[ARC5] B-17 radios? I think not...

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On Thu, Apr 18, 2013 at 2:45 PM, Mike Everette <radiocompass at yahoo.com>wrote:

> The Navy did take some B-17s on inventory in 1945, and called them PB-1W
> or PB-1G depending upon how they were outfitted -- as radar search aircraft
> (early AWACS?) or as air-sea rescue birds.  Not sure if the Navy had any
> B-17s prior to this, but I wouldn't doubt it.
>

There's one on the side of a mountain in WA or OR IIRC that was used for
air-sea rescue, had a lifeboat strapped beneath it. A search on the 'net
should turn it up and more info. No idea when they took delivery or from
whom.

As to the British B-17s, I seem to recall they took delivery of some early
models for coastal patrol before we were involved and remember seeing film
footage with the British bullseye on the side. They did not have the
reinforced rudder fin if that helps define the model.

Also, here's a shot Mike Hanz has posted on his fine AAF Radio pages of a
PB4Y-2 radio position:

http://aafradio.org/flightdeck/PB4Y2-067.jpg

This is the station I've been building up with my ATC and RAX-1 triplets.
Cool stuff.

~ Todd,  KA1KAQ/4