In June of 1954SP3PD Bernard Mielcarski made the first 144 MHz contact with a station abroad (DL7FS in Berlin) in Poland. His equipment was a crystal-controlled transmitter with 2 LD15 valves and a 3 x 4 elements antenna. In September of 1958 the same man made the first aurora-reflected connection in Poland (with SM6BTT).
Ben, SP3PD had got the biggest rotated 144 MHz antenna in Europe at that time (96 and later 108 elements). This antenna was also a source of trouble for him in June of 1956 when it was suspected to be a part of a jamming equipment...
Interesting were also his pioneering broadcasts from a "vehicle in motion" (the 50-ties). They were carried out for the Polish Radio Broadcast with the aid of a valve-based transmitter during a canoe competition on the Warta-river from a motorcycle ridden by himself.