I have always had an interest in old military radios, in particular WWII aircraft radios. The first picture is most of the components of a WWII B-17 radio system. The green speaker amplifier in the picture is the only thing not from a B-17. These radios were in all most all of the larger WWII aircraft, in many different configurations. Some planes had ART-13 transmitters instead of a BC-375-C, and some had an additional VHF radio.
The BC-375-C transmitter and BC-348 receiver were called the Liaison Radio, and were used by the radio operator. Picture 1 shows the SCR-287-A Liaison radio system with the BC-375-C transmitter with BC-306-A LF Tuner on top and RL-42 trailing antenna reel and BC-461 control box to the left. The gray box to the left of the speaker amplifier is a BC-366 jack box for intercom control and radio selection. The box to the far left is a BC-221-A frequency meter carried in all the larger aircraft. In front of the BC-348 receiver are the headset, J-38 key and J-36 Bug. I didn’t realize they used bugs in the aircraft, but a friend who flew as a radio operator in C-54s after WWII, said he used one all the time. The additional tuning units for the BC-375 are shown in picture 2 in their storage cases.
The SCR-274-N command set radios are shown in the rack in picture 3. They were primarily used by the pilots for air to air and air to ground communications. This three receiver/two transmitter configuration shown here was fairly standard in the larger aircraft. Normally the three receivers were a BC-453-A VLF receiver, BC-454-A and BC-455-A HF receivers. The two transmitters matched the receiver frequency bands. Below the receivers are the two control boxes that were normally located in the cockpit. The pilots could remotely tune the receivers, but only select transmitters. All of the radios were available to the crew through the intercom system via BC-366 jack boxes at each crew position.
Picture 4 is a Korean War ear RT-524 vehicular radio with R-442 Aux receiver. These radios were part of the VRC-12 radio system and often mounted on jeeps. These were synthesized FM radios and covered 30 to 75.95 MHz in 50 KHz steps. Picture 6 is a PRC-77 man-pack radio compatible with the RT-524.
The last picture is a pair of WWII BC-611 handy talkies like you see in many WWII movies. These were of particular interest to me because they were manufactured by Galvin Industries. Bob Galvin was the founder of Motorola, but the company name was Galvin Industries until 1947, when the name was changed to Motorola. Prior to 1947 the name Motorola was used as a product name on car radios, etc.
The BC-375-C transmitter and BC-348 receiver were called the Liaison Radio, and were used by the radio operator. Picture 1 shows the SCR-287-A Liaison radio system with the BC-375-C transmitter with BC-306-A LF Tuner on top and RL-42 trailing antenna reel and BC-461 control box to the left. The gray box to the left of the speaker amplifier is a BC-366 jack box for intercom control and radio selection. The box to the far left is a BC-221-A frequency meter carried in all the larger aircraft. In front of the BC-348 receiver are the headset, J-38 key and J-36 Bug. I didn’t realize they used bugs in the aircraft, but a friend who flew as a radio operator in C-54s after WWII, said he used one all the time. The additional tuning units for the BC-375 are shown in picture 2 in their storage cases.
The SCR-274-N command set radios are shown in the rack in picture 3. They were primarily used by the pilots for air to air and air to ground communications. This three receiver/two transmitter configuration shown here was fairly standard in the larger aircraft. Normally the three receivers were a BC-453-A VLF receiver, BC-454-A and BC-455-A HF receivers. The two transmitters matched the receiver frequency bands. Below the receivers are the two control boxes that were normally located in the cockpit. The pilots could remotely tune the receivers, but only select transmitters. All of the radios were available to the crew through the intercom system via BC-366 jack boxes at each crew position.
Picture 4 is a Korean War ear RT-524 vehicular radio with R-442 Aux receiver. These radios were part of the VRC-12 radio system and often mounted on jeeps. These were synthesized FM radios and covered 30 to 75.95 MHz in 50 KHz steps. Picture 6 is a PRC-77 man-pack radio compatible with the RT-524.
The last picture is a pair of WWII BC-611 handy talkies like you see in many WWII movies. These were of particular interest to me because they were manufactured by Galvin Industries. Bob Galvin was the founder of Motorola, but the company name was Galvin Industries until 1947, when the name was changed to Motorola. Prior to 1947 the name Motorola was used as a product name on car radios, etc.
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