[ARC5] [Milsurplus] History of the GO-series of USN

[George Babits]

The fellow who got me started right in amateur radio (W0JYW; later W0CM) was 
a navy "radio mechanic" during WW-II.  I think he had actually enlisted 
before the war began.  After a lot of schooling he was stationed on Woodlick 
Island, off New Guinie,  where he worked on the radios installed in the 
PBYs.   We maintained a weekly sked on 20 meters for almost 20 years and he 
told me a lot of stories.  I quized him many times trying to find out just 
what the radios were that he was working on, but he just couldn't remember. 
Really too bad.  Oul last skeds took place after he was over 100 years old 
and he passed away about 6 months later just past his 101st birthday.  I had 
known this gentleman and his wife since I was 12 years old, but never 
thought to ask him about his wartime experiences until he was in his upper 
90s.  There is an awful lot of history that gets lost that way.

My father was a B-24 pilot in the 15th AF and absoutely NEVER talked about 
any of his wartime experiences.  After he passed away we found his flight 
log and there were many "Lone Wolf" missions recorded.   My older brother, a 
military historian, was able to find some doccumention on those missions 
which were single bommer, harassment, missions during incliment weather.  I 
can assume (bad word) that it was radar boming, maybe using the "Path 
Finder" system.  I do recall him saying they would fly until a light came on 
and they dropped the bomb load.  Again, it is really sad that so much of our 
history gets lost that way.

By the way, if anyone wants to see pictures of the GO-6 I'll be happy to 
share.  It sounds like I should dig it out and get pictures of the insides 
as well as the front.  Might take me a couple of days as I have a lot of 
irons in the fire rigt now.

73,
George
W7HDL




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Everette via ARC5" <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
To: "Robert Eleazer" <releazer at earthlink.net>; <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, August 08, 2016 6:55 PM
Subject: Re: [ARC5] [Milsurplus] History of the GO-series of USN


Does anyone know which version of the PBY was flown by PatWing Ten in the 
Philippines? I have come across that info somewhere but can't put my hands 
on it now; however my recollection is that they had PBY-2 for the most part 
and perhaps some PBY-3s.
The P.I. was a real backwater to both the Army and Navy in terms of 
equipment.
73
Mike
WA4DLF

      From: Robert Eleazer <releazer at earthlink.net>
 To: arc5 at mailman.qth.net
 Sent: Monday, August 8, 2016 8:06 PM
 Subject: [ARC5] [Milsurplus] History of the GO-series of USN

 60 PBY-1 were ordered in June 1935. 11 of them were delivered in 1936 and 
49 in 1937 Then 50 PBY-2 were ordered and all were delivered by the end of 
1938. Then 66 PBY-3 were ordered in Nov 1936. Then 33 PBY-4 were ordered in 
Dec 1937 and most were converted to PBY-5A's on the production line. 134 
PBY-5 were ordered in Nov 1940 Then 586 PBY-5 were ordered in 1941 and 1942 
followed by 627 PBY-5A and another 225 PBY-5B for the RAF. So by 1939 they 
had bought 209 PBYs. By the way, the USAAF operated them as well, as the 
OA-9. I wonder if they had the same radios as the USN birds. WayneWB5WSV
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