Fw: RE: Fw: Re: [Milsurplus] RS-1 to AN/GRC-109 to RS-6

Fri May 7 00:21:44 EDT 2004

Thank you for the response, Mac.

I've had many comments like your's (enough to draw a conclusion) and they
were apparently not used as standard issue on any B-52 model. 

The RS-6 is a HF set and would be for "long range" communications.
Whereas the UHF survival sets, as I understand it, are typically low
power and line of sight which would make them ideal for contacting other
aircraft overhead who are looking for you. So these RS-6 units had to
have another purpose ??? In other words, assume help is not going to
automatically come within line of sight if you need assistance (lone
aircraft WAY out by themselves on long bombing missions and can't make it
back) OR just to pass information back to "the company" .  

73 Kees K5BCQ 

--------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "D C Macdonald" <[email protected]>
To: [email protected], [email protected]
Date: Thu, 06 May 2004 18:30:20 +0000
Subject: RE: Fw: Re: [Milsurplus] RS-1 to AN/GRC-109 to RS-6
Message-ID: <[email protected]>

As a former Electronic Warfare Officer on B-52F crew,
I can only say that I never heard of any such radio in
our survival gear.  The only thing I remember is the
small handheld transceiver on 121.5 and 243.0 MHz
which was the "rescue" radio contained in the seat
pack attached to your parachute harness if you went
out via the ejection seat.

D C (Mac) Macdonald, K2GKK/5
7 BW, 9 BS, Crew E-55
Carswell AFB, TX  1963-1966

----Original Message Follows----
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Fw: Re: [Milsurplus] RS-1 to AN/GRC-109 to RS-6
Date: Thu, 6 May 2004 13:13:52 -0500

I appreciate the links, but I've checked those and couldn't find the info
or there is conflicting info.

The RS-1 "suitcase radio" was, as I have found out, a completely
redesigned follow-on to what was used during WWII. It was widely used by
the CIA and it's ppredecessor The military ruggedized it into their
version, the AN/GRC-109 which they also widely used up into the VietNam
era. The question I have is about the RS-6, which is the same basic
design, is obviously designed to be lighter, smaller, break down into 4
self contained units, etc. What was it's purpose and where was it used.
Was it meant to be carried in flight suit pockets, trench coat pockets,
multiple individuals, ?? Some say they were used by the CIA, some on
U-2s, B-47s, B-52s. Some say that's not correct. I'm just trying to get
some history about the unit. I was going to give a presentation at one of
the ham radio meetings and would like to have some more facts than what I
have today. Did anyone use these and have first hand experience ?

73 Kees K5BCQ