[ARC5] C-30 vs C-30A/ARC-5 and other small details

[Mike Morrow]

I'm trying to complete a late WWII-era AN/ARR-2 and AN/ARC-5 set consisting mainly of an R-4A/ARR-2, R-26 and -28/ARC-5, T-20 and -23/ARC-5.  It's sort of an early "integrated" avionics package that offered four channels of VHF comms, one channel of HF comms, and VHF homing all in one system.

I'm curious about when the improved VHF frequency selector/transmitter control box for the above system, C-30A/ARC-5, appeared on the scene.  My VHF ARC-5 manual dated 10APR45 mentions only the C-30, while my MF/HF manual dated 15DEC54 states that the C-30A replaced the C-30.

Would I be more correct using a C-30 for a WWII set, on the assumption that the C-30A appeared well after the war?

It's really just academic right now.  I've only seen pictures of two C-30A boxes, one in Mike Hanz's fantastic collection, the other on ebay a short while ago that went for $217 (to art13a).  It appears to be pretty rare, but if it wasn't WWII era, I think I'll stick to the common C-30 that I know was of the WWII era, even if I had a C-30A too.

Also, does anyone know what the difference was between the C-38 and the C-38A/ARC-5 pilot's receiver control boxes?  Nothing I have mentions the A model, yet I've seen a couple of them over the years.

Finally, has anyone ever come across a VHF antenna AT-8/AR, or is its existence mythical compared to the common AN-104 VHF mast antennas?  Supposedly it's constructed like a larger version of the AT-5/ARR-1 246 mc homing set antenna.

Best regards,
Mike / KK5F