[ARC5] PBY Radios

[zakariya.abu at yandex.com]

Wayne,

Thank you for sharing interesting histories.

RAF's Pilot Notes for Catalina I, II and IV mentioned that these planes 
were fitted with the British TR.1196 HF AM/MCW radio sets, which were 
standard on the FAA aircraft. They covered 4.3 Mcs. to 6.7 Mcs on 4 
x-tal controlled channels.

Could this indicate that the original US-made radios on PBYs were 
removed after delivery only to be replaced withe the obsolete but 
standardized British naval sets?

The PBY-5A manual from 1945 claims that these a/c were fitted with the 
GO-9 and RU-19 combos for long-range communications, and with an ATB and 
two ARB for intrasquadron communications. In addition, a DW-1 DF, the ZA 
blind landing set, the ZB-3 naval radio homing set, and an LM-10 
frequency meter were commonly installed. The ICS was the RL-24c.

The later PBY-6A version was apparently fitted with the ARC-5 
(LF/HF/VHF) combo, the SCR-269F/G ADF, the APN-4 LORAN, and the ARN-8 
Marker Beacon receiver. The ICS was the AIA-2. In addition, a RAX-1 was 
used as an aux receiver. Many a/c were also fitted with the ART-13 (ATC).

73,

Jan SP5XZG


W dniu 28.11.2025 o 15:41, releazer at earthlink.net pisze:
> I don't know the type of radios involved but I read of the delivery of the first PBY to the British.  After they arrived in the UK the US crew was asked about the route they took.  They described it and the Brits thought they had to be lying.  Not only could no Brit aircraft have flown that route, but the engine cowlings were not covered in oil, so it could have not have been a flight that long.  The Brits asked about the radios on the PBY, saying they were having trouble with their patrol planes being able to contact home base.  The US crew replied that they had been communicating with the Consolidated plant in San Diego while on final approach to the Brit base.  The Brits did not believe that, either.  So the next day they went up and observed comm with SD again.
> 
> Wayne
> WB5WSV