[Milsurplus] Aircraft Radiotelegraphy

[Michael A. Bittner]

My Uncle gave me his vibroplex after the war. He was radio operator on tanker B-24s flying av-gas over "the hump". Mike Bittner W6MAB
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Mike Morrow 
  To: milsurplus at mailman.qth.net 
  Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2010 8:02 AM
  Subject: [Milsurplus] Aircraft Radiotelegraphy


  Clete wrote:

  > I never heard of a radio operator on a WWII airplane using a bug. 

  Mike wrote:

  > It's definitely a 1942-vintage Vibroplex-made J-36, according to the ID plate.
  >
  > He's not here to answer questions...

  More than 50 years ago there were still some aircraft radiotelegraph operator
  positions on some long-range airliners.  It required at least a second class radiotelegraph license with the aircraft radiotelegraph endorsement (25 wpm
  plain language/20 wpm code groups).  These stations were open to public correspondence (just like merchant marine Morse stations at sea).  They could
  handle private passenger traffic as well as serve airline communication needs.

  I always hoped to find some one who lived that life and had stories to tell.
  A bug key would likely have been very useful in such service.

  The FCC Aircraft Radiotelegraph Endorsement to a commercial radiotelegraph license
  could still be obtained as recently as 20 years ago...long after the last commercial
  aircraft flew with such operators.  I studied for it more than 30 years ago after I
  got my second class telegraph license, but I was only interested in the novelty of
  the endorsement.  I've never met anyone who had, much less used, this endorsement.

  But I agree with Clete...it's hard to imagine the purpose and suitability of
  a bug in WWII military aircraft service.

  Mike / KK5F
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