[ARC5] P-38 PhotRecon w/Radios

[Mike Morrow]

Dave wrote:

> You might find this page interesting.
> Photo Recon P-38 equiped with SCR-274N.
> SCR-522 plus more.
> http://www.33rdprs.photorecon.org/html/aircraft/P38intro.html

That starboard-side F-5 cockpit photo zhows a one-receiver, one-transmitter SCR-274-N installation, although I suppose there could be a second HF command transmitter present if that's a MN-28LB RDF control box going to a MN-26LB RDF (not ADF as the text claims).  The LB is also known as the AN/ARN-11.  The LB model's third band covers 2.9 to 6.0 MHz and cannot be used for RDF.  But it could be an ersatz receiver for a second command transmitter, I guess.  (I doubt it here.)

It's interesting that the SCR-522-A VHF command set did not prompt the total elimination of the SCR-274-N HF command set as it did in most other single seat aircraft.  I guess they needed at least one HF channel for these photo-recon versions.

Mike / KK5F