[ARC5] PBY-5A Radios

[Mike Hanz]

On 12/8/2014 2:04 PM, carpenterpa tds.net wrote:
> Thanks to all for the detailed information.
>
> I wonder if the early versions of the PBY, such as the PBY-4 (1938-39), and
> PBY-5 (1940-42) might have had any ARC gear?

Although the Martin Mariner PBM series had ARA/ATAs, none of the PBY-1 
to -5 series apparently had them installed*.  From Wayne's PBY-5A 
pilot's manual that covers the gap between the 1943 list and 1945, it 
looks like the later PBY series began shifting toward the compliment in 
the PB4Y-2 shown at 
http://aafradio.org/sidebar/PB4Y2_Line_Maintenance_Manual.html (though 
somewhat inexplicably without the ATC transmitter.  On the other hand, 
the GO-9 put out a good solid 100W CW signal, and perhaps that's all 
they needed.)

*At least not as "command communication" sets per se.  The PB4Y-2 manual 
above has two of the ARA/ARC-5 receivers - the 520-1500kHz receiver used 
with the ZA blind landing system, and a 190-550kHz receiver used 
wherever there was a radio range system for navigation.  I notice that 
the 1943 list shows an ZA landing system for the PBY-5 and 5A, so they 
could have been used there.

  - Mike  KC4TOS