Robert Porter
Senior Master Sergeant
I further found this re the British radar controlled turret. Automatic Gun-Laying Turret
P-61 or Reverse Lend Lease Mosquito
- Thread starter pinehilljoe
- Start date
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I just thought of this...
Robert Porter
Senior Master Sergeant
Yes it entered service in late 1944 and was used throughout the remained of the war.
GregP
Major
Hey Robert Porter, I've never lost track of a thread topic yet! Except for those last 175 times I did .... well, maybe I left out a few .... 
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
The SCR720 (A.I. Mk.IX - RADAR being an American term, adopted post war) in the Mosquito, as with later centimetric radar 'sets', did not employ a secondary indicator unit (screen) for the pilot. The Navigator used the radar to track and close on the target, directing the pilot to a visual contact.
Once visually located, the target had to be positively identified before being engaged.
This method was still in operation up until at least the 1970s.
Once visually located, the target had to be positively identified before being engaged.
This method was still in operation up until at least the 1970s.
wuzak
Captain
I believe that the SCR-720 was the AI Mk X, the Ai Mk IX being the wholly British developed system.
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Yep - my mistake, bl**dy stiff fingers on the keyboard.
Robert Porter
Senior Master Sergeant
According to what I read some aircraft including the P-61 and Mosquito had a small screen for the pilot.
SCR-720 installed in Mosquito. Photo on display at the National Electronics Museum. However you are correct that in all cases visual identification was required.
Robert Porter
Senior Master Sergeant
This link shows the installation of both display units one for the pilot. http://www.mossie.org/donated_files/Peter_Verney/Mosquito_NF-30_AI_Mk_X_radar.pdf
The AGLT's development started in 1943 if I recall...
wuzak
Captain
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Robert, that's the unit for the Navigator, on the starboard side. There was absolutely NO room in a Mosquito cockpit to fit another 'screen' - with all the equipment, there was only just enough room for the crew, with the Navigator's seat set back slightly.
See my Mosquito NF.XII build in the GBs, which gives an idea of how cramped a Mossie, especially a NF, really was.
See my Mosquito NF.XII build in the GBs, which gives an idea of how cramped a Mossie, especially a NF, really was.
wuzak
Captain
buffnut453
Captain
The link Robert provided at Post #209 does show a "Pilot's Indicator" in the pic showing all the components on p.2. The "Pilot's Indicator" is identified as "BC-1152-A" and is a lot smaller than the "Navigator's Indicator" which was BC-1151-A on the same diagram.
Robert Porter
Senior Master Sergeant
The first little picture I posted was indeed the operators set not the pilots set, as you mentioned the pilots screen was considerably smaller and was indeed installed in the cockpit for the pilots use.
wuzak
Captain
From that link
Robert Porter
Senior Master Sergeant
This image shows the AI radar screen installed in the cockpit. Yes it was very cramped. This image is from this link April | 2014 | Broody's war | Page 2 the text that accompanied the picture is:
To illustrate the lack of space in the cockpit, the next photo shows a cockpit of a Mosquito (possibly a NF MK XII) -You can see the main control yoke that would have been between the pilot's legs to on the port side – in very close proximity to the A/I system on the starboard side.
The A/I radar was, of course, Broody's main tool in the hunt for enemy aircraft. The following is a description of the system in his own words:
"The aircraft carried A .I. (Air Interception) Mark VIII radar, of the centimetric variety. The radar beam, narrow in itself, scanned a cone ahead of the aircraft 45 degrees from centre line in all directions. This was achieved by a rotating reflector in the nose, which not only rotated about its axis at high speed, but also constantly swung out to 45 degrees and back again. The significant effect of this was that, at the lowest point of scan, the radar beam picked up "ground returns" – reflections from the ground, or, weaker but still prominent, the sea. Consequently, as the beam scanned out and back again, a green "wash" of light moved up and down at the base of the display unit, which was essentially a basic cathode ray tube. As my function on a defensive patrol was to watch the radar display, the soporific effect was considerable."
Robert Porter
Senior Master Sergeant
One thing of interest, there are very few pictures of radar systems installed or otherwise as due to the secrecy laws it was a capital offense to take such pictures in most cases. At least during the war. I think that is why we see so very few of them.
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Hm. can't say I've ever noticed a Pilot's Indicator actually installed in a Mossie, unless, perhaps it was done post war.
BTW, the pic in Post # 217 shows A.I. Mk.IV, so it's more likely that the aircraft is a Mosquito NF.II. The NFXII, as with the 'stop gap' NF.XII, used centimetric A.I. Mk.VIII.
BTW, the pic in Post # 217 shows A.I. Mk.IV, so it's more likely that the aircraft is a Mosquito NF.II. The NFXII, as with the 'stop gap' NF.XII, used centimetric A.I. Mk.VIII.
Robert Porter
Senior Master Sergeant
I would definitely defer to your judgement on aircraft types. I have been awed watching some of the threads here where you helped define the exact make of an aircraft in a fuzzy pic! Your eye for detail and memory for same are extensive and very much valued here!
