[ARC5] Talking to Airplanes From the Ground

[Tim]

Many years back I was conversing with Bob Passanisi, a combat veteran/radio
operator with Merril's Marauders in Burma.  Bob is the webmaster for
marauder.org where most of the MM's photos reside these days.  I have
summarized some of those conversations on my SCR-284 web post but this is
what he had to say (paraphrased) about his experience with ground-air comms
in particular:

*As noted by Bob, a Merrill’s Marauders Burma veteran (in the Comments
section below), the SCR-284 was only used for ground-air communications and
was considered a “dog”. Not surprising with the weight, bulk and complexity
of this non-waterproofed equipment when used in the jungle and transported
by mules. They were also equipped with SCR-300 sets but apparently the C-47
resupply aircraft available did not have FM capability. Bob told me that he
had rigged SCR-300 sets with wire antennas behind the pilot’s seats in the
L4 – type Liaison aircraft and they worked well. He thought the SCR-536
(AKA BC-611) sets were pretty useless with their short range.*

One of countless examples of GI's improvising a solution to a particular
situation with what they had available.
Salute!

Tim
N6CC

On Sun, Aug 1, 2021 at 9:50 AM MARK DORNEY via ARC5 <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
wrote:

> L-4s had a BC-659 installed for use as an airborne forward observer. Power
> was provided to the set by cannibalizing the battery box made for the
> BC-659 for the cables and building a smaller battery compartment into the
> aircraft to save weight. The BC-654-A was capable of talking to SCR-274-N
> equipped aircraft provided the aircraft had transmitters and receivers set
> to something on 75/80 meters.  The BC-1306 could also work. Those last two
> transceivers could also talk to USN vessels on 80 meters.
>
> Mark D.
> WW2RDO
>
> “In matters of style, float with the current. In matters of Principle,
> stand like a rock. “.   -   Thomas Jefferson
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Aug 1, 2021, at 10:57 AM, Robert Eleazer <releazer at earthlink.net>
> wrote:
>
> 
> That use of that USN transmitter for ground to air communication in Burma
> was just that, and it was portable not mobile.  The Chindits that operated
> behind enemy lines in Burma relied heavily on air support, mostly had no
> vehicles, and essentially invented the FAC in the USAAF.  The P-51A's the
> Air Commandos used were equipped with SCR-274-N and thus were able to talk
> to the ground troops.  The RAF had gone to SCR-522 in its fighters, had no
> way to talk to the ground troops they were supporting, and asserted there
> was no need to do so.
>
> As far as small portable sets, I have read of exactly one instance in
> which the BC-611 was used to talk to airplanes.  It was in Burma where they
> were parachuting rescue personnnel to help downed aircrew, and in that case
> the airplanes (C-47) knew exactly where the people they wanted to talk to
> were located.  Of course in Europe a ground version  of the SCR-522 was
> used for FAC work.  Anyone ever hear of BC-611 or MAB or DAV, etc. or other
> hand held equipment being used to talk to airplanes?  I do not think they
> had the range.  I think some L-4 aircraft had BC-1000 or BC-1335 or maybe
> BC-659 installed.
>
> Wayne
> WB5WSV
>
>
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