[Milsurplus] Detailed BC-348 Article

[Mike Hanz]

Hue Miller wrote:

>The article mentions a BC-348 set up in a JU-52.
>I would not call that an "act of deference". I would
>call it something else.  -Hue Miller
>

I would tend to agree, although after working for some time in the JU-52 
at NASM Udvar-Hazy on antennas and peripherals, I might shed some light 
on the apparent "glitch in time".  Haven't seen the Discovery Channel 
show that Ken Corwin mentioned so I can't be sure, but after the war, 
the Spanish government decided it need to bolster its defense 
capability, particularly in the area of paratroop delivery, so they 
imported/enticed/whatever a number of wartime Junkers aircraft engineers 
to come to Spain and build JU-52 replicas.  So, what to use for 
avionics?  The time period is the very late 1940s/early 1950s, so what 
is available that would do the job at the least expense?  To cut to the 
chase, the Spanish JU-52 in the Udvar-Hazy collection, beautifully 
restored and donated by Lufthansa (with the exception of the avionics, 
which is pretty much as received), is straight out of a wartime B-17, 
possibly obtained from a Radio Row vendor, but more likely the 
government agency responsible for disposition of so much WWII surplus.  
In any event, the only remaining piece of WWII German design brought 
forward is the wooden HF liaison antenna mast jutting above the 
copilot's seat.  This despite the complex internal construction that was 
very definitely the rear gunner's compartment in the rear...look for the 
cover for this turret if you walk by above the aircraft at Hazy....

73,
Mike