One of the world’s oldest radio amateurs — Ivan Pastre, F3AT, of Saint Georges sur Baulche, France, has died. He was 102. Pastre became a radio amateur in 1931 and remained active — favoring CW — for the rest of his life.

First licensed as F3AU, he became F3AT a couple of years later, using a 100 percent home-built station. Over the years, he also operated under various exotic call signs, including FQ3AT in French Equatorial Africa; FQ3AT/FE and FE8AB in French Cameroon, and FF8AG in French Sudan in the 1940s and 1950s. His FQ3AT operation marked the only appearance of the FQ3 prefix.

F3AT was at the top of the DXCC Honor Roll with 388 entities confirmed, and he held 5-Band DXCC. He belonged to the First Class CW Operators’ Club (FOC), Clipperton DX Club, and other organizations. He was also on the roster of the A-1 Operators Club.

Gérard Debelle, F2VX, said Pastre’s accomplishments were unparalleled and that he served as “a model for our younger operators.” A service will be held in Auxerre on November 12.  — Thanks to The Daily DX; Les Nouvelles DX.