[ARC5] BC-224E

[D. Platt]

On 11/17/2013 5:12 PM, Glenn Little wrote:
> In a number of cases, the equipment came through the MARS equipment 
> program.
> Many members request cannibalization authority for issued equipment.
> When the equipment was "cannibalized", the member turned in the name 
> tag that had the model and serial number on it to "clear" the books.
> This would explain at least some of the missing plates.
>
> 73
> Glenn
> WB4UIV
>
The above is on-the-money and..... If I might be permitted my 2-cents 
worth.  This phenomena appeared to me to be prevelent in the 1960's and 
70's when a lot of equipment was being surplussed legally and/or 
purloined from M&R (marketing and re-distribution) facilities.  Places 
like Ft. Meade, MD and Ft. Belvoir in VA. etc. come to mind, locally.  
Were a unit to come up surplus and then turned in, there were those in 
positions to determine if the material went on sale or (in effect) 
simply trashed, all with appropriate paperwork, of course.  If one had 
an acquaintance on the inside, one might receive a call that something 
interesting was available.  The thing might have a green, yellow, or red 
trag on it (typically).  At this time, equipment with red tags were said 
to be beyond economical repair and of no value (sic).  So, you meet your 
buddy and pick up your red-tagged R-390.  First thing you do is pull the 
tag.  The other scenario is probably folks who simply had a piece of 
gear with a possibly questionable pedigree and decided to make it 
anonymous to the world.  I saw a lot of gear, not just military, at 
hamfests with their tags removed.  I'll bet that in 90+% of the cases, 
there was absolutely no need to pull the tags, but there was no reason 
not to and certainly not having an appreciation of what we have now to 
contend with.   Oh..yeah... another ploy to get rid of a piece of gear 
that was operational but your organization, none-the-less, simply wanted 
it out of the system was to pull the fuses, pull the lamps, and cut the 
line cords. Then, put a NRTS or red tag on it and send it to your local 
R&M facility.  A. They don't check or fix things and B. They don't 
care.  Like the attractive Native American woman says on that pay-day 
loan commercial... "Problem solved..."

With the WWII gear and maybe a bit later, I hear many stories of 
"liberated" equipment being shipped home, naturally sans 
identification........

Jeep - K3HVG