On 19 Apr 2023 at 22:48, Mike Morrow wrote:

> The R-24/ARC-5 had really only one function for use with the

> AN/ARR-1 VHF Homing Adapter. The more capable and

> compact AN/ARR-2 ZB Homing Receiver made the R-24

> and the AN/ARR-1 obsolete. It is doubtful that earlier

> homing combo was ever deployed.

>

> Mike / KK5F

Well, first of all, how would you mount the ZB or ARR-1 to an "ARC-5" receiver? I don't think it was possible

I am not so certain the ZB (or ARR-1?) was never deployed, if I am understanding what is meant by the above statement. My recent reading of several books on the Pacific War, concerning actions in 1942 and early 1943, especially the battle of Midway, strongly suggest that use of the RU/ZB combo took place during one or two of the early battles, apparently with no great success.

Lack of training in its use was mentioned in the Midway book by Jonathon Parshall and his co-author as one of the main reasons for such failure. Those authors mention "zed-baker" without going into even the most rudimentary description of what that was, in their descriptions of the above-mentioned failures.

The reason I say, "RU/ZB" above is because my understanding is that the RU was used by most carrier aircraft at that time, rather than Aircraft Radio gear. Furthermore, when I researched the ZB for a program on it I gave to the local ham club, I found an illustration from some military manual showing how to install it in an SBD.

Ken W7EKB