[ARC5] ART-13 Use in WWII B-29

[Robert Eleazer]

Interesting item I found in a book I just received, "XXI Bomber Command Combat Crew Manual May 1945"   Rather than a typical flight manual, this book has specific procedures for the B-29's of the 21st Bomber Command, operating from the Marianas Islands and attacking Japan.

Relative to liaison radio operations, it states:

"At least one aircraft per squadron will have eleven pre-tuned channels on the ART-13.  This eleventh pre-set channel whether it be in the 200-600 kilocycle band or the 500-1500 kilocycle band may be used as a radio homing aircraft in air-to-air homing for assembly purposes, target directors, or, air-sea rescue purposes.  Frequencies to be used are listed in the S.O.I."

S.O.I is Signal Operations Instructions.

Don't know about y'all, but that answers a question I have had for some time:  What were the low freq plug in oscillators for the ART-13 used for? It appears one answer is that such equipment enabled the B-29's to use their ARN-7 to home in on other B-29's broadcasting on the low or medium frequencies.

The book has a lot of other interesting details, such as how to use the radar and a detailed description of communications procedures.  They had a 50,000 watt station on Saipan beamed toward Japan, operating at all times to provide a homer. 


Wayne