[Milsurplus] Interesting web site - P-38 radio

[Mike Morrow]

>So for example, the P-38s that intercepted  Adm. Yamamoto's
>plane, were they flying solely by compass and map visuals?

I don't know what that mission used for long-range navigation, but it would seem a good candidate for USAAF use of the ZB system with the SCR-274-N BC-946-B BCB receiver and the R-1/ARR-1 homing adapter.  Some P-38s carried the MN-26 RDF, so maybe that's a possibility too.

In general, there doesn't seem there's much evidence for LF/MF RDF use by fighter aircraft in WWII, anywhere, other than aural directional Adcock beacons that don't require a loop on the aircraft.  Those would be useful mainly in ferrying operations, since such beacons would be non-existent in combat theaters.  The large P-61 fighters carried the SCR-269 or AN/ARN-7 ADF, but P-61s were hardly typical fighter aircraft.

The P-38 photo seems to show a BC-450 three-receiver control box that has been modified to remove one section, hence the sharp, rectangular shape of the top and its open appearance next to the BC-451 transmitter control box.  Also notice that this truncated BC-450 *and* the BC-451 both appear to be mounted, somehow, on to the same three-receiver mounting plate.  It's an odd installation in several respects.

I have a single-receiver control box that was modified, fairly professionally, from either a three-receiver BC-450 or a two-receiver BC-496 control box, so maybe these were sometimes "customized" in the field.  My box profile is similar to the one shown in the P-38 photo, except it's for just one receiver.

Mike / KK5F