Archive photograph

[Photograph 2012.201.OVZ001.6302]

Photograph used for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "Oklahoma has its share of "All American" honors, but few in the Sooner state know they also can claim the "All American" voice as far as the federal airways are concerned. Pilots flying the airways and using Federal Aviation agency radio and navigational aids are helping along by the clear voices of group of Oklahomans at the FAA Aeronautical center at Will Rogers field. Main use of the voices is on the automatic radio station. One Carries Rating A pilot coming into Oklahoma City turns his radio dial hunting the station here. With the automatic identifiers he doesn't have to listen for the radio code for when he gets the right band a clear voice says: "Oklahoma City radio...Oklahoma City radio..."...At present, Ralph W. Rea, 2213 SW 69, chief of the facilities material division of the center, is the only "All American" voice in FAA...The tapes for the identifiers are cut at the center and sent to the various centers. They must be replaced about every six months as they operate 24-hours a day seven days a week. Master tapes are kept by Rea in a library at the center."