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Columbia University
Geophysical Field Station. 1949 - 1968 (CUGFS) Palisades Geophysical Institute. 1968 - 2003 (PGI) |
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Opening Statement. The purpose of this website is to record a unique and unusual period of Bermuda’s history that was comparatively short-lived. Many of the projects and activities at the SOFAR Station were classified, however, much (if not all) of that information has now been de-classified by the U.S. Government. Please use this site to share any memories you have of the 30+ year period that SOFAR was operational in Bermuda, as well as any information that you have of its evolution once the operation moved to Florida. I worked at SOFAR from 1959 until 1969, first as a Summer Student, and then as a full-time employee. I have attempted to list all The People who worked there during my tenure. I am certain that I have missed some people, particularly some of the crew from Sir Horace Lamb, T-Boat, and Bouy Boat. If I have, please be assured that it is not intentional – it was, after all, almost 50 years ago, - please feel free to add to the list as necessary. There are others whom I never met, because they joined SOFAR before I arrived, or after I had moved on, and after SOFAR moved to Florida. I have also attempted to provide “job titles” (I use the term somewhat loosely, because the work ethic regarding titles was not very strict) but if anyone feels that I have mis-represented them (or their loved ones), please feel free to contact me, and I will make any changes. Many of the people listed here are no longer with us. They all provided a very important service to science, and to the U.S. military during the ‘cold war’ years. I feel that it is important that their contribution receives the recognition that it deserves. Many of these people did not realize the full significance of their efforts, because the projects were, of necessity, conducted on a ‘need to know’ basis. I feel lucky to have lived long enough to experience the de-classification of most of our work at SOFAR. I am hoping that this page will provide a space in which any references to, and activities about, SOFAR can be consolidated, because it was an important but shrouded period in Bermuda’s history. Thanks, Bruce Hallett. Disclaimer:-While I have tried to be accurate in the postings here, please bear in mind that these events occurred about half a century ago, many of the people involved are no longer here, so cross-referencing of dates, times, places, facts etc is somewhat difficult, and, as one grows older, the memory can play tricks. I endeavor to check the facts as best I can, for my own posts, and for the posts that others have supplied. Bruce Hallett. Nov. 30th 2013. . --==oo00OO00oo==-- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please let me know of any changes, additions etc. you would like to see.
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Latest Updates.July 2024. For earlier Updates, see the Previous Updates page.
Yet again, the activities of the SOFAR Station in the 1960’s are in the news! Bermudian author Everard “Bob” Richards has added the second mystery novel of his planned trilogy about Bermuda – “Triangle of Blood”. The SOFAR Station, and in particular, the T-Boat, are featured throughout the murder mystery thriller. Bob and I had a couple of phone conversations a couple of years ago about SOFAR and T-Boat, to “get a feel for the situation at that time”. I was privileged to preview the first couple of chapters before the book launched, and even though it is fiction, it is quite believable if not entirely accurate. I look forward to finishing the book shortly.
I was very pleasantly surprised when Bob sent me a preview of the Acknowledgements page:- This book is dedicated to the men and women from Bermuda, the USA and other NATO nations who served the cause of freedom in the four SOFAR facilities in Bermuda during the Cold War. Many thanks to Bruce Hallett and all the contributors to the Sofarbda.org website, without whom this book could not have been written. Also, I would like to thank the Bermuda National Museum and the Bermuda Public Library for their resources and assistance. A special thanks to my mentor, and little sister, Dr. Angela Barry, who has patiently guided me along this path of creative writing. And last, but not least, special thanks to my wife, Pauline, and the rest of my family for their enthusiastic and unwavering support for all my endeavours." The book is available in Bermuda from The Bermuda Book Store, and from Amazon (see extract below), as well as on Kindle. “Triangle of Blood” by Bob Richards is a thrilling novel set against the backdrop of the Cold War. The story begins with the end of World War II and the rise of geopolitical tensions, particularly focusing on Bermuda’s strategic importance. The plot involves a complex web of espionage, with Soviet nuclear submarines threatening the US East Coast and American counterintelligence efforts using new technologies like SOFAR (Sound Fixing and Ranging). The Russians will do anything to find out what the Americans are up to in Bermuda, including sending their assassins to "persuade" wayward local collaborators. The intricate conflict of spy versus counter spy, stretching from California, to London, and Moscow, pivots around a Bermuda emerging from its own era of segregation. The story ultimately intersects with the most terrifying chapter of the Cold War - the Cuban Missile Crisis. --==oo00OO00oo==-- New tabs under PEOPLE (The Team), and FLEET (Raft Ups) Aug. 2024 Following on from last month’s post about the book launch, and as a direct result of it, Gregg Hamilton, Gordon Hamilton’s son, found the website, and contacted me with a generous supply of information and exhibits about his father. I will process this over the next few weeks, and make appropriate postings. Here is a small sample of the treasures that he has revealed. The first gem is a photograph of a framed picture that hung on the wall of Ham’s office for many years. It is an enlargement (appropriately cropped) of an existing photo. It can be found on the website at the bottom of the “FLEET/Raft Ups” page, immediately below the original photo, (provided by Tom Graves). The actual photographer is unknown, but this enlargement was most probably performed by Freddie Roberts, who had a photo studio on the main road into St. George’s, and who provided much of the photographic services for SOFAR in the early years. Comparison of the 2 photos shows the ravages of time between 2 photos, one of which was kept in a dark place for many years – probably a cardboard box – by Tom Graves, and the other which hung on a wall of an office with a South-East morning sun exposure for probably 20 years. In fact, it has weathered the passage of time very well, considering that there was no fancy protective glass available in those day. The second gem is a photograph of a framed picture of “Vema” in New York Harbour. I have no knowledge of the history behind this photo. I have posted it on the “FLEET/Vema” page, with some additional notes. Finally, (for now, at least) there is a bit of a mystery. It is a photo of another framed photograph which is thought to be of the launch of a Polaris missile from a submerged submarine. I have looked at several videos and photos on missile launches from submarines, but cannot say with any certainty that this is such a photo. Another possibility is that this is a photo of an underwater detonation of some kind, but again, I can find no videos or photos that resemble this photo. But whatever it is, certainly, it must have been an important event in Ham’s career to have been framed and kept as an important life memory. For the time being, I have posted it on the “PHOTOS/Polaris etc.” page. Any further information on the origin of this photo would be welcome. --==oo00OO00oo==-- |