[ARC5] BC-453 in the SCR-274N Configuration

[releazer at earthlink.net]

Before WWII and even up until the 1970's to a limited degree, AN ranges were used on low frequencies.  These featured signals that gave a continuous tone if you were headed toward the station and an A (Dit Dah) tone or an N (Dah Dit) tone if you were off to one side.  Light aircraft without even an electrical system could use the AN ranges for navigation, and also receive control tower instructions by employing battery powered receivers.  Fighter aircraft generally did not have an ADF or even a loop antenna and so were equipped with LF receivers for the same reasons.  When SCR-522 replaced the SCR-274-N  or SCR-283 equipment small LF receivers were often installed in the cockpit to preserve the LF capability, such as the BC-1206 series made by Detrola, Setchell Carlson and others.  It is not clear to me how often the BC-1206 equipment was retained for overseas use or how USAAF fighters in the UK homed in on their airfield beacons.

Postwar the BC-1206 was replaced with BC-453 in many refurbished P-51's  that had ARC-3 fitted and can be seen perched high above the ARC-3 equipment under the bubble canopy.

Wayne
WB5WSV