[Milsurplus] [ARC5] AN/ARC-8 In a B-24

[Robert Downs]

Yes.  The final revision to T.O. 12R2-2ART13-1 was issued 09/26/1968.  The base manual, under the nomenclature AN 08-30ART13-3  was issued 09/17/1944.  The ATC, of which AN/ART-13 was a slight modification but mostly just a nomenclature change of, is earlier than that, one being dated  02/01/1944.  But the earlier Preliminary Manual has never to my knowledge turned up.  All must have been destroyed.

 

Robert Downs

 

From: arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Mike Morrow
Sent: Sunday, July 29, 2018 19:04
To: milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
Cc: arc5 at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [ARC5] [Milsurplus] AN/ARC-8 In a B-24

 

I have the same impression as Robert's for the WWII era.

 

Post-WWII, the C-47 and similar aircraft seem to have been quickly equipped with the AN/ARC-8.  The early 1960's era -1 pilot's manual shows the AN/ARC-8 as typical.  Even the AN/ARC-65 (not -21) is shown in special versions for search and rescue (SC-47*).  The 150-pound RT-400/ARC-65 drum took over the deck area that had previously been the radio operator's position.

 

i often read surprised comments about the AN/ARC-8 (or AN/ART-13*  and/or AN/ARR-11 (BC-348-*)) being used "even until the late 1950s".  But there were AN/ARC-8 sets flying in older USAF aircraft until the early 1970s.  I flew on a C-131 used as the Blytheville AFB SAC Base Commander's aircraft in August 1970 that still had an AN/ARC-8 as its only HF set.  I remember being surprised to see it.  AN/ART-13 instruction manual revisions were still being issued in 1968 or later.

 

The RCA AN/ARC-21 (and its AN/ARR-36 aux receiver) replacement for the AN/ARC-8 was late by years, fabulously over-budget, and initially of poor reliability to the point that the program was subject to several congressional hearings.  Because of that, the AN/ARC-8 was guaranteed to have a long service life.  AN/ARC-21 program delays also spawned USAF purchases of many much lower cost and trouble Collins 618T-1 and 18S-4 and AN/ARC-59 (RT-380/AR, 18S-4A) sets for use in support and logistics aircraft rather than the very costly and scarce AN/ARC-21.

 

Post-WWII the USN used the AN/ART-13 and AN/ARR-15 in a combo similar to the AN/ARC-8 called the AN/ARC-25.  When its successor was being developed, the USN avoided much trouble, delay, and great cost by choosing the Collins AN/ARC-38 (and its AN/ARR-41 aux receiver).  Congressional reports compared the USAF AN/ARC-21 programs rather unfavorably to these USN programs.  IIRC, the USN's early 1950s per-system cost was about $7000, compared to the USAF's $21000.

 

Mike / KK5F

 

-----Original Message----- 
From: Robert Downs via Milsurplus 
Sent: Jul 29, 2018 4:52 PM 
To: 'List Milsurplus' 
Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] AN/ARC-8 In a B-24 




Not that I have ever heard of.  Nor the B-17’s or C-47’s.

 

Robert Downs

 

From: milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Mark K3MSB
Sent: Saturday, July 28, 2018 18:42
To: List Milsurplus
Subject: [Milsurplus] AN/ARC-8 In a B-24

 

Did B-24s in the USAAF transition from the SCR-287 to the AN/ARC-8 in the European Theater towards the end of the war?

 

73 Mark K3MSB

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/milsurplus/attachments/20180729/d4390b53/attachment-0001.html>