[ARC5] SB2C at National Museum of Naval Aviation

[w4thq at cox.net]

Group,

We have received last week an SB2C at NMNA.  It was recovered from a fresh water lake in California.  As usual, it is covered with mud, clams, and corrosion.  I examined it today to see what equipment was on board, which was difficult due to the debris on everything.

The only item I identified for sure was what looked like an ATC (or a T-47/ART-13) in the front of the rear cockpit.  On the deck on front of the gunner/radio operator's seat are 2 large boxes which appear to be radar equipment - a CRT display and a control box.

Under the deck, over the aft portion of the wing center section (which is currently removed) are three large units possibly the radio receiver, and possibly the radar receiver and transmitter.  These 3 units are hanging by their cables so may have been mounted in shock mounts over the wing.   What appears to be an ASB power control box is on the port side of the gunner's cockpit.  Also, above this area are the two ASB antenna control  levers which appear to be handy to the gunner's left hand while at his right hand are the CRT display front panel controls.

The pilot's cockpit has what may be a later type ATC control box on the starboard side wall.  There may be a receiver control box as well but this area has a heavy crust of clams and debris.

Until the wash down of  the fuselage is complete and everything is clean enough to be examined in detail, we can only guess what gear is on board.  As the aircraft was ditched into the lake dead stick, it was moving at 100 knots or more, so I expect to not find the radar antennas still under the wings (not yet unloaded) nor any other antennas under the wings.

John Young W4THQ