[MRCG] B-17 Radio Operator (BC-375, etc.)

[willi6 at starpower.net]

I recently picked up a nice book entitled "B-17 Combat Missions" by Martin Bowman.  It is full of position specific photos, so I mostly purchased it for the "Radio Operator" chapter.  Also, the fact that it was on sale at Barnes and Noble for $6.95 made it a good bargain . 

There are a number of interior shots including the various radio areas.  From what I can tell, most interior shots  were taken in the same aircraft, perhaps at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford, England.  In some instances,  some of the data appears to be  mixed up, or the research was limited.  It may also be that portions of the interior were reconstructed and some short cuts taken. 

One photo shows the radio operator position.  It has a wooden surface table that appears to be facing forward.  There is a door to the operators right and the curved fuselage surface with a small window to the left.  Above the table top is a small green metal shelf with a plain metal (Aluminum) device with four MIL connectors facing the operator.  It has a raised box just above the connectors typical of the "tube cans" on some of the ARC series.  It  looks to be one of the Dynamotor or Modulator chassis.  On the table surface is a "radio" with a black wrinkle finish that appears (and looks) to be the receiver.  However, the photo legend says, "The Radio Operator's position showing the SCR-287 -- a liaison radio consisting of a BC-375 receiver (below, on the table), BC-348 transmitter, and two tuning units."  (The name plate on lower right front of radio is difficult to read, but appears to say RADIO RECEIVER BC-348-?) 

Two pages later is a large multi-section graphic with four photos.  

The small upper left photo is one of the portable Freq Meters (correct).  The small upper right is a BC-1033B Receiver (correct).  Neither of these devices is shown installed in the aircraft.  

The small top center phot shows a machine gun position that was apparently in early versions of the B-17G and was in the radio operator area.  Below the weapon and the ammo feed box is a rack mount with five tuning units.  Based on the size, I would say they were for a transmitter.   

The lower photo shows a bulkhead with the bombay behind it.  The curved fuselage is to the right in the photo. The legend refers to it as "right side bulkhead with the bomb bay behind".  On the bulkhead are two wooden shelves.  They appear to be new, replacement fabrications.  The sides are triangular wth a 3-4 inch round hole.  The lower shelf has the three position receiver shock mount for the "ARC-5" type receivers.  The center receiver is black wrinkle (looks to be VLF freqs), while the two outer receivers are brushed al uminum (unable to read freq range on dials).  The upper shelf is narrower, due to the curve of the fuselage.  It has a two position shock mount for the "ARC-5" type transmitters.  Both transmitters are brushed aluminum finish with black enamel controls and dials.  Both appear to be the 4.0-5.3 MCS Range.    Near the outer fuselage, lower right hand corner of outer transmitter, is the small antenna current meter.  The legend for this photo reads, "right side bulkhead, with the bomb bay behind (bottom), with the SCR-274-N Command Radio, which the pilots used for short-range voice communication with nearby aircraft or ground stations." 

The text also makes a reference to the VHF Command Radio (SCR-522-A) as being the principal operational set for verbal communications with bombers and fighters as it had a range of about 150 Miles for an aircraft at an altitude of 20,000 Feet. 

There is one actual photo later in the book that shows the Radio Operator in a B-17-F tuning his command transmitter.  In this photo, all the transmitters and receivers are black wrinkle.  Also, the mounting shelve s appear to be the correct metal construction.    However, the operators hand is staged near the lower left corner of the transmitter shock mount where there is no control.  Also, he is leaning in towards the transmitter and his face is about three inches from the antenna connector in the upper left corner of the transmitter front panel.