[Milsurplus] Holiday Puzzle

[wa5cab at cs.com]

The two hand-held radios are as previously said or guessed, BC-611's.  The 
RT-196/PRC-6 is banana shaped and does not have either the antenna cap or 
the protruding rubber cover over the PTT actuator, both visible in the photo 
of the Group Leader.  It also does not have the protruding earphone cover 
visible on the one carried by the Assistant Group Leader.  Model-wise the 
radios in the photos could be anything from BC-611-A through early production 
BC-611-F.  Only two changes were ever made to the cases and they are not 
visible except on close inspection or partial disassembly.  But odds are that in 
Korea the two radios would have been ERLa -C, Galvin -E, or Galvin or ERLa 
-F.  The antenna cap on the one held by the Group Leader is resting on his 
thumb and edge of his hand.

There is a common misconception that all of the BC-611-F had the thick 
bottom cover with mic and earphone jacks.  The two 1945 TM's would certainly 
lead someone to believe that.  However, the early production -F from both 
contractors had the thin bottom covers and gray fiber spacer/wire protectors of 
the earlier models.  There were two -F Orders.

8259-Phila-45-01 ERLa late -F components @ S/N 13300
10531-Phila-45-01 Galvin late -F components @ S/N 8691

The BC-611-F Supplements to the 1943 edition of TM 11-235 are dated 15 and 
25 January 1945.  The Addenda adding the thick bottom cover (and some other 
things) are dated 23 and 27 March 1945.

The first TM 11-296 covering AN/PRC-6 is dated 16 October 1951.  The second 
edition is dated 15 September 1955.

In a message dated 12/27/2009 7:53:17 AM Central Standard Time, 
roger at new-gate.co.uk writes: 
> Hi All,
> 
> Here's a little holiday puzzle for you, one that's excited some discussion 
> 
> amongst mil collectors over this side of the pond;-
> 
> Look at http://www.nab.usace.army.mil/projects/WashingtonDC/korean.html
> 
> This is a website devoted to the memorial to persons who served in the US 
> forces during the Korean War. Click on number 3 statue in the layout 
> diagram 
> (Squad Leader) and tell me what radio he is carrying.
> 
> Also, any guess at what the Radio Operator (number 8) has under his 
> poncho, 
> I'd guess a BC-1000?
> 
> 
> 73 for '10
> 

Robert & Susan Downs - Houston
wa5cab dot com (Web Store)
MVPA 9480