[ARC5] Radio Equipment installed in Grumman F6F-3 at NMNA

[Bob Macklin]

During the Korean War the F4U was used extensively for close ground support. 
It was better for that mission than the F9F.

And the F9F was not suited for air to air combat during the Korean WAR.

A point of interest. At the beginning of the Korean War (July 1950) the 4th 
FIW was flying F-80s in Japan. They were found to not have sufficient range 
so the 4th FIW went back to F-51s until the first F-86s arrived.

I believe the smaller airplanes of that period had the VHF ARC-5 radios. 
When I got there in 53 the F-84s and F-86s had ARC-3s.

Bob Macklin
K5MYJ
Seattle, Wa.
"Real Radios Glow In The Dark"
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kenneth G. Gordon" <kgordon2006 at verizon.net>
To: <w4thq at cox.net>
Cc: <ARC5 at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2010 12:09 PM
Subject: Re: [ARC5] Radio Equipment installed in Grumman F6F-3 at NMNA


> On 8 Jun 2010 at 14:07, w4thq at cox.net wrote:
>
>> Work on the F6F-3 at the National Museum of Naval Aviation has been
>> underway for several months
>
> Hooray! The F6F(*) was one of my favorite aircraft of the period.
>
>> and today I inventoried the radio
>> equipment prior to beginning restoration.  The following were removed
>> from the aircraft:
>>
>> A 3 receiver rack/mount was present containing three receivers: an ATA
>> receiver 0.19 - 0.55 MC;
>
> That could be the R-23/ARC-5, or a CBY/CCT-46144 I believe.
>
>>  an R-27/ARC-5 6 - 9.1 MC ; and an ATA
>> receiver 0.52 - 1.5 MC.
>
> That may be the R-24/ARC-5, or a CBY-46145, or CCT-46145 ?
>
>>  Also, a receiver control box for 3 receivers,
>> ATA CBY- 23251 was included.  Two receiver nameplates were not
>> readable as to Type.
>
> See above...but I am certainly no expert on these either. DaveS?
>
>>
>> A 2 transmitter rack/mount ATA CBY- 52212 was present containing: two
>> transmitters: ATA Type CBY- 52210, 5.3 - 7.0 MC; and ATA Type CBY -
>> 52208, 3 - 4 MC.  Also, an ATA Type CBY - 23243, Transmitter Control
>> Box and an ATA Type CBY - 29125, Antenna Relay Unit were included
>> supported by an an ATA Type CBY - 50083, Modulator/Dynamotor unit.
>>
>> A Model ZB-3 Homing Adaptor was also removed.
>
> I wish I knew more about these, and their cousins...
>
>> An RT-19/ARC-4 and Mount with a C-51/ARC-4 Control Box and a
>> J-23/ARC-4 Junction Box were also in the aircraft.
>
> That is ALL very interesting. I suppose the .52 -1.5 Mhz receiver was
> also used for navigation?
>
>> Since some of the NMNA aircraft used for carrier qualifications often
>> retained equipment from prior service, I cannot say for sure which of
>> the above were only along for the ride and not needed during training.
>>  I thought it would be interesting to pass along to the group what was
>> found on this particular aircraft.
>
> Well, it is very interesting to me.
>
> Especially the ARC-4. I had no idea it was used extensively.
> Compared with the other VHF rigs of the period, it was not very good.
> Limited frequency range, almost deaf receiver, unstable when
> compared with the others.
>
> The AN/ARC-3 was, possibly, near the top of the VHF rigs, and there
> were a couple of subsequent models with more and more channels.
>
> Of course, the AN/ARC-1 was, IMHO, THE best.
>
> I would be pleased to hear of anything else you find in that "new" F6F-
> 3.
>
> Supposedly, they were called, "The box the F4U came in", but I don't
> think they were all that ugly.
>
> Furthemore, they were gotten to the fleet after an unusually short
> gestation period, unlike the F4Us (Hose Nose) which were pulled from
> carrier service at least twice.
>
> I never could understand why Chance-Vought wouldn't add a fin to the
> rudder like North American did to the P-51 when they went to a bubble
> canopy.
>
> I also could never really understand why the F4U remained in fleet
> service so long (possibly its greater load-carrying capability?) while the
> F6F was removed very shortly after WWII.
>
> I always thought the F6F was the better plane.
>
> Ken Gordon W7EKB
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