Author: Alan, 5B4AHJ


Prefixes of U.S. administered callsigns prior to WWII were very different to those in the post-WWII period.

However, the pre-WWII prefixes continued to be used for a short time after the end of WWII, and thus are of interest for Club Log.

As far as I can ascertain, new prefixes began to be issued in early 1946, and the changeover was largely complete before the end of 1947.


Known prefixes (this may not be a complete list), including Club Log mapping dates - log in to Club Log to view QSLs (not necessary for K8CX QSLs):


Old prefix
Mapped untilQSL New prefixNew prefix
Mapped from 
QSL DXCC Entity
Notes & acknowledgements
K41946-12-31K4JAUKP41945-11-15KP4AU
Puerto Rico
Tnx W2VRK
K5Not QRV post WWII
N/AKZ5 1945-11-15
KZ5AA
Canal Zone Tnx W2VRK
K61946-12-31W1MVF/K6
KH61946-07-01KH6CN
HawaiiTnx Patrick Rigg, K8CX
K71946-12-31W6QJW/K7
KL71945-11-15KL7AD
AlaskaTnx Patrick Rigg
K4, KB4May not have been QRV post WWII
N/AKV41945-11-15
KV4AA
US Virgin IslandsTnx W2VRK, F5VHY
KB61946-06-30W2LRI/KB6
KG61946-07-01
KG6AL
Mariana Islands, Guam Tnx G4UZN, K8CX
KC6Not mappedQSL requiredKW61945-11-15W6VDG/KW6
Wake IslandTnx Patrick Rigg.
KD4Not QRV post WWII
N/A
KS41945-11-15
KS4AC
Swan Island Tnx K8CX
KD61946-12-31 QSL required
KM61945-11-15
KM6AA
Midway IslandTnx K8CX
KE61946-12-31
KE6/W9QMD
KJ6 1945-11-15
W6VID/KJ6
Johnston Island Tnx W2VRK, Patrick Rigg
KC6

KF6
1947-12-31

1946-12-31
K6ETF/KC6
K6HOT/KC6
KF6SJJ
KB6 1946-07-01KB6AD
Baker, Howland and American Phoenix IslandsTnx Patrick Rigg, K8CX
Tnx W2VRK
Tnx Patrick Rigg

 KC6 may not have been used pre-WWII

KG61946-06-30
QSL required
KP61945-11-15 KP6AB
Jarvis & Palmyra IslandTnx Patrick Rigg
KH61946-06-30 QSL required
KS61945-11-15 W0OZW/KS6
American SamoaW3LJL/KH6 QRV 1946. Tnx XTAL Magazine Vol 7, #8, October, 1946,  K8CX
NY1, NY2Not QRV post WWII
N/AKZ5See above
See aboveCanal Zone 
NY41949-12-31NY4DD
KG41949-01-01KG4AD
Guantanamo BayTnx  G4UZN. NY4DD  became KG4AD sometime in the period 1949-03-26 to 1949-07-02


The following is an extract from QST April, 1946:


The following is an extract from QST February, 1947:


Note:

The only prefixes for USA prior to 1947 were W[1-9], there was no W0 prefix.


Acknowledgements

ARRL/QST April, 1946

Stephen Emlyn-Jones, GW4BKG

Yahoo Groups: QSL Card Collectors


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