[ARC5] Antennas

[David Stinson]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Eleazer" <releazer at earthlink.net>
Subject: [ARC5] Antennas

> Was the AN-104 wooden metal covered antenna you can 
> see in so many pictures (and in old Fair Radio 
>  >catalogs) always simply just a way to hold the wire 
> antenna for the 274-N up or was it also used as a VHF 
>  >antenna?

The AN-104 was indeed a VHF antenna.
I have seen a couple of examples with an eyelit at the 
tip
so it could also be used as a mast for an HF or Range 
antenna.
Here's an example with an eyelit for the wire antenna:

http://www.nasm.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?id=A19602608000

I've also seen them with the eyelit on a horizontal 
extension at
the tip.  I'd think that design didn't last, since the 
extension would
metal-fatigue quickly.

While researching this to make sure I wasn't full of 
bull,
I came across this site concerning aircraft wrecks
and their missing crews, which has significant 
contributions
by our own Taigh Ramey:

http://www.missingaircrew.com/trip/american2/

Reference the Hellcat at the N.A.S.M. in Washington-
While the radio-related photos can't be enlarged, you 
can see
the AN-104 just behind the cockpit, followed by what I'm
pretty sure is the ARR-2 antenna, and then the little 
post
on the tail which held the other end of any HF or Range 
wire
antenna.  The empty ARC-5 rack has some covered 
connectors
in front of it, which gives this away as a VHF/MF/ARR-2
installation from the last year of the war or post-war.
The wreck which is the subject of the page is from the
air battles of Yap Island, and these took place
around September of 1944, just shortly after the Navy
started to get serious about VHF.
An interesting detail, concerning the need to "use what 
you have"
even when it's not "by the book:"  the installation 
includes
juntion box designed for SCR-522.
Very cool site, and "hat's off" to Mr. Ramey for this,
one of his many important contributions to our passion.

73 Dave AB5S