A typical large bomber during World War 2 had a crew of up to 10 members. This consisted of the pilot, co-pilot, navigator, radioman, bombardier and
up to 5 gunners located on strategic positions along the aircraft. And surprisingly for the early 1940's, the aircraft was loaded with electronics.
- Liason
radio was used for plane to ground base communications by the radioman.
The predominate liason transmitter used during World War 2 was the BC-375E.
Towards the end of World War, the BC-375E was being replaced by the more
technologically advanced ART-13. Both transmitters were used inconjunction
with the BC-348 receiver. The ART-13 would be used on bombers well into
the era of the Korean conflict.
- Command
radio was used for plane to plane communications.
The predominate command installation during World War was the
SCR-274N command series receiver and transmitter. A typical setup would
include two command transmitters and three command receivers. Early in the
war, similar looking equipment known as the ARC-5 command series was used.
- Compass
radio was a receiver used by the navigator to fix the plane's position
via triangulation of two or more known ground based stations. The compass
receiver had a directional loop antenna and received long waves 100-550
kc as well medium waves 550-1500 kc. A typical compass receiver (used on
the B24) was the BC-434A, part of the SCR-269-C installation..
- Beacon
radio was a very simple receiver used for instrument landing during
adverse conditions such as fog. A typical unit used on the B-24 was the
BC-357-B which operated at 75 mhz.
- Interphone
system was a complex intercom system on the plane which linked up
all crew members (each with a headset and throat microphone). A typical
set-up consisted of a BC-347 amplifier unit and ten BC-366 Jack Boxes (one
at each crew member's station located throughout the plane). Each jack
box had the capability to select the liason radio, command radio, compass
radio or call other crew members.
For more BC-375 information,
click on the following links.