[ARC5] AN/CRC-7 and Gliders

[jmfranke]

I found my reference, "Fighting Gliders of World War II." The book has over 
160 illustrations and drawings of developmental and operational gliders from 
the major counties plus over a dozen lesser countries. The very first 
photograph is multiple C-46 Commandos each towing a pair of CG-4A gliders. 
On page 111, the author says; "Later models (of the CG-4A) had a two-way 
radio to enable the pilot to talk to his tow-pilot. Until then, glider and 
plane were connected by telephone. This was unsatisfactory, for the 
telephone wire, which was wrapped around the tow rope, was often bruised 
unavoidably or severed."  The British also used radios, "Later in the war 
the R.A.F. had radios placed in all Horsa, enabling the aeroplane pilots and 
glider pilots to communicate with each other even after the glider had 
landed." The book also shows rigid tow bars used by the US and Germans. The 
Germans limited the use of rigid tow bars to night operations when the 
glider pilot's vision was limited. I particularly like the discussions on 
the "snatch" system to allow a airplane in the air to snatch a glider from 
the ground and tow it from a standing start. The system was very handy for 
recovering gliders from training and wartime operations. The technique was 
also used as an aerial ambulance to pick up persons needing transportation 
to a hospital. As for heavy gliders, the Germans had the 200 man Me 321 
Gigant, which was originally towed by three Me 110 or Bf 110c aircraft 
simultaneously. Later, they spliced two He 111 H-6 aircraft together with an 
engine mounted at the splice joint to make a five engine He 111Z  Zwilling 
to do the towing. It is a fascinating book, well illustrated, and written by 
James E. Mrazek.  He also wrote a related book, "The Glider War," which I 
have not seen.

John  WA4WDL

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Robert  Eleazer" <releazer at earthlink.net>
Sent: Thursday, May 30, 2013 8:10 AM
To: <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [ARC5] AN/CRC-7 and Gliders

> Only one glider per tug aircraft.  Most tugs could barely manage the one. 
> But there were different sizes of gliders.  The ones used in Europe were 
> the US Waco CG-4, and the British Horsa and Hamilcar. The Hamilcar was the 
> largest and used for vehicles.
>
> The Germans tried taking two BF-110 fighters and towing one very large 
> glider.  This produced one large fireball.
>
> I do not have manual for the B-29 but I looked at the manuals for the C-54 
> and C-69 and did not see any CRC-7 mentioned, just the Gibson Girl.
>
> Interesting thing.  For the C-54 they listed the SCR-274-N (for which they 
> had 3 receivers and 3 transmitters),  the SCR-522, and a BC-348 with 
> either a BC-375 or ART-13.  They also say that the ARC-3 replaced both the 
> 274-N and the SCR-522 in later installations.
>
> For the C-69 they had VHF command as ARC-3, Liaison as ARC-8 but also an 
> HF command set, ARC-9.  They had both VHF and HF command sets, which were 
> operated only by the pilot and co-pilot.
>
> Wayne
>
>
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