[Milsurplus] Bomber Fantasy Camp, OK

[Mike Morrow]

I agree with the points made by Jack.  IMHO it is a certainty that there was no AN/ARC-1 on the 1942-made B-24D LBG nor any other aircraft anywhere in April 1943, nor on any USAAF aircraft at any time ever unless the aircraft had earlier in life been a USN aircraft that had been made after 1944.  The principal USAAF VHF commamd set of WWII was the SCR-522-A, joined in late WWII by the AN/ARC-3.  The AN/ARC-1 would be as out of place and out of time as the AN/ARC-5 would be on any USAAF aircraft.  These are USN sets...not USAAF.

I have real doubt that these early B-24D aircraft operating from north Africa even carried VHF command sets at all, based the absence of the distinctive AN-74 or AN-104 VHF antenna mast in photos of LBG and other 376th Bomb Group aircraft.  For similar reasons I doubt there was a RC-103-A(BC-733-*) VHF localizer receiver on board. 

That C-47 said to have obtained, presumably in 1959 or 1960, a LBG command radio, likely carried an AN/ARC-8 [AN/ART-13A plus AN/ARR-11(BC-348-*)] MF/HF liaison set, an AN/ARC-3 VHF and/or AN/ARC-27 UHF command set, and a SCR-274-N LF/MF range receiver BC-453-B.  An ADF set like SCR-269-*(BC-433-*), AN/ARN-7, or AN/ARN-6 would be installed on that C-47 (my bet would be on the SCR-269-*).  It could find suitable replacements from the LBG's BC-348-*, BC-453-B, or BC-433-* (keeping in mind that the LBG reported that its ADF did not work on that last flight).

If there is any truth at all about a C-47 using a LBG radio, I'll put ALL of my money on it having been the BC-453-B range receiver.

The USAF Museum LBG display that Ray mentioned is one of the most interesting displays found in a magnificent museum.  Some of the actual pages are displayed from radio operator and navigator (poor old Dp Hayes) logs.  One may see lists of mission-important radio frequencies with hand-written annotations.

My favorite book about LBG is the 1999 "Lady's Men" by Mario Martinez.

Mike / KK5F

-----Original Message-----
>From: Jack Antonio <scr287 at att.net>
>
>On 9/21/2015 10:33 AM, Ray Fantini wrote:
>> My understanding was that it was an AN/ARC-1 VHF transceiver that was
>> thought to be working better than the one that was in the C-47 that was
>> taken to the site so they decided to change out the radio with the one 
>> from the LBG.
>
>Not trying to pick an argument, but if it could be documented that it
>was an AN/ARC-1, it would be an interesting data point.
>
>The LBG disappeared in April '43, and I always thought the AN/ARC-1 
>didn't see service until late in '43, and then by the Navy.
>
>I did see in print somewhere where it referred to the LBGs command
>radio was the radio taken, but I don't remember where I read it.
>
>IF the LBG had VHF, I'd be thinking that it would be the SCR-522,
>but in wartime, strange things do happen.
>
>Of course, it seems that when it comes to VHF, who had what, when,
>during the war stirs up controversy.
>
>Jack Antonio WA7DIA/4