Elmo N. Pickerill, or “Pick” as most operators knew him, was a pioneer who served for many years as Chief Radio Officer on the SS Leviathan, one of the largest US commercial vessels. He also was an “early bird” who learned to fly so that he could experiment with air-to-ground radio communication. A SoWP Chapter was named in his honor, and his memorabilia can be found at the Smithsonian and the Library of Congress in Washington. Here we’ve posted just a few photos from his collection for your inspection…
CRO Pickerill Adjusting Telephone Transmitter, SS Leviathan, 1923
Pickerill at the 10 kW Water-cooled Transmitter on the Leviathan
Trans-Atlantic Record Set by the Leviathan
SS Leviathan (top) and Pickerill (bottom) from Radio Broadcast, Sep 1923
Anthony Tamborino Reporting for Duty as 1st Asst Radio Operator, SS Leviathan
Radio Officers: Pickerill, Tamborino, Green, Bollendonk, Engelder, Underhill, SS Leviathan, 1923
Un-annotated photos, likely Leviathan ~1923
Pickerill and Others Aboard the Leviathan
Jack Irwin Aboard the Leviathan; Lifeboats Equipped with Wireless
Kasner Aboard the Leviathan
Purington Aboard the Leviathan
Don Shaw Aboard the Leviathan
Henry F. Bollendonk Aboard the Leviathan
George Sinclair Aboard the Leviathan. Now there’s one happy guy!