[ARC5] More on the "No HF" Myth

[Mike]

I've got a bunch of questions below!

Is there much information out there about the use of the HF command sets
(principally, the SCR-274-N) in the European Theater of Operations
(ETO)?

I've been lead to understand from people who were pilots or radio
operators flying out of the UK that the VHF SCR-522 was "THE" command
radio of choice by all concerned from early in the war (thanks to
British influence), compared to the SCR-274-N, or especially the
-183/283 sets.

I wonder if the SCR-522 was used as extensively in other sub-theaters of
the ETO, such as operations out of north Africa against Italy and such.

That brings up some other questions.  I assume that ETO aircraft with
the SCR-274-N would sometimes contain the RC-96 "Pipsqueak" HF DF keyer
system.  Is it likely that "Pipsqueak" mode might have been the main use
of the SCR-274-N in the ETO, at least out of the UK, while the SCR-522
provided all command communications?  It would be hard to imagine how
one could use the SCR-274-N for comms when several sets in a formation
are sending out homing signals for 14 seconds out of every minute.  BTW,
I'm still looking for information on the interconnections of the BC-608,
BC-616, and BC-615 units in the RC-96 system.  I'm especially interested
in what the BC-615 did, since for years I thought that "Pipsqueak"
consisted only of the BC-608 timer and BC-616 relay box that connected
between the BC-456 modulator and the BC-451 transmitter control box.

Does anyone know if the USN had some intended prototype of a receiver to
pair with their ATC (AN/ART-13) transmitter that had comparable
frequency coverage (200 - 1500 kcs, 2000 to 18100 kcs)?  The AN/ARR-15
is an obvious post war match, though even it did not provide for
coverage matching the O-16/ART-13 200 to 1500 kc capablility.  The only
USN war time receiver that comes close that made it to the field was the
ARB, which didn't cover past 9050 kcs, and was originally intended to
pair with the ill-starred ATB.  Does anyone know if it was common for
the Army's BC-348 to be found on war time USN aircraft paired with the
ART-13?

>From what little I know, my opinion is that the best *war time* airborne
HF installation was that combination of the USN's T-47/ART-13 and the
USA's BC-348, which the USAAF installed as the AN/ARC-8.  I'd be
interested in knowing if the USN also used the AN/ARC-8 during the war. 
(Obviously the ART-13 and ARR-15 were used by the USN post war.) 
Conversely, did the USAF ever use the USN's AN/ARR-15?

Has anyone ever seen any info on the BC-349 transmitter that was
supposedly to be matched with the BC-348?

BTW, I would gladly reimburse anyone for their trouble for a copy of
Figure 8-43 out of USAF manual T.O. 12R2-2ART13-2, which shows all the
interconnections of the AN/ARC-8.

Mike / KK5F