[Milsurplus] Cluster Beacon

[Mike Morrow]

Robert wrote:

>To clarify John's post, AN/ARN-1 was originally AYD.  When improved, instead 
>of becoming AN/ARN-1A nomenclature was changed to AN/APN-1.  Which then went 
>through several models.  But in any case, it is an altimeter.

And to clarify Marty's post, instead of "YE-ARN-1" he obviously meant "YE-ARR-1."  "YE-ZB" would have been even clearer, even though the USAAF would have used the AN/ARR-1 version of the ZB-3 homing adapter.

I've never read any convincing info that the AN/ARR-1 was used by the USAAF in the ETO.  There's also precious little concrete info about USAAF use of this system in the PTO.  It would be interesting to find out why USAAF use of this system apparently wasn't very common, for it certainly worked well for the USN.  For use with the SCR-274-N, only the AT-5/ARR-1, R-1/ARR-1, and a BC-946-B installed in place of the BC-453-B would be required for a complete installation.  That's pretty cheap, simple, and light-weight for such a useful navigator. 

There's an interesting USN veteran's history mentioning the YE-ZB at:

http://www.erieveterans.com/WW_II_Stories/Machalinski__Ray_/machalinski__ray_.html

Mike / KK5F