[ARC5] Very Scarce Piece BC-611 BC-721

[D. Platt]

Looking at the glider display and glider tow rigging at the USAF Air 
Mobility Museum at Dover AFB, it appeared to me that there were "wires" 
included in the tow harness going back into the glider cockpit area.  
The mock-up at the museum included an HS-23/33 headset and microphone, 
although no radio gear, except for the BC-611.  Could it be that the 
glider communicated with the host C-47 via wire?  I can't imagine the 
poor glider pilot would be totally out of the loop with the tow plane.

Jeep - K3HVG

On 5/28/2013 1:01 PM, Robert Eleazer wrote:
> I recently read an incredible book on Operation Market Garden, entitled "September Hope" that focuses on the American portion of the operation.    I now am reading a book, "The Air Battle for Arnham" that describes the efforts to deploy and resupply the airborne forces of Market Garden.
>
> In neither book is there any indication that radio communications between gliders and the tug aircraft were common or even occurred at all.
>
> Communications were big problem in Market Garden, especially for the British forces that were hung out at the end of the supply chain around "the Bridge Too Far" at Arnham.
>
> I wonder what purpose was served by the glider radios.  I can only conclude that it had nothing to do with talking to the tug aircraft but who they would have talked to, I have no idea.  The only answer I could come up with is that they were talking to the other radio-equipped gliders for coordination purposes.  For example, an artillery unit might talk to its transport right after they land.  Presumably they would be close enough for the BC-611's to be effective and in the near chaos of an assault landing that could be useful.
>
> I have wondered how effective it would be for a BC-611 to talk to an airborne SCR-274-N.  Most people seem to think it would not work very well or for much distance.
>
> By the way, I can strongly recommend the book "September Hope" but not so much "The Air Battle for Arnham" which needs some serious editing assistance.
>
> Wayne
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