Old MacDonald
Airman
- 48
- Mar 27, 2018
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It is the Radio Compass Antenna on the B-17 ( SRC-269-G ) - The antenna on the left in the photo. The item on the right is the support staff for the Command Transmitter, Receiver and Antenna relay wire connected to the tail fin. ( SRC-274-N )8th AF B-24Ds carried a blade antenna on their spines that does not appear on 9th AF B-24Ds during the same period (mid-'42 to mid-'43). It looks like it was probably for some sort of VHF system, perhaps British since a similar antenna appears on some Lancasters and Halifaxes, but I've not been able to identify which.
View attachment 509925
I know the B-24Ds did not leave the factory with this antenna, although it might have been fitted at depots on ships heading to the UK, or once arrived in England. 8th AF B-17Fs seem to have been fitted with this same antenna. Note there are no wires strung from the antenna tip to the fin, so it appears the blade was the antenna rather than simply a support post.
Can you identify the radio set and antenna nomenclature and use?
TMIA
O'M
8th AF B-24Ds carried a blade antenna on their spines that does not appear on 9th AF B-24Ds during the same period (mid-'42 to mid-'43). It looks like it was probably for some sort of VHF system, perhaps British since a similar antenna appears on some Lancasters and Halifaxes, but I've not been able to identify which.
Thank you for the clarification.I believe the gentleman is asking about the "blade" antenna, not the ADF "football."
The "blade" is the standard AN-104 antenna for SCR-522 VHF Command Radio, 100-155 MHz. The angle of the blade on the trailing edge is the "tell."
Note that this could also be an earlier version, AN-74. Same antenna with a different mount.
The SCR-522 was installed in most US Army Air Corps heavy aircraft and fighters in the European theater by 1944.
There is an AN-104 in the Smithsonian collection:
Antenna Mast, Communications Radio, AN-104-A, SCR-522
Also a good overview at Mike Hanz's site:
SCR-522
I have a nice working SCR-522 in my collection.
Regards,
David Stinson
The "blade" is the standard AN-104 antenna for SCR-522 VHF Command Radio, 100-155 MHz. The angle of the blade on the trailing edge is the "tell."
Note that this could also be an earlier version, AN-74. Same antenna with a different mount.
The SCR-522 was installed in most US Army Air Corps heavy aircraft and fighters in the European theater by 1944.
Regards,
David Stinson
I've made considerable progress since originally posting this request. You're correct, by late B-24D production the VHF radio system, with the attendant external blade antenna. The short-range VHF system was intended primarily for air-to-air communication with escort fighters, although of course it could be used with any station that had the necessary equipment as long as it was in line-of-sight and signal strength adequate. More info after post below.In this exploded view of a B-24J, it shows that aerial. Unfortunately, it only describes it as "dorsal aerial'. It does lead me to believe that it was included in Consolidated-built ships.View attachment 519227
Good eye!! As noted in my response just above, the B-24's VHF systems was primarily intended for air-to-air comms with escort fighters. Your pic above show what cannot be seen in "profile" photos--that this antenna was not mounted on the fuselage centerline. This is not an abberation; photos of early 8th AF B-24Ds taken from above also show the asymmetric mounting, always on the starboard side of the centerline. See the short AN-94-A whip antenna for the SCR-535 IFF set mounted forward of the long radio beacon whip antenna--note it's also offset slightly to the right of the fuselage centerline!Here's a shot of a B-24H that was shot down over Germany. It seems to have the same antenna, only it's not on the centerline of the fuse. Notice the various types of aerials and antenna on this particular B-24.
View attachment 519228