When I flew these trips (in what was then MAC) we were controlled by discrete radio entities across the N. Atlantic and Pacific...as I remember, Loring, Lajes, and a few others that now slip my mind. When did this stop, and these flights start calling Santa Maria, Prestwick, etc, directly? I also remember that we had no selcal; we were 'expected' to spend 7 hours listening watch on HF. This was 'done' by turning the volume way down until a scheduled call was necessary; unless reception was unusually good, you'd be hard pressed to hear these calls. Had we not turned down the volume, none of us would ever pass an FAA hearing test today. Possibly same problem 30+ years later, that is, USAF too cheap to install selcals? Anyone remember "SkyKing SkyKing, this is Fuchu Fuchu, do not answer do not answer break-break....etc"?