Fighters radio communication in massive battles

[Jenisch]

Hello,

I'm wondering how radio communication was employed among WWII fighters when there was a great numbers of planes in a mission, like with the USAAF bombing escorts. Did each squadron used a specific frequency?

 

[drgondog]

there were four push button selectable, crystal controlled frequencies in the VHF SCR 522.

USUALLY there was one set to escorted bomber wing frequency, one set to Group inter communications, one for Homing and one for Rescue.

on long range missions a Radio Relay was often flown by a couple of fighters within the group to transmit Fighter Command or Type 16/Beachy Head control directives - going to the group Command channel.

 

[Aozora]

there were four push button selectable, crystal controlled frequencies in the VHF SCR 522.

USUALLY there was one set to escorted bomber wing frequency, one set to Group inter communications, one for Homing and one for Rescue.

on long range missions a Radio Relay was often flown by a couple of fighters within the group to transmit Fighter Command or Type 16/Beachy Head control directives - going to the group Command channel.

Radio set up for P-51Ds (the SCR-522-A was called "Command equipment" because it could be used to communicate with the bombers and fighters, as well as ground stations):

 

[bobbysocks]

i dont know how often they actually talked with the bombers....which were most likely on their own freq.

 

[derek45]

B-17 Aluminum overcast I crawled through a few years ago.

note this one is 6-9.5Mhz ( MC ) HF

I know a ham radio operator who still uses one of these on CW ( morse )...

reel antenna

 

[drgondog]

i dont know how often they actually talked with the bombers....which were most likely on their own freq.

They were in contact always when a.) they exchanged info regarding timing and position for R/V, and b.) when the bombers were in trouble.

The latter is the often overlooked 'force multiplier' for fighter escort' - namely respond very quickly to a LW attack out of immediate view and position.

 

[bobbysocks]

i would image that communication with the bomber groups was done by sq leaders or select members...please correct me if i am mistaken. from the stories i have heard of R/Ts when FGs engaged enemy ac it would have been hard for bombers to communicate with each other because of all the radio activity.

 

[drgondog]

True - Gp CO and Sq CO were tuned into C channel