[ARC5] No GO-9 On Display. Likely GO-2.

[Mike Morrow]

Meir wrote:

> You can see the radio compartment of a PBY-5 aircraft with the GO-9
> and a pair of RU-19 receivers here:
>   http://tlbigley.com/Cutaway%20PBY/  

Meir,

The photos in that cutaway have intrigued me for several years.

The GO-series transmitter pictured is definitely NOT a GO-9...there's not a bit of doubt about that.  So...wbat is it???

There were only four makers of the GO-series:

Hygrade Sylvania
GO      1933

Western Electric
GO-1    1934
GO-2    1935

Westinghouse Electric
GO-3    1937
GO-7    1940
GO-8    1940
GO-9    1940
GO-9a   1944

General Electric
GO-4    1938
GO-5    1939
GO-6    1939

If the photos are enlarged and studied, the largest lettering is the manufacturer's name, which appears to be the stylized "Western Electric".  The cutaway likely has a 1935 GO-2 installed on a 1943 PBY-5B.

That's not so unlikely...the website explains that the aircraft was damaged in 1944 and subsequently turned into a non-flying training exhibit.  It would be very possible that older gear would wind up replacing a set that was currently needed for flying service.  The preservation of what is likely the only surviving GO-2 is a happy consequence.

For similar reasons, it is uncertain that the receiver system is actually the expected RU-19 system.  There would only be ONE RU-19 system with its TWO CW-46048D receivers.  Regardless, the liaison-service receivers RU-4 (1935) through RU-19 (1941) are visually and electrically essentially identical.

I've been wanting to make a trip to see this cutaway and try to verify what is really installed.  One thing is certain...there is no GO-9 there.  :-)

Mike / KK5F