all overseas telecommunication services as well as air/ground, teletype switching centre, 700-line switchboard, TV displays throughout the terminal, and VHF equipment in various mobile units.
Amateur Radio History
- 1933 - Bill was first licensed as VE5KU, and operated using a breadboard 245 tube in TNT circuit.
- 1934 - When his call sign was cancelled for failure to renew on time, Bill was issued VE5KQ, which he held until WWII broke out.
- Successive call signs held after the war were:
- 1946 - VE6FO Lethbridge
- 1949 - G3FFO Cranford, Middlesex near London Airport
- 1950-1964 - VE2KZ Dorval, Quebec
- 1964 - VE3BBR Ottawa (inactive)
- 1979 - VE3BDO Ottawa
- 1984 - VE3UD (following the death of Bud Punchard VE3UD)
Additional Information
Bill obtained DXCC as VE2KZ while at Dorval.
He was a member of Society of Wireless Pioneers, CRRL, CARF, Champlain Repeater Association and Kingsmere Park-Gatineau Amateur Repeater Association.
He was also a member of OARC and served as Groundwave Editor (1983-1985).
Bill spoke at several amateur radio meetings and wrote several articles concerning his interesting experiences.
He was also a member of QCWA and served as President of Chapter 70 (as VE3BDO) 1981-1982.
Bill passed away at Almonte, November 1, 1995 at age 82.