[Milsurplus] Re: [ARC5] HF/VHF Again

[w4thq at cox.net]

At the National Museum of Naval Aviation, where I volunteer in restoration, our SBD-2, used in Battle of Midway, has a ZB-1 homing adapter.  This receiver was cabled to the RU receiver for homing to the carrier.  Frequency range was about 150 to 250 MHz (don't have the dial handy to check) using four 954 acorn tubes.

The ZB-1 nameplate has Contract 84443, date March 29, 1941, to Western Electric, serial number 7161.

This aircraft is the only one to survive Midway to later ditch in Lake Michigan c1944 and still had its GF/RU ZB-1, and GP-4 equipment on board.  It was salvaged 50 years later and restored in our shop using about 70,000 mostly volunteer man-hours.

We also are restoring a PB2Y-5 Coronado which started life as a -3 and was upgraded to a -5 during WWII.  At that time its GF/RU (2ea), LM, GO-9, and ZB (?) equipment was replaced by ARB (2ea), ATC (2ea), and ZB-3.  The LM was removed, also.  This aircraft was purchased from the Navy by Howard Hughes  and used for practice in handling a large flying boat.  NMNA acquired it from Hughes Tool Co.

John, W4THQ