[Milsurplus] BC-312/KC-97L resolution!

[Mike Morrow]

Ray reported from the museum director:

> It turns out the crew chief of the restoration put it in the
> rack to fill a hole. It is supposed to be a BC-348. 

That still leaves some open questions.  It sounds like the aircraft now has either the AN/ARC-21 or later -65 HF drum installed, and the only thing indicating that a BC-348 should be present is its empty FT-154 mounting.

Early KC-97 aircraft did initially have an AN/ARC-8 (with BC-348) as the HF radio set.  But the BC-348 should not have been retained after the AN/ARC-21 or 65 was backfitted.  If the aircraft was made in 1955, it should have had the AN/ARC-21 from the beginning.  

If the aircraft is old enough to have had the AN/ARC-8, then perhaps the FT-154 mount for the BC-348 was abandoned in place when the AN/ARC-21 or 65 was installed.  If most of the other radio gear was still installed when the museum acquired the aircraft, but the FT-154 mount was empty, the conclusion I would draw is that it should remain empty.

The museum may wish to continue investigation of what should be where.  I would definitely recommend deep-sixing the BC-312.  It's likely that not even a BC-348 should be there, even if the mounting is.

>Sorry for all the confusion. For punishment I wont post
>anything for at least a month!

Post, and why be sorry?  The list isn't exactly exceeding capacity with postings, and these issues can spark some interesting and enjoyable discussions.  Post-WWII aircraft gear doesn't get much attention on this list, sadly.

73,
Mike / KK5F