One of the things I’ve learned in actually talking to WW2 vets ( I’ve bee doing these events for a LONG time ) and having served in the military myself is “Never say Never.”  In peacetime, in rear area, in some area ruled by the RAMF ( do your own research ), everything is “by the book.”  This is the land of the IG hero. In a forward area, things are done because they work. And not too much is cared about some hold down being the correct shape, or if an extra radio is added to some vehicle ( more than likely because there is a shortage of vehicles to move all the krap you’ve got to have. And this stuff never gets lighter).  You make do with what you got. And you acquire and modify equipment to make things work. When your film was made, the US Army had already been on Guadalcanal for quite some time, so a BC-654 would have certainly been availablenot be out of place. As far as a VRC-12 and GRC-106, our Det CO had EXACTLY that set up. While it is frowned upon to load too many assets on to any one 1/4 ton ( such as radios or crew served weapons ),it happened. And I can show you photos of USAAF Watch Stations ( think Control tower ) that had scrounged SRC-274 sets run by batteries in the station so base personnel could better communicate with aircrews during take off and landing operations. Totally violated the airfield’s TO&E, but was actually a relatively common sight in the watch stations. 

So smile and nod at the IG “Generals” and continue to March as before. 

Mark D. 
WW2RDO


“In matters of style, float with the current. In matters of Principle, stand like a rock. “.   -   Thomas Jefferson 

Sent from my iPhone

On May 4, 2025, at 4:20 PM, Mark K3MSB <[email protected]> wrote:



There was a recent discussion of an SCR-274-N used in a ground installation.   Here's the post from Ray from several months ago.......

73 Mark K3MSB

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Ray Fantini <[email protected]>
Date: Thu, Oct 3, 2024 at 9:17 AM
Subject: RE: [MRCA] BC-611 Operational Question
To: Mark K3MSB <[email protected]>, List Milsurplus <[email protected]>, [email protected] <[email protected]>


What is considered “Authentic and Proper” and what is not. Many of you may know about my M151 that I run around with and do remote opps both voice and RTTY and have had no end to people coming up to me and wanting to enlighten me on how and what I am doing is wrong, how a VRC-12 set would never be installed along with a GRC-106 or the tie down rings are round instead of D shaped or any numb of incorrect things I am doing. I installed a coke bottle opener on one of the antenna brackets just for that reason and that’s always a big hit at the Military Vehicle Shows that I do.  The thing is I am out there in the field bringing this history back to life and having a lot of fun doing it. Think if you want to install a command set on some plywood and drag it out in the field and use it that would be great, and within the context of it not being what may have been appropriate or proper or whatever I would like to put forward this video “ With The 17th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron on Guadalcanal” Air Forces Film Report, 48-A The relevant scenes are about one minute in and at around nine minutes in is a wide shot of the communications center that also shows the maintenance bench on the side.

So, looking forward to hearing about your field opps with the command set in the future and have to say that’s what you’re doing to me sounds like a worthwhile project!

Link to video:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGMdgk4uApk

 

Ray F/KA3EKH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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