[ARC5] More Guided Bomb Control Box Stuff

[Mike Morrow]

> http://www.ebay.com/itm/360397107215

There are a couple of too-short (less than 1 minute) video clips on
youtube that show the BC-1156-A control box in use.

Vertical Bomb VB-3 (RAZON) and VB-2 (AZON):

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W20ayF7e9NI

Glide Bomb GB-4:

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaU7prmBkPk

The GB-4 clip shows the TV video coming from an actual bomb drop test
in 1944.

The VB-3 and GB-4 were not used in combat in WWII.

Yesterday I posted a short description of the AN/CRW-3 control receiver
in the GB-4, based on the BC-454-B or BC-455-B.  Dave Stinson some years
ago posted the Operating Instructions AN 16-30CRW3-2, 21 April 1945, for
the AN/CRW-3.  That manual contains the following statement:

"1.e. Radio Receiving Set AN/CRW-3 is satisfactorily controllable at
 distances up to 15 miles from the control source, when the controlling
 transmitter is Radio Transmitter BC-375 or its equivalent."

Apparently, the VHF 53 to 95 MHz RAZON equipment (AN/ARW-38 and AN/CRW-7)
used for Vertical Bomb VB-3 was not satisfactory for the longer range
Glide Bomb GB-4, which used HF control signals.  However, the 254 to 372
MHz range was used to transmit video from the GB-4 using AN/AXT-2 to the
controlling aircraft receiver AN/AXR-1.

Somewhat related, the famous and problematic use of war weary B-17 aircraft
(re-designated BQ-7) or B-24 aircraft (re-designated BQ-8) as guided
missiles used the AN/ARW-1 receiver (BC-617 or R-154/ARW) in the missile,
and the AN/ARW-18 transmitter (BC-925 for 20 watts/18 mile range with
AM-33/ART added for 100 watts/75 mile range) in the controlling aircraft.
These controlled using FM signals in the 30 to 40 MHz range.  The 254 to
372 MHz range was used to transmit video from the BQ-7 or -8 using AN/AXT-2
to the controlling aircraft receiver AN/AXR-1.

Mike / KK5F