Please be aware that aircraft radio installations both in the 8th Air Force and other units, were dependent upon the time frame. A typical B-17 radio installation in 1942 was not necessarily typical in 1945. It was also dependent upon the theater in which one was operating.
Yes, for example while most USAAF aircraft moved to VHF in the Burma theater the Air Commando P-51A's kept the SCR-274-N so that they could communicate directly with the ground troops. The RAF had SCR-522 and relied on the HF communications between the troops and the HQ and proper briefing of their pilots as to where the CAS was to be carried out. Obviously, we found that direct communication, FAC style, was the superior approach.