[ARC5] ZB discussion!

[Michael Bittner]

Yep, that could be a problem.  Sounds like a command decision to me; to turn 
on or not turn on the YG.  Keep in mind that air crews were not completely 
helpless without the ZB.  In WWII, all carrier pilots carried a plotting 
board about the same size as my 15" LCD monitor.  It was essentially a large 
version of the E6B navigation computer (no batteries required). I don't know 
how it was mounted in various other aircraft but in the F6F and SBD it slide 
into a tray compartment under the pilot's instrument panel.  Various mission 
parameters including the intended course and speed of the ship were 
noted/plotted in pencil on this plotting board during the mission briefing, 
thus enabling aircraft and ship to converge on the same point at the same 
time after a mission.  In various WWII movies, you can see pilots carrying 
this thing under their arms as they scramble out to their aircraft.   We 
were taught to use this thing during pre-flight training, but I never used 
it operationally, only the E6B.  I never understood how an F6F pilot was 
supposed to keep track of his position with this thing during actual combat, 
let alone the zigs and zags of a carrier under attack.  Thus the YG/ZB 
system.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "J. Forster" <jfor at quik.com>
To: "Discussion of AN/ARC-5 military radio equipment." 
<arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, May 24, 2010 11:02 AM
Subject: Re: [ARC5] ZB discussion!


> Unlikely, IMO. Planes can have troubles any time they are off the ground.
> A crippled plane on a hazy day could really need the system.
>
> -John
>
> =============
>
>
>> Which reminds me that the YG transmitters need not to have been turned on
>> till some time after the aircraft had reached their target destinations.
>> Mike W6MAB
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Bob Macklin" <macklinbob at msn.com>
>> To: "Discussion of AN/ARC-5 military radio equipment."
>> <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
>> Sent: Monday, May 24, 2010 10:43 AM
>> Subject: Re: [ARC5] ZB discussion!