[ARC5] Data tags and contract delivery dates

[Taigh Ramey]

Hello,
=A0
A while ago, when doing research at national Archives, I ran across a
technical directive that required the dates on component data tags to be
removed for security reasons. Later I saw the same instructions in the =
form
of a Technical Order for a Norden Bombsight calling to deface or =
otherwise
remove any date information on bombing equipment data tags. I haven=92t =
seen
the same practice used on Army government furnished equipment which =
leads me
to believe that this directive was for the Navy only. I have examples of
date removal on early bombsights as well as the radio gear. I also have
examples where this practice was not complied with which leads me to =
believe
that it simply wasn=92t a priority in the field. I have examples of the =
date
being scratched out, drilled out and even cut out. Later tags show no =
dates
stamped in the date block and some tags were manufactured without the =
date
block all together. My read on this was that they didn=92t want the =
enemy to
be able to determine any date and revision information obtained from
captured gear. When I dig out the technical directives I will post them =
on
my web site.
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I have posted two excerpts from a document that I came across that you =
might
find interesting. It is from a report dated November 14, 1942 from the =
War
Department, Chief Signal Officer, listing the synchronization of the
production of radio equipment with aircraft. The list covers all Signal =
Corp
sets and their production statistics from July 1940 to October 1942. It =
also
projects production requirements into September 1943. The excerpts cover =
the
SCR-274N among others but if you would like me to post a page from any =
other
set just ask. What I found particularly interesting is the =93UHF =
Components=94
showing up on the list in December 1942 and the spares for the 274N. =A0
=A0
I have posted the images here:
www.twinbeech.com/radio.htm
It may take a while to load as they are fairly large images. Please let =
me
know if you have trouble reading the text and I will enlarge the images.
=A0
Do any of you have a listing of Army and or Navy contracts and their =
dates
for the SCR-274N and the ARC-5 sets? If so, are you willing to share =
them
with me? I am in the process of replacing radios in several aircraft
restoration projects and I would like to determine the appropriate radio
sets for the various aircraft according to their date of manufacture.
Ideally, I would like to determine when the various contract sets would =
have
been available or delivered to the aircraft manufacturer. I need to find
documentation so I can say for example that a Phila-42 SCR-274N set =
would be
correct for a P-47D-15 manufactured in April 1943. Any sources or help =
would
be most appreciated?=20
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Thank you in advance for your help,
=A0
=A0Taigh Ramey
=A0
VINTAGE AIRCRAFT
7432 C.E. Dixon Street
Stockton, California 95206
209 982 0273 Hangar
209 982 4832 Fax
KEEP 'EM FLYING...FOR HISTORY
=A0