[Milsurplus] Yamamoto Mission: P-38 Radio Navigation

[Mike Morrow]

Hue wrote:

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

I wrote:

>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.

Francesco wrote:

>I am sure that it was compass, watch and a little luck....

Don't be so sure.  Read the pilot testimony.

Col. Rex Barber, the pilot who history backs as the one who downed Yamamoto's aircraft, states some details of the event at:

http://www.southernoregonwarbirds.us/fa0.html

One quote says:

"Not only did it depend on absolute, precise adherence to schedule on the part of Yamamoto but on absolute, precise navigation on our part to arrive at exactly that same place and time. A half-dozen miles or minutes one way or the other, on either the Admiral's or on our parts, could easily negate the entire opportunity. Small differences in the reported winds enroute could be enough to drift us too far off course. To help [squadron commander Major John W.] Mitchell in his overwater navigation the Navy had installed a special compass in his plane."

"Mitchell then proceeded out on course with all the rest of us just following. We did little or no navigation, we just followed wherever Mitchell led us, in absolute radio silence."

Note those words "the Navy had installed a special compass in his plane."  The only WWII-era Navy "special compass" that could have provided the precision track information, unaffected by crosswinds, needed for this 430 mile open water mission is the ZB homing system, and the term "compass" is completely appropriate for the ZB.  Does anyone have a more likely candidate for this "special compass"?

The date of the mission, 18 April 1943, likely pre-dates the introduction of the USAAF's BC-946-B and AN/ARR-1 version of the ZB, but the ZB had been in service for two years on USN aircraft by then.  Testimony and evidence seem to lead one to very reasonably conclude that a USN ZB installation was on board Mitchell's P-38 and that it was an essential key to mission success.  If the simple and easily-installed ZB system was not part of this mission, someone should have lost his command!

This mission was a "Navy Show" and the attack team pilots, though USAAF, received Navy Crosses instead of the Army equivalent Distinguished Service Cross.  

Mike / KK5F