[MRCG] Origins of the RS-6 and subsequent USAF usage
Tim
timsamm at gmail.com
Sun Mar 1 14:20:39 EST 2020
Hi Scott - I think he was also a fan of Art Collins - evaluated early SSB
gear for HF aircraft comms etc.
73, Tim
N6CC
On Sun, Mar 1, 2020 at 10:42 AM Scott Johnson <scottjohnson1 at cox.net> wrote:
> A story that was related to me by an acquaintance that knew Gen Curtis
> Lemay (K0GRL) in his later years said that Lemay was always on the lookout
> for gear that would suit his newly minted Strategic Air Command. He was
> apparently briefed on almost everything, especially communications, and
> found the RS-6 to be just the thing for stranded aircrews that had to bail
> out over who know where, and establish communications with rescue forces.
> He was, incidentally, after having seen a demonstration, the driving force
> behind the Adoption of Eugene Stoner's AR-15 (M-16), (to arm his newly
> created security police forces).
>
> Scott V. Johnson W7SVJ
> 5111 E. Sharon Dr.
> Scottsdale, AZ 85254-3636
> H (602) 953-5779
> C (480) 550-2358
> scottjohnson1 at cox.net
> scott.johnson at ieee.org
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: mrcg-bounces at mailman.qth.net <mrcg-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On
> Behalf Of Tim
> Sent: Sunday, March 1, 2020 10:51 AM
> To: MMRCG at groups.io; Military Surplus Mail List (
> milsurplus at mailman.qth.net) <milsurplus at mailman.qth.net>;
> armyradios at groups.io; West Coast Military Radio Collectors Group <
> MRCG at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: [MRCG] Origins of the RS-6 and subsequent USAF usage
>
> Hi guys - I had heard the story that the RS-6 set was originally designed
> as an aircrew survival item, but later adopted by the CIA for agent use.
> (They certainly were carried in go-bags on some USAF aircraft later on).
> Those origins didn't make much sense to me so I researched the CIA Freedom
> of Information Act reading room site.
> https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/home
> (I summarized the findings on my website post regarding the RS-6.)
>
> Interesting stuff had been released on the RS-6. Notably:
> CIA-RDP79-01578A000100110011-6.pdf
> <
> https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP79-01578A000100110011-6.pdf
> >
>
> It states " [REDACTED] reviewed the history of the RS-6 and the
> requirement for which it was designed and procured; circa 1949-1951. The
> set was designed as a manual keying, low cost replacement for the WWII
> SSTR-1. At the time Agency plans called for large scale stay behind
> activities and strategic reserve/war planning programs...." etc.
>
> When North Korea attacked South Korea on 25 June 1950 the CIA had 1225
> RS-6 sets in inventory. CIA-RDP84-00499R000700140016-8.pdf
> <
> https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP84-00499R000700140016-8.pdf
> >
>
> As to USAF usage, see: CIA-RDP78-03424A002400020033-9.pdf
> <
> https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP78-03424A002400020033-9.pdf
> >
>
> The last page states: "JUNE 1952 - About this time, the Air Force became
> interested in the RS-6 and asked the Agency to procure 1500 units for their
> use. In order to fulfill this requirement 100 RS-6X's currently in stock
> were shipped to the Air Force leaving 1400 units to be supplied from future
> production."
>
> So I think the CIA has it the other way around; the set was designed for
> the CIA but later adopted by the USAF. These documents were declassified
> and released by the CIA around 2010-2011 and I think they clear up the
> question about the origins of the RS-6. (there are a lot of other
> interesting documents on the site regarding the RS-6 and the other CIA sets
> like the RS-1 etc.) Interesting reading! Anyway, FYI.
>
> Tim
> N6CC
>
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