Danny Weil VP2VB
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Danny Weil of San Antonio, TX was born January 14, 1918 in a suburb of London England, and died October 3, 2003, at age 85. He had suffered a stroke and had been living in an extended-care facility in San Antonio, Texas. Weil was descended from many generations of watchmakers and was apprenticed in the trade of watchmaking. Later he earned a Degree in Mechanical Engineering and Navigation. His father, Jack Weil, was killed during World War II in the London Blitz. Danny joined the Royal Air Force at the age of 17 and in the 10 years he served, he was stationed in Ceylon, India, Norway and Stalingrad. Danny left England in 1954 in a boat he made by himself in order to travel the world alone after being inspired when he read the book "Kon Tiki" in 1947. In 1963, after 9 years, 3 boats and travels to the Atlantic, the Carribean and the Pacific Islands, Danny completed his around the world voyage. Needing a means of communication, he taught himself Morse Code, radio theory and obtained a British Amateur radio license. Sailing single handedly around the world was a trip he volunteered to undertake on behalf of radio "hams". His voyage was integral in setting up ham radio stations on remote islands and the expedition was monitored by over 100,000 amateur radio enthusiasts around the world. He is remembered by most "hams" as "the first DXpeditioner." Danny was known as an adventurer who had a dry sense of humor which was characteristic to the British but his heart was warm and his loyalty as a friend was unparalleled. He was preceded in death by his wife, Naomi Weil and his mother, Christine Eckels. Danny is survived by his close knit extended family of friends, Dan and Barbara Mclhany of Fair Oaks; Bonnie and Billy Henderson of San Antonio and all of the employees at Towne North Animal Hospital.
<via Maurizo Bertolino>

Danny's shop in London	Dick Spenceley KV4AA ³	With Naomi * ¹	The YASME Book
* Naomi Kay, wedding day, Panama Canal Zone, 21. July 1960

The DXploits of Weil and of Lloyd and Iris Colvin, W6KG and W6QL, are the subject of the book "YASME, The Danny Weil and Colvin Radio Expeditions", by James D. Cain, K1TN. As Cain's book relates, among Weil's early ham radio acquaintances was Dick Spenceley, KV4AA--an Amateur Radio legend in his own right--who mentored Weil during his studies. It was Spenceley who also first appreciated the potential benefits for Amateur Radio if Weil could get on the air from various rare spots as he sailed the globe. Spenceley--who died in 1982--eventually secured the ham gear that Weil would use on the first YASME voyage, which began in 1955 and took him to the South Pacific. Weil personally described some of his adventures in his only QST article, "YASME II to Aves Island" which appeared in the December 1958 issue. He operated from a tent on the beach as YV0AB.
<quoted from ARRL Letter vol.22, Nr. 40>

		The YASME Book Info and Order
		YASME Foundation Home Page
		Our own YASME Research File and Info page
		Danny Weil: "YASME II to Aves Island" QST, December, 1958

The Danny Weil VP2VB Story, as told by himself (Exclusive interview for our archives, recorded 22. December, 1998,  RealAudio  MP3 Dauer Duration Listen Download Listen Hosted by Wolf Harranth OE1WHC 25'00"

Danny Weil in the mid 50's ...	... on his 80th birthday, 1998 ...		... and in 2003

List of operations, 1955-1963

YASME III	YASME I	On board	St. Thomas, 1956 *
* With Dick Spencerly KV4AA and actress Deborah Kerr, St. Thomas, 1956

On "Yasme I"

Danny with ??	Flying to ??	With W6DAW	Cartoon

On "Yasme II"

YASME NEWS, First edition	"Danny's Diary"	Station aboard YASME II *	At Dick's shack (?)
* Dick Spenceley, KV4AA, constructed this removable equipment cabinet to house the Hallicrafters HT-32 (exciter), HT-33 (amplifier) and SX-101 (receiver) that Weil used aboard Yasme II.

On "Yasme III"

Unconfirmed operations

Credits: ¹Archives F8MZ, ²W8OCD, ³W3AYD, QST, Archives QSL Collection