[GreenKeys] OT - Help with VHF Radio in ATC

[Robert Downs]

Alf,

I have (and sell) the VHF Fighter Control Handbook, which you might call an illustrated catalog, that was produced by the Signal Section - Air Service Command at Patterson Field.  It contains lists and photographs of the BC-638, 639 and 640 plus the BC-634 and BC-625 and details the makeup of various SCR- sets built around those radios.  Including a dozen or more control panels and control boxes.  But none of them look remotely like the control box or panel shown in your photo.  From which my guess is that the panel was either produced locally or was British.

The MILSURPLUS group, also on QTH.NET, is another possible source for you but I doubt that anyone on there will disagree with me.

Was RAF Thurleigh a Bomber or a Fighter base?

The BC-348 was an MF/HF receiver carried in Bomber and Transport aircraft for long range communications but not, AFAIK, in Fighters.  In any case, I would consider it highly unlikely that it would have been actually operated in the location shown.

Robert Downs

-----Original Message-----
From: greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Alf Fisher
Sent: Saturday, June 20, 2020 16:26
To: Greenkeys
Subject: [GreenKeys] OT - Help with VHF Radio in ATC

Hello GKers,

I'm sorry but I don't know of a group with more diverse knowledge than Greenkeys but maybe someone can put me right.

Please can someone help me out with what control boxes would have been used with the BC640 transmitter.

Here is a photo of the control desk at RAF Thurleigh which was a USAAF base during WW2 and the control box looks about 6 x 3 inches with a pilot lamp  and a jack for a T-17 mike amongst other things.
There is a BC348 receiver under the desk but I think this is nothing to do with the transmitting side of things.

Any ideas welcome.

73,
Alf, G3WSD