[Boatanchors] KWM-1 Radios installed in U2's

[Bill Pope]

KWM-1 SSB Radio, 

To clear up the questions on the KWM-1 being install in the U2's. There were
only nine U2's in the late 50's that had the KWM-1 installed. The U2
missions that used these radios were Project Crow Flight. The reason for the
KWM-1 was to give the Pilots some communications when on the missions over
the South and North Polls as well as the Equator and between. The KWM-1 was
mounted on the forward bulkhead in the Q Bay behind the Cockpit, The
controls were modified with servo motors that were controlled from the
cockpit by the Pilot, Installed in the Left console, there was a small panel
with a right/Left Toggle Switch and a small indicator for adjusting the
frequency a small amount up or down and an on/off switch, the initial tuning
was done by the ground radio Teck. (me), the Antenna was a wire Antenna
running from just behind the Q Bay to the Vertical Stabilizer approximately
19 feet. I was an Airborne Radio Repairman assigned to the 4080th SRW, 4080
A&E at Laughlin AFB in Del Rio TX. From 1956 to 1960, supporting the U2's on
many TDY's including Puerto Rico and Argentina. The only other Radio in the
U2's in the late 50's was the AN/ARC-34 a UHF Radio.

 

Bill