[Milsurplus] Re: WW2 B-29 VHF radio?

[Mike]

Marty R's GI-stuff haunt wrote:

> ARC-1 & SCR-522 both 4-channel VHF.

No, the RT-18(*)/ARC-1 was 10-channel auto-tune 100 to 156 MHz.  You are
thinking most likely of the RT-19/ARC-4, which was four-channel, no
auto-tune, and operated only from 140 to 144 MHz.
 
> Then-new ARC-3 had 8 channels
>
> "A-, B-, C-, D-channel" sets most likely ARC-1

No, those channel designations would be on the BC-602 pilot's control
box for the SCR-522.

Control boxes for the AN/ARC-1 and AN/ARC-4, and for that matter on the
AN/ARC-3 and AN/ARC-5 (VHF) were numerically marked.
 
> Bet on ARC-1

I have never seen any believable info that the AN/ARC-1, -4, and -5
(VHF) sets were used by any service other than the US naval services.  I
really doubt that the USAAF ever installed anything but SCR-522s and
AN/ARC-3s in their WW2 aircraft for VHF comms.

My best guess for a normal late-WW2 B-29 communications lineup would be
an AN/ARC-3 for VHF comms, and an AN/ARC-8 (AN/ART-13, AN/ARR-11
[BC-348]) for HF.

Mike / KK5F