Seventy-five years ago this month, the cover of Radio News for September 1951 featured Cpl. Mary Lafter at the control desk of WAR/K4USA, the flagship station of the Army MARS network. It was colocated with AIR/K4AF at the Pentagon.

Each station had a custom designed 1000 watt transmitter. Receivers included Collins 75-A, Hallicrafters S-36A, and Hammarlund SP600JX.

The magazine noted that the new installation was geared to present amateur radio needs, but could be adapted to meet the flexibility requirements of modern warfare and defense.