[ARC5] B-36J Radio Operator Position

[Mike Morrow]

Nick wrote:

> A sample - Radio Op station on a B-36J
> http://www.nmusafvirtualtour.com/media/062/B-36J%20Radio%20Operator.html

Scott asked:

> Wouldn't a B-36J have an ARC-21 and an ARR-36 auxiliary receiver?

The "tour" video that Nick cited above does clearly show an AN/ARC-8,
consisting of a T-412/ART-13B and a BC-348-R (AN/ARR-11)...*plus* the
C-451/ARC-21 control panel next to the C-544/APX-6 IFF control panel.
So somewhere there was an associated RT-128A/ARC-21.  (There's a round
drum on the deck left of the BC-348-R, but it's not large enough and
oriented properly to be the RT-128A.  Probably some radar system's
RT-unit.)

There are some interesting aspects in the USAF Museum's panoramic view:
(1) The use of the T-412/ART-13B that was *not* built upon a USAAF
    T-47A/ART-13, but rather on a USN T-47/ART-13 (without dial B vernier
    scale).  I have found another B-36 radio operator position photo in
    a book which also shows that the USAAF used the T-412, at least sometimes.
(2) I believe early B-36 aircraft carried two AN/ARC-8 sets.  It appears
    that later aircraft retained one AN/ARC-8 along with the new AN/ARC-21,
    as shown above.
(3) I also would have expected the later B-36 aircraft to have used the
    AN/ARR-36 auxiliary receiver that was associated with the AN/ARC-21.
    But it used a C-451/ARC-21 control panel, and I only see one of those
    at the radio operator position.  My photos of similar B-36 installations
    also show only one C-451/ARC-21 panel there.  Perhaps the AN/ARR-36
    was deemed unnecessary when the BC-348-* was still present.
(4) Above the BC-348-R in the overhead, the J-68/ARC-3 power unit for the
    AN/ARC-3 is visible.
(5) This photo and all that I have show the C-544/APX-6 IFF control panel.
    (a)  It seems odd to delegate IFF control to the radio operator, but
         that appears to have been the usual practice on the B-36.
    (b)  Most AN/APX-6 IFF units were modified (after 1953, IIRC) to 
         the AN/APX-25, with SIF capability.  The C-544/APX-6 does
         not work in the AN/APX-25 upgrade.  It seems odd that a B-36
         would still have an earlier IFF unit.

When I toured the avionics field maintenance shops on several occasions
in 1969 and 1970 at Blytheville AFB (SAC), the AN/APX-25 was still in
use on the B-52 and KC-135 aircraft there.  I thought initially that it
was a straight RT-82/APX-6 instead of the RT-279/APX, so I was amazed
that such an old unit was still in service.  These aircraft also used
the Collins AN/ARC-58 HF liaison set.

I took a flight on the base commander's utility aircraft (essentially
a "C-131" conversion from an old T-29 radar trainer) in 1970, and it
still had a full AN/ARC-8 installation, which would have been only
about 26 years old at the time.

I have a 'dash one" pilot's handbook for a C-47 that shows various radio
operator installations, all of which used the AN/ARC-8, except for one
version where the large RT-400/ARC-65 drum was installed in place of both
the AN/ARC-8 **and** its radio operator.

I grew up near a SAC base, got a USAF ROTC scholarship, but I turned it
down for Navy because Navy required all college summers to be spent on
active duty and provided Regular (not Reserve) Navy commissioning.  But
I've always been fascinated by USAF strategic bombers.  "Strategic Air
Command" is one of my favorite movies, especially with its B-36 action
shots such as the one at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyIfog24vNM .

Scott...that's an impressive array of cold war gear.  Do you have the
R-224/ARR-36 aux receiver as well?  The only one that I have ever seen
is the one I have.  They seem to be even harder to find than the 
RT-128A/ARC-21 is.  If I had another lifetime to live, I'd love to
put together an AN/ARC-21, AN/ARR-36, and AN/APN-70 (LORAN A).

Mike / KK5F