[Milsurplus] Naval Aviation Navigation

[Greg Werstiuk]

Thumbnail sketch version follows:

Aircraft were equipped with ARR-1, ZB-1/2/3, and ARR-2 homing receivers. 

To eliminate the need for the long transmission periods required for
traditional direction finding, for brief periods, a carrier transmitted a
directionally split beacon at a single frequency between 241-251MHz.  Each
30 degree transmission area included a different morse code letter
identifier.  

By matching the letter in the received transmission to the code chart for
the day, the pilot would know the heading required to return to the carrier.


> -----Original Message-----
> From: milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
> [mailto:milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of 
> Michael St. Angelo
> Sent: Sunday, March 12, 2006 9:41 AM
> To: milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: [Milsurplus] Naval Aviation Navigation
> 
> Folks,
> 
> How did Naval Aviators find their way back to the Aircraft 
> Carriers? They could have used beacons but constant beacon 
> operation would have exposed the carrier location to enemy 
> forces. I know some of the patrol planes had a second crewman 
> who may have performed navigation duties but figher pilots 
> went it alone.
> 
> I just finished reading Eddie Rickenbacker' autobiography. He 
> was lost at sea in 1942 when a that the B17D that was 
> ferrying him to MacArthur's headquarters in Port Morseby, New 
> Guinea from Hawaii lost it's way and was forced to ditch. The 
> challenge of ocean navigation was impressed on me during this story.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Mike St. Angelo
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