[ARC5] Trailing wire antenna

[Taigh Ramey]

Speaking of trailing wire antennas and the ocean; I heard this same =
story
from two different radio operators which tells me that it is probably =
true.

They told of a procedure when letting down through an overcast while =
flying
over the ocean. Since they weren't sure of the local altimeter setting =
and
maybe because they didn't trust the barometric altimeter, they would =
deploy
the full length of the trailing wire antenna. The radio operator would =
then
key up the Liaison set and would watch the antenna current meter as the
pilot let down through the soup. When the weight touched the water the =
meter
would swing and he would yell over the intercom for the pilot to pull =
up.
They were hoping that they would break into the clear before the antenna
grounded out. Imagine doing this in a B-24/PB4Y-1or some other big heavy
bomber.=20

I imagine that this is why the APN-1 set was such an important asset to =
the
Navy.

Taigh

=20

Taigh Ramey

=20

VINTAGE AIRCRAFT

7432 C.E. Dixon Street

Stockton, California 95206

209 982 0273 Hangar

209 982 4832 Fax

www.twinbeech.com

KEEP 'EM FLYING...FOR HISTORY

=20



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