[ARC5] An interesting marking on ARA set sn 4839

[Michael Hanz]

In WWII, the aircraft manufacturer did /not/ usually contract common 
peripheral equipment directly from other original manufacturers.  For 
example, Lockheed most likely signed a contract on building their 
Ventura for the Navy that simply provided for installing GFE radio 
equipment.  That seemed to be fairly common. It saved the taxpayers 
money for a single acquisition contract to provide radios for a slew of 
aircraft manufacturers, in addition to the Navy's own needs for 
upgrading active aircraft.  Now, normally GFE was kept in locked and 
bonded rooms in the manufacturer's facility until needed for any 
particular aircraft under fabrication.  Then it was checked out and 
serial numbers associated with the airframe number recorded so that the 
manufacturer could get $$ credit for the work in progress.  I'm only 
speculating, but perhaps for whatever reason (small assembly run?) that 
was not fully followed by Lockheed for the Ventura assembly line for a 
time, necessitating the markings to help keep the chain of custody clear.

  - Mike  KC4TOS

On 7/19/2017 10:35 AM, David Stinson wrote:

> -----Original Message-----
>> GFE  Government Furnished Equipment
> -------------------
> Not doubting- just find it curious.
> Why would one need to mark equipment in a military aircraft
> as "Government Furnished Equipment" unless the aircraft
> were owned and operated by a private contractor?
> It would seem everything in and on it would be "GFE."
>
> Also- I've seen this "GFE" marking before, but if I
> Remember a-right, it was always with a "PV-1."
> Does anyone have a marking that lists a different ship?

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