[Milsurplus] Last flight of the LBG

[Greg Werstiuk]

Funny how history repeats itself in different forms.  That's the same gripe
the "real" members of the military had with the Sergeant York Air Defense
gun.  Unofficially, people were heard to say nobody in their right mind
would fire up the radar to use it because it gave away it's position in the
process...

- Greg



> -----Original Message-----
> From: milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
> [mailto:milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Mike Morrow
> Sent: Monday, April 04, 2005 1:08 PM
> To: milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] Last flight of the LBG
> 
> 
> >It was described as some sort of IFF, ("tail end charley"?) 
> from B-29.
> 
> It was a pulsed 420 mc radar designed to detect aircraft 
> approaching from the rear.  It was installed on USAAF night 
> fighters like the P-61 Black Widow, and I've heard, on other 
> aircraft like some models of P-51.  I don't think it had 
> bomber application.  When an object was detected. a bell and 
> light energized in the cockpit.  The big problem was that as 
> an active radar, its signal could be used to detect and track 
> the aircraft carrying it.  I think all were ultimately 
> withdrawn from service for this reason.
>