[ARC5] Data tags and contract delivery dates

[Mike Morrow]

Gordon White wrote:


> My research showed that the SCR-274N was superseded in the ETO
> by the SRC-522 fairly early for actual plane to plane use, particularly in
> fighters, but remained in bombers for a long time, ...

Thanks for your posting, Gordon.  (In the 1960's, your column in "CQ" was
the only reason I subscribed!)

> in fact in the 1970s I flew in USAF planes that still had the BC-453
receiver
> for use in less-developed parts of the world.

I flew on a USAF T-29 in 1970 that still had an AN/ARC-8 (BC-348, ART-13)
installation, and in 1972 on a USN TS-2A that still had a R-23/ARC-5 and an
AN/ARC-2 installed and working.   I remember talking to one of the aviation
electronics techs at NAS Corpus Christie about how hard it was to keep such
vintage gear in operation.

>However, the AN/ARC-5 version was used longer in the ETO and
>extensively in the Pacific, being a Navy purchase.


I wish there was some more detailed info on the actual use of the AN/ARC-4
VHF set.  It is a simple set for a collector to complete as an all-original
installation, since all one needs is the RT-19, the MT-101, and the C-51.
The *only* connector required is the C-51's PL-153-type connector, plus the
C-51 has **all** the controls and audio jacks needed for the set (no
J-22A/ARC-5 audio box needed, nor any external power switch).

>But I found it amazing how long the TRF sets,  RU/GF, SCR-183/283
>etc., were produced. They went into earlier aircraft that were set up
>for the pre-war equipment. In fact, into the 1960s foreign air forces
>were still buying that gear from U.S. surplus dealers.

Just think about all those vacuum tube audiophools who would love to get
those two VT-25s ("10") out of the transmitter today. :-)

I've got a book of WWII Japanese aircraft cockpit pictures.  Evidently most
were taken of aircraft that had been used by the US for performance
evaluation, since most photos that show the radio installation show a
backfit of SCR-183/283 sets.

I also suspect that the SCR-183 set may have survived in service as long as
it did because it was one of the last USAAF HF command sets that utilized 12
vdc power (ignoring the AN/ARC-9X).  I think a large number of early C-47
aircraft had 12 vdc electrical systems.


Best regards,
Mike / KK5F