[ARC5] Basic Question on Use of Command Sets

[Mike Morrow]

>Didn't the pre-war bombers and transports use Liason sets like the BC-224-A?
>As we saw in those photos for that unrestored O-47, which did not seem to have
>an Command Sets, either SCR-183/283 or 274's.

As was discussed at the time:

ANY aircraft flying in formation with other aircraft required a command set
for pilot-to-pilot voice communication between units in the formation.  An
observer aircraft was NOT normally flown in formation with other aircraft,
so it is perfectly logical that it had only a liaison set, one that also was
usable at greater distance, especially when using the CW or MCW modes that
were usual for liaison communications.

Since bombers and often transports flew in formation, as well as fighter
squadrons, all would have command sets.  The lone observer aircraft is in fact
one of the very few aircraft types where the command set could be eliminated,
especially in the pre-WWII days when War Department expenditures were closely
regulated.

Mike / KK5F