On Thursday 21st March 2024 at 16:14 UTC, Lothar DL3HXX a radio amateur from Germany made contact with Dennis WA2USA, a radio amateur from Newburgh, IN who was operating from the Shawnee National Forest (KFF-4517) on the 17m amateur radio band.
Shawnee National Forest (KFF-4517), is a protected area of 116,954 hectares of Forest lying in southern Illinois between the Mississippi and Ohio rivers.
The forest area has 6 different ecological regions and consequently is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna. It features canyons, razorback ridges unique geological features and also areas of wetland.