[ARC5] SCR-274-N Freq Ranges in Use

[Mike Everette]

I have a number of color slides that my dad (who served in the CBI) took of the flight line at Panagarh and Agra air bases in India, during 1945.  They show many P-51s, P-38s, some P-40s, no P-39s, no P-47s.  These are all USAAF aircraft.  The British used P-47s -- razorback models models mainly, called Thunderbolt I by the RAF -- during the Burma campaign.  I remember reading that the RAF used the T-Bolt for ground support.  The USAAF used the P-40 in this role and apparently near the end of the war it had mostly been phased out in favor of the P-51, in the CBI at least.
Seems odd to have carried a spare Command transmitter in a fighter.  The gear was mounted behind the pilot and there was no way to change it in flight.  It would be nothing but extra weight.  Most likely the transmitters were shipped with the a/c for use if mission requirements changed.
I have never seen any info on radio gear used in RAF Thunderbolts.
73
Mike
WA4DLF

      From: Robert Eleazer <releazer at earthlink.net>
 To: arc5 at mailman.qth.net 
 Sent: Thursday, June 2, 2016 6:53 PM
 Subject: [ARC5] SCR-274-N Freq Ranges in Use
   
 I found the reference, dated Nov 1942 which says that for "fighters converted to ground support airplanes at modification centers:  SCR-274-N, BC-696 required, BC-457A required, and BC-458A desirable but if it cannot be installed crate and ship or carry as loose equipment in plane." Now, I am unaware of any three transmitter installations in USAAF fighter aircraft, but I assume they wanted the BC-696 2 to 3 MHZ transmitter for use for comm with the ground for fighters converted to ground attack, while retaining the more usual BC-457A and BC-458A transmitters if possible.. 
As for which fighters were fitted for ground support, all USAAF fighters did ground support, one way or another, at one time or another.  Perhaps they mean the aircraft such as the P-39's and P-51A's converted for tactical recon? I also have a book that mentions the use of the P-51A in ground support due to its HF comm radios.
WayneWB5WSV 
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