[ARC5] BC-696 numbers

[Mike Everette]

It may be that the major use for the BC-696 was in training aircraft.  
Consider that early editions of the 274N manual don't cover the BC-696; the first edition which includes it is a 1942 revision, and if I remember right the BC-696 is covered by a supplement.
Here is a possible reason for all this:
In December 1941 "QST" magazine, published by the American Radio Relay League (ham radio national association), it was announced that the Army Air Corps would soon begin using frequencies in the 80-meter ham radio band, 3.5-4 mc, for flight training; and that hams would have to "temporarily" vacate the affected frequencies.  Remember, this magazine was likely compiled in late October to mid November of 1941 to meet press deadlines and mailing dates in the last week or so of November.  It was not until the January 1942 issue that an announcement of the war emergency was able to be published in QST; actually ham radio had been put off the air by the evening of December 7 by FCC order but some folks didn't hear about this for a few days.
I'm aware that many of the basic trainers carried the SCR-183/283; but I've seen information including photos of SCR-274N gear in advanced trainers.  Years ago, a friend who was a WW2 USAAF veteran told me how easy it was to get an RF burn from the antenna post of the transmitter while tuning one up, due to the location and the contortions required by the tech to reach it in the AT-6!
73
Mike
WA4DLF
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