[Milsurplus] Flight 19 (TBM Avenger Radios)

[Mike Morrow]

Kenneth wrote:


>...does anyone know for sure what radio gear a just-post-war
>Avenger would have carried?

I had some interesting e-mail from a fellow (Mike McDermott) who outbid me
on ebay for a gutted C-38/ARC-5 box (I needed the cover for the mic switch,
he needed the chassis) who is restoring a TBM, including all of the radio
gear. This is what he wrote:

> Well out of my 1945 Pilot's Flight Operation Handbook for the
>TBM-3 is the following radios:
>
>1) AN/ART-13 Transmitter which is placed in the rear of the plane
> under the gunners turrett. Ten pre-set channels which can
> be changed through the pilot's control.
>
>2) ARB Receiver located next to the ART-13 in the rear compartment.
>Tuning box to right of pilot in the form of a tuning box  and tuning head
> (coffee grinder).
>
>3) AN/ARR-2 Receiver also located under the turrett next to the ARB
>but behind the ART-13.
>
>4) AN/ARC-5 Receiver (R-26) with a Yardeny C-131 AR Spot Tuner
>whcih provides reception on 6 preset channels. The control is the
>the right of the pilot and functions with the first 6 preset channels of
>the ART-13 Transmitter Control.
>    (a) ARC-5 Pilot's control unit (original still in plane)
>    (b) ARC-5 Operators and gunner control boxes
>    (c) ARC-5 Junction Box in middle compartment
>    (d) Power Filter Unit in back compartment
>    (e) ARC-5 Jack Box beneath the pilot's right arm rest
>
>5) RL-7 Interphone
>
>6) ARC-1 Unit to receive and transmit voice on VHF
>    (a) ARC-1 Transmitter-Receiver located in middle compartment
>          operating on nine main channels and one guard channel. The
>          fixed antenna, on the top of the crash bulkhead is adapted for
>          use with this unit. That is the tall wood antenna right behind
the
>          pilot's head in a TBM.
>     (b) ARC-1 Control Unit mounted to the right of the pilot.
>
>7) AN/APX-2 Transponder located under the crash bulkhead behind
> the pilot's seat on the deck. This was the only unit still in this fire
>bomber TBM when we got her.

Overall that's a pretty challenging ensemble to re-create with all the
proper small bits.  I was so happy to hear of a fellow who was paying this
sort of attention to the proper radio gear for his restoration.  So many of
these WWII aircraft folks don't care a bit about the electronics.

I wonder what USN aircraft used the three-receiver, two transmitter ARC-5
installation that looks to me like one of the earliest "integrated" avionics
sets:  R-4/ARR-2 homing receiver, R-26/ or -27ARC-5 fixed tuned HF receiver,
R-28/ARC-5 VHF receiver, T-19 (or 20 to 22)/ARC-5 HF transmitter, T-23/ARC-5
VHF transmitter?  It's shown in a ARC-5 manual as a single place aircraft
radio installation.

73,
Mike / KK5F