[ARC5] WW II Radio Question

[Bob Macklin]

I was in Koera with the 49th FBW in 1953. Squadron punishment for junior
offices was a week as a forward observer with a ROK lieutenant. They lived
on the ground with their jeep. The had a radio that could communicate with
the ARC-3s in the aircraft.

We also had observers calling in strikes from T-6s.

Bob Macklin
K5MYJ/7
Seattle, Wa.

"REAL RADIOS GLOW IN THE DARK"

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Stinson" <arc5 at ix.netcom.com>
To: <W6ph at aol.com>
Cc: <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, May 08, 2005 11:05 AM
Subject: Re: [ARC5] WW II Radio Question


>
>
> W6ph at aol.com wrote:
> > Very interesting info about WW II radios.  The military historians may
be
> > able to answer this question.  Were there any communications between
ground units
> > and attack aircraft similar to the role of a ground FAC (forward air
> > controller)?  My conclusion is that targets were ground briefed before
the mission and
> > very little air to ground comm to the airborne planes for targetting.
If
> > there was, what radios or comm mode was used?  Thanks.  Kurt, W6PH
>
> There was resistance in WWII- which carried over even to this day-
> to direct communication between air power and ground power.
> Brass-hats who'd never heard a shot fired in anger kept nixing
> the idea because they "didn't want some corporal ordering
> our aircraft around," amongst other lame excuses.
> This bone-headed attitude was still causing mayhem and death
> in the 1990s, as anyone who has read "Blackhawk Down" can attest.
> Maybe the "corporal" on the ground shouldn't talk directly
> to the air cover, but *someone* on the scene should.
> Relaying through far-away "controllers" equals dead grunts.
>
> I'm not the "ground" expert, but I don't know of an
> "official" forward-deployed set specifically for
> coordinating with air cover that made it to the front.
> Nevertheless, WWII front-line troops needed to talk to their
> air cover and improvised solutions, like mounting SCR-522 in tanks
> and BC-659 in L-5 observation craft.
>
> During Korea, several groups provided both tactical forward air control
> and coordination/relay of observation aircraft reports.
> The 6147th, 6148th, 6149th 6150th Tactical Control Squadrons-
> named the "Mosquitos-" removed the "armor FM" sets from
> the old radio jeep HF/VHF set, VRC-1, and fitted it with SCR-522.
> Later, they replaced the BC-375 and SCR-522 with
> AN/ART-13 and AN/ARC-3.  They used these "Radio Jeeps"
> to talk to both HF and VHF equipped aircraft.
> I helped outfit one of these "Radio Jeeps" for
> a restoration/veteran's group several years ago.
> In 1991, they self-published a wonderful book on the group:
> "Mosquitos in Korea" by W.M. Cleveland (no ISBN number; sorry),
> which I think should have had wider distribution by one
> of the bigger houses.  It's a very interesting account.
>
> 73 Dave S.
>
>
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