[ARC5] FW: C-47 radio "Island in the Sky"

[Mike Morrow]

Sandy wrote:

> Somewhere in the radio operators cubbyhole a BC-221 was mounted
> to get the transmitter right on frequency, but I forget exactly
> where now.  We had only 2-3 guys in the squadron that were
> familiar with the ART-13/BC-348 combo and who knew how to operate
> it.  I was one of the lucky few.

Sandy, why did you need a BC-221 with the AN/ART-13, especially if
it were the most common USAF version, the T-47A/ART-13?  The internal
calibration unit (CFI), cal book, and vernier dial B of the T-47A
should easily have been all that was needed to get within 1 kHz of
any desired frequency with greater ease and accuracy than using a
BC-221. Then, using the MONITOR-NORM switch of the AN/ARC-8, the
BC-348-* could have been netted right to the T-47A.

The frequency meter became a bit of a white elephant after the
AN/ART-13* was available.  For the USN, when the AN/ARR-15 was
incorporated with the AN/ART-13 to make the AN/ARC-25, both
receiver and transmitter could be set independently of each
other to 1 kHz accuracy.

Mike / KK5F