[ARC5] P-38 Long Wire Antenna Mystery

[Robert Eleazer]

I stumbled across a very good photo of a P-38J that appears to be from the New Guinea area in late 1943.  It is equipped with both what almost must be a AN-104 antenna under the nose and a long wire antenna running from the rear canopy back to both tail fins.

We know that P-38 No. 5000 was equipped with SCR-274N at the factory based on photos that were taken when it rolled out in May 1944.  So the earlier P-38J's probably had 274-N also.  It could not accommodate both 274-N and SCR-522, so the question is: "What is that long wire for?"

The wire almost has to be for a Detrola or BC-1206 LW receiver.  I understand why those were useful in the USA but not what good they would be in the Pacific.

Anybody have any ideas?  Anyone who wants a copy of the photo let me know and I'll e-mail it to you.

Thanks!

Wayne
WB5WSV    

  

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