...SOMERTON PARK LISTENING STATION WAS A 24/7 OPERATION...
Our latest member of the group, known here as '73', not only has a strong connection to the Somerton Man case, but he is also an experienced radio man. In this post, he provides us with valuable information regarding the operation of the Somerton Park Listening Post and shows how and when they became involved with Australian Security Services.
The following is an extract from a document, it contains the names of those involved but I have obscured them to maintain their and their descendant's privacy.
Somerton Park Monitoring Operations:
Under the auspices of Australian Security Services, operating 24/7, a specialist team of four men started monitoring operations in 1942, using Hallicrafters receivers. Their duty was to listen to specific frequencies, record stations, and report any suspicious activities. Messages with five-letter ciphers were forwarded for decoding by experts.Unusual Message Intercepted:
In the summer of 1942, the team intercepted a message that didn't conform to the usual five-letter groups. After decoding, it turned out to be the names of boats in Port Adelaide and Outer Harbour spelled backward. The purpose behind this message remained unclear.Contribution to the Sydney Harbour Attack:
The team also detected an unusual signal resembling a homing signal in May 1942. This signal coincided with a subsequent attack on Sydney Harbour by three midget submarines. The team's reports contributed to understanding the events.
Understanding High Frequencies:
This article highlights the importance of understanding high frequencies, skip distances, and ground waves in monitoring activities. The Adelaide team was instructed to listen on specific frequencies during certain time slots covering the 24/7 operations
Diplomatic Messages:
The team intercepted diplomatic messages originating in Berlin and destined for Tokyo but relayed via a delayed relay in Burma. The Melbourne authorities commended the team's work, recognizing its significance.
Secrecy of War:
Detailed stories of such operations were not shared during the secrecy of war. Recollections, documented years later, provide valuable insights into the team's contributions to monitoring illicit transmissions and enemy signals. Some events remain unpublished.
It is not known when the installation ceased it's monitoring operations.
It is hoped that we will be able to provide more information on this subject, please check in again over the coming weeks.