[Milsurplus] Philippine guerilla radio?

[W7QHO@aol.com]

Merrill's Marauders used the PRC-1 in Burma.   Couple of interesting comments 
from "The Marauders" by Charlton Ogburn, Jr.

Re: Providing power for the rig......

"This was done with a hand-cranked generator which might be likened to an 
upended bicycle without wheels or handlebars; you sat on the seat and pedaled by 
hand.   The drag on the crank was proportionate to the output of the set you 
were working, and the AN/PRC-1 was designed to reach a long way.   To keep it 
going was like forcing a bicycle uphill just before you have to get off and 
walk.   It took everyone in the platoon working by turns to keep the glutton 
satisfied."

On another occasion while under artillery attack.....

"We ground the juice into the AN/PRC-1 as never before.   The battalion's one 
irreplaceable possession, and looking as if it knew it, straddled the bottom 
of its trench, inscrutable, temperamental, its favor beyond entreaty or 
purchase.   It appeared to be humoring us, though.   The clipped twerpes in which it 
spoke had a reassuring vigor and authority."

Sounds like a love-hate relationship. The book also has a picture of a group 
of Marauders out in the weeds huddled around an SCR-284.

From "The Outcome" Maj. Milton A Pilcher who served under Merrill remembers:

 ".......the labor involved simply in listening, not to mention transmitting 
with the long-range AN/PRC-1.   Since no batteries were designed to power the 
receiver component, its energy had to be cranked up on a hand generator, a 
tedious task for the communications platoon (the set's power demand, when 
transmitting, strianed the arms and sholders of the men even   more).   At GALAHAD 
headquarters Pilcher often pressed the military police into the work   of 
cranking the generator hour after hour."


Dennis D.   W7QHO
Glendale, CA



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