[Milsurplus] : TCS Applications

[Rich MC Clung]

In 1959, my family moved back to the States from Guam.  We flew on a MATS Connie C-121 (R7V).  It had USAF markings but was crewed by US Navy personnel and was an aircraft in the Navy Transport Squadron VR-7. A squadron my dad was in in the early 50's when it was commissioned at Hickom AFB in Hawaii.  Any way the flight deck crew included the Pilot, Co-Pilot, Navigator, Flight Engineer, and Radioman. I struck up a conversation with the Radioman when he came back in the cabin to get a cup of coffee and got invited up front.  The radio position was on the left hand side, entering the flight deck. An aircraft type rack was against the bulkhead and there was a TCS-12, an LM-14, and a couple of other radios that I don't remember anymore. He was operating CW with Navy shore stations and some of the Barrier Radar Pickets getting WX and position fixes.. He worked the CAA/FAA flight control stations on voice.  I spent most of the flight with the Radioman.
 Once my dad came up front to see what I was up to and the pilot told him I was doing fine and was now a crew member. 

RICH  WA6KNW


Again with the CW!  Why?  And why only with ships?  A TCS could talk with
aircraft radios too.  For that matter, they could talk with HF ground sets
just as well.  So let's ask the community at large how Jeep-mounted TCS
equipment was used.  Folks?