Radio North Sea - Fire Bombing 1971 (2) 

The SOS call was my introduction to the fascinating hobby of radio and led to my amateur radio callsign G4RNI. I say, "Thank you for the music".

This is a recording from R.N.I.'s FM frequency (100 MHz.): 1 Kilowatt in a vertical antenna, limited range. The next day R.N.I. was back on the air on FM, medium-wave and short-wave: antennas, transmitters, studios and fuel tanks were OK. Listeners and advertisers happy, but this stupid attack meant the beginning of the end of 15 years of Dutch off-shore radio (finally August 31, 1974). On this August 31,1974, the Swiss R.N.I. owners Meister and Bollier visited with their tender the Radio Veronica owner Verwey at his radioship M.V. Norderney, and they shook hands! Regarding Les Reeds 'Man Of Action': Meister and Bollier wanted this theme song at any special occasion also. One of the perpetrators (ex captain Rob) knew the MEBO-II and didn't deliberately bomb the transmitters, mess-room, fuel supply, etc.

To say the DJs and crew were Heroes is an understatement. The Shipwreck of Mi Amigo on the Goodwin Sands with so many other vessels. Withstanding force 9 gales in the pursuit of Free Commercial Radio broadcasting to the UK, Northern Ireland,The Isle of Man,The Channel Island,Spain,France, Netherlands,and Germany.They were the ships that changed the world to millions of listeners.⚓🎧🎶

The incident occurred about 22.50 on Saturday 15.5.1971. To answer the query posed below, the presenter on air was Alan West. Prior to that he had been known as Ross Randell on Radio 270.The station did go off the air following the May Day messages, but was back on the air the following day. There was some damage to the ship (Mebo 2) which was later repaired and the station continued until 31.8.1974, when it closed a few hours before the Dutch parliament enacted the law which effectively ended the Dutch offshore radio era. Radio Caroline continued of course and that night their vessel Mi Amigo crossed the North Sea to anchor closer to the UK, where it stayed until it sank on 20.3.1980. It returned to the air from a newer ship, Ross Revenge, on 20.8.1983. Radio Caroline's complicated history is well documented elsewhere. It is now a legal internet station.

It's actually quite frightening listening to this, especially when Man of Act6ion fades away and it goes to dead air, I actually breathed a sigh of relief when some Dutch bloke, who I'm guessing is the captain, took the mic and put a record on!

I'm American, and I wish our pirate radio stations were this professional. And is it me, or does anyone else find Man Of Action playing in the background kinda creepy? I know it's RNI's theme song. But on this occasion it tends to add a sort of macabre tone to the whole ordeal.

It still.. hurts..

This comes from a recording that I have. I still have the original tape but unfortunately nothing to play it on! This copy is fairly decent quality anyway. I seem to remember my copy is somewhat longer with more dead air and the record starting up a couple of times extra. The purser choking on the smoke does give a good indication of the strength of the blaze. Yes bombom apparently is the Dutch work from bomb! Good captain who stays to the last.

From RNI's FM Frequency. With the way the transmission sounds, I would guess that the bomb hit the ship at about 1:09 in this clip when the transmission dips.

Veronica was very popular in the Netherlands and the parts of Belgium where one could hear it. However, I never understood how Veronica ever got a permission to start up a broadcasting foundation. So called "omroepstichting". I once paid for a contribution for their foundation, but after seeing this, the only place where the Verwey's belonged was in jail.

This was one broadcast I missed. I was out celebrating my birthday.

Daar was ik bij als schip van de wacht ..op .hrms Gelderland Gr andre

@shade1232011 "Try It" by The Hollies.

They were back on air from the same ship, in two days after the attack, didn't they? Great to hear this recording but i don't think it is an off-air recording. It does really sound like an onshore recording, from the mediumwave band. However... Great recording!

I remember hearing this as a 9 year old ~ my introduction to Offshore Radio!

Amazing.

Any idea on the outro song?

Does anybody have a translation of what was said during the dead air?

A brave Dutch captain and a brave Dutch crew

that Bombing was from Mr. Tommy ;-)..... GB!

"Tommys" attacking...With small boat with outboard motor.....Who else...

thats what they do to freedom... sad days