[MRCA] PRC-74 Active Duty 1995

[Ray Fantini]

Why would anyone waste there time in an military setting using something as obsolete as the AN/PRC-74 when the AN/PRC-104 was widely deployed at that time? The PRC-74 was way obsolete by the eighties, its not a bad radio being it can still be repaired by a skilled individual  unlike the PRC-104 but it wont use standard batteries, has no secure option and by the nineties the last produced PRC-74 sets were at least twenty years old.
Perhaps some National Guard units still had them in there inventory that late but that radio was introduced in 1966 and would doubt it was still deployed in any active duty.


Ray F/KA3EKH


________________________________
From: mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net <mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net> on behalf of Scott Johnson <scottjohnson1 at cox.net>
Sent: Friday, March 9, 2018 10:04 PM
To: 'Mkdorney'
Cc: mrca at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [MRCA] PRC-74 Active Duty 1995

That is my feeling as well, no military bearing at all, and it looks like he rolled a vagrant and stole his BDU’s.
Scott V. Johnson W7SVJ
5111 E. Sharon Dr.
Scottsdale, AZ 85254-3636
H (602) 953-5779
C (480) 550-2358
scottjohnson1 at cox.net<mailto:scottjohnson1 at cox.net>
scott.johnson at ieee.org<mailto:scott.johnson at ieee.org>

From: Mkdorney [mailto:mkdorney at aol.com]
Sent: Friday, March 9, 2018 7:55 PM
To: Scott Johnson <scottjohnson1 at cox.net>
Cc: Mark Burgess <m38inmaine at gmail.com>; mrca at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [MRCA] PRC-74 Active Duty 1995

He’s not an Army E-5. The uniform is way too wrong.  US Army uniforms had tapes over the breast pockets that had the soldiers last name on one side, and “US ARMY” on the other. There are no name tapes on that uniform. That’s not a combat photo: and the US Army would make sure any staged photos would not have somebody so badly out of uniform be a primary focus in any photo. Also, a “Swiss Seat” rope harness is not a standard item of wear on any uniform, and would certainly serve no purpose being worn in a staged shot demonstrating how a radio is set up. The photo either was done by a civilian military radio enthusiast demonstrating how his surplus radio was set up in the field, or done by a soldier serving in a  military other than that from the USA.

Mark
WW2RDO

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 9, 2018, at 9:26 PM, Scott Johnson <scottjohnson1 at cox.net<mailto:scottjohnson1 at cox.net>> wrote:
So, I take it he is indeed an Army E5 Sgt, since the E4 Sgt. rank in the USAF went away in 1991.  (he would be a Senior Airman, Sra).  Thing is, the Army wouldn’t have had black (or blue) berets at that time, especially the Pepe Le Pew lookin’ thing.  And, it appears the 63rd AEW, of which he was a member, was inactive after 1994.  Combat controllers in the USAF wear a red beret.  Not to belabor this whole thing, but it is a might strange.

Scott V. Johnson W7SVJ
5111 E. Sharon Dr.
Scottsdale, AZ 85254-3636
H (602) 953-5779
C (480) 550-2358
scottjohnson1 at cox.net<mailto:scottjohnson1 at cox.net>
scott.johnson at ieee.org<mailto:scott.johnson at ieee.org>

From: Mark Burgess [mailto:m38inmaine at gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, March 9, 2018 5:13 PM
To: Scott Johnson <scottjohnson1 at cox.net<mailto:scottjohnson1 at cox.net>>
Subject: Re: [MRCA] PRC-74 Active Duty 1995

Forgot to include the caption for the picture:
Sergeant (SGT) Dennis L. Walters operates an AN/PRC-74 radio set during a training exercise. SGT Walter is a combat controller with the 63rd Combat Control Mobility Branch Dated 1/1/1995



Mark

K1HF


On Fri, Mar 9, 2018 at 6:15 PM, Scott Johnson <scottjohnson1 at cox.net<mailto:scottjohnson1 at cox.net>> wrote:
This does not look like a US airman to me.  The blue beret does not look military (no flash, and too large, no insignia on the uniform, and the BDU’s look like they are surplus, having been washed many times.  In the USAF, a blue beret is reserved for security police.  Sorry, but nothing makes sense about this photo.

Scott V. Johnson W7SVJ
5111 E. Sharon Dr.<https://maps.google.com/?q=5111+E.+Sharon+Dr.+Scottsdale,+AZ+85254&entry=gmail&source=g>
Scottsdale, AZ 85254<https://maps.google.com/?q=5111+E.+Sharon+Dr.+Scottsdale,+AZ+85254&entry=gmail&source=g>-3636
H (602) 953-5779<tel:(602)%20953-5779>
C (480) 550-2358<tel:(480)%20550-2358>
scottjohnson1 at cox.net<mailto:scottjohnson1 at cox.net>
scott.johnson at ieee.org<mailto:scott.johnson at ieee.org>


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