[ARC5] Command antennas

[Mike Morrow]

Mark wrote:

> What type of antenna did the command sets use in B-17 and B-24 bombers?
> Did they use the same antenna (trailing I presume) as the liason sets?

The MF/HF command set and liaison set used different fixed wire antennas
running from the middle to forward section of the fuselage to the tip of
the rear stabilizers.  Additionally, the liaison set could be connected
to a retractable trailing wire antenna up to (typically) 250 feet long.

Take a look at Mike Hanz's web pages at http://aafradio.org .  The following
pages have excellent depiction of B-29 external antennas.  The liaison and
command MF/HF antennas of the B-29 are similar to the installations typical
of most WWII USAAF bombers.

   http://aafradio.org/NASM/RHAntennas.htm

   http://aafradio.org/NASM/LHAntennas.htm

See also these B-24 diagrams from VE3FAB pages at http://jproc.ca/ve3fab/b24.html :

   http://jproc.ca/ve3fab/liason.jpg

   http://jproc.ca/ve3fab/cmdsys.jpg

The last two diagrams come from the "Radio" volume of Consolidated's
seven volume 1942 Service and Training Manual for the B-24D.

Mike / KK5F