[MRCA] USAAF Watch Station Controllers Desk

[Captain D.]

I was able to magnify the picture some, and the equipment in the center of the picture does have a hand crank, so whoever called telephone switchboard is correct.  But it doesn't look like anything I've seen before.  It is certainly not a BD-71 or BD-72  I wonder way this switchboard is near an airfield diagram..  The board on the far right in the picture with equipment underneath it has approach paths in degrees written on it.  I wonder what that is about.  The knobs are in the wrong places on the equipment to aid in the turning of what would have been a very sizable DF loop antenna.  Perhaps this gear is not of US army origin.  can the folks at the US Air Force museum in Dayton be of any help.
Mark D.WW2RDO

"Clothes make the man.  Naked people have little or no influence on society." - Mark Twain
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In a message dated 4/10/2020 2:32:20 PM Eastern Standard Time, k4ncgva at gmail.com writes:

Looks like three LS-3 speakers are mounted in the desktop console too...

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On Apr 9, 2020, at 11:08 PM, Captain D. via MRCA <mrca at mailman.qth.net> wrote:




I got this letter from Mike Potter, who is Director Emeritus for the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach, VA.  Please take a look at the picture of the USAAF Control Station in Thurleigh, England.  we are looking to identify the electronics in the picture.  and get ideas as to the nomenclature of the radios and what I think is an aircraft radio remote built into the controllers desk.  MAM Virginia Beach is looking to replicate this control room with it's equipment.  Please contact Mike Potter directly at mhpotter at gmail.com with all replies.  Thanks in advance for all your help.
73
Mark D.WW2RDO


"Clothes make the man.  Naked people have little or no influence on society." - Mark Twain
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From: mhpotterone at gmail.com
To: mkdorney at aol.com
Sent: 4/9/2020 5:29:06 PM Eastern Standard Time
Subject: Hope you're doing OK?


HI, Mark ...
Hope this CV mess finds you well?  What a mess.
I wanted to show you something that I found in one of the files on the purchase of the Goxhill Watch Office.

Back in 2003, when Mr. Yagen bought the tower, and well before he was even thinking of restoring it, an article on the tower being brought over from the UK appeared in an aviation history magazine, and it asked anyone with specific info or photos of WWII US control towers in England to share their info.
One gentleman responded by mail to Jerry after reading it, saying that he had been based at Thurleigh, which was also a USAAF base that happened to have exactly the same design of Watch Office as Goxhill.  Photos were sent, and one photo (attached) is the control desk.

The contrast is not great, but some detail is clear.  Embedded in the vertical riser are three spaced US-speakers (I forget the designation, but we have those)  Also a mic or two, and switches that are a bit similar to some we have.
What I was really curious about are the read-out dials and bits on the lower left rear of the desk down near the floor.  Looks like that was basically the electric panel for the control desk?  Any chance you can identify any of that for us?
If you have not heard, obviously Warbirds Over the Beach is off for May, but we will hold it in October on the same date that we normally use for our WWI show.
If you can make it, please let me know, and I'll make sure a free ticket is waiting for you ...
Cheers,
Mike Potter
<Thurleigh pano.JPG>______________________________________________________________
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