{"id":25251,"date":"2017-04-16T23:26:51","date_gmt":"2017-04-17T03:26:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=25251"},"modified":"2017-04-16T23:28:55","modified_gmt":"2017-04-17T03:28:55","slug":"photos-of-a-b-17g-radio-operator-position","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/04\/photos-of-a-b-17g-radio-operator-position\/","title":{"rendered":"Photos of a B-17G Radio Operator Position"},"content":{"rendered":"

I had the pleasure of visiting the Champaign Aviation Museum<\/a>\u00a0recently\u00a0and examining their under-restoration B-17G, “Champaign Lady”. Actually, the term “under-restoration” is incorrect. In actuality, the Champaign Aviation Museum is effectively building their B-17G nearly from scratch\u2014quite an undertaking but one that the volunteers are performing skillfully and enthusiastically.<\/p>\n

Being an amateur radio operator, shortwave listener, and would-be WWII-radio restorer, I was was pleased to see that Champaign Lady already has a nearly-complete radio-operator position\u00a0installed, between the bomb-bay and the waist-gun section of the airplane. As a B-17G would have had during the war, Champaign Lady features a BC-348 liaison receiver and morse-code key mounted on a desk on the port (left) side of the bomber and a stack of AM\/CW Command Set transmitters\u00a0and receivers\u00a0racked on the starboard (right) side of the bomber. In the photos, the top\u00a0Command Set boxes are the transmitters and the bottom three Command Set boxes are the receivers. Of course, the BC-348 and the Command Set transmitters and receivers are fully tube-type, semiconductors having not yet been invented. During the war speedometer-type cables would connect the Command Set receivers to controls in the cockpit, allowing the pilot and co-pilot to control the Command Set receiver frequencies; electrical cables would have carried the receivers’ audio to the pilot and co-pilot and would have allowed them to change volume-level. The radio operator could transmit using the Command Set transmitters and could also switch the pilot or co-pilot intercom microphones to any of the Command Set transmitters to allow the pilot or co-pilot to broadcast to other bombers in the formation.<\/p>\n

\""Champaign

B-17G “Champaign Lady” radio operator position; BC-348 liaison receiver on the port (left) side and Command Set transmitters and receivers on the starboard (right) side.<\/p><\/div>\n

\""Champaign

B-17G “Champaign Lady” BC-348 liaison receiver and morse-code key.<\/p><\/div>\n

\""Champaign

B-17G “Champaign Lady” Command Set transmitters and receivers on the starboard side of the radio room<\/p><\/div>\n

During the war, the B-17G radio operator was an enlisted man, typically a sergeant or higher in rank. If in an earlier version of the B-17G, the radio operator was also responsible for manning a .50 caliber machine gun located in his section of the airplane. In all versions of the B-17G, the radio operator assisted the navigator by providing position reports based on radio fixes of beacons or radio stations. Additional information about the role of the B-17G radio operator can be found on the B-17 Queen of the Sky<\/a> website.<\/p>\n

And, for those interested, here is what Champaign Lady’s nose-art looks like:<\/p>\n

\"B-17G

B-17G “Champaign Lady” nose-art, starboard side; the port side features a mirror-image version of the same design<\/p><\/div>\n

The Champaign Aviation Museum has a beautifully restored B-25J, “Champaign Gal”, in flying condition. Unfortunately, I’ve not been able to see if Champaign Gal features a restored radio operator position.<\/p>\n

I have a BC-224, which is the 12-volt version of the BC-348 liaison receiver to put back into service as well as a\u00a0BC-696A Command Set transmitter that I hope to eventually put back onto the air in the 80-meter amateur band. It would be wonderful if I had a B-17G in which to install these items\u2014or even just room to build a replica B-17G radio operator position!<\/p>\n

73,<\/p>\n

Eric McFadden, WD8RIF
\nhttp:\/\/wd8rif.com\/radio.htm<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I had the pleasure of visiting the Champaign Aviation Museum\u00a0recently\u00a0and examining their under-restoration B-17G, “Champaign Lady”. Actually, the term “under-restoration” is incorrect. In actuality, the Champaign Aviation Museum is effectively building their B-17G nearly from scratch\u2014quite an undertaking but one that the volunteers are performing skillfully and enthusiastically. Being an amateur radio operator, shortwave listener, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[5984,1271,3194,545,305,288,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25251","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-aviation","category-boat-anchors-2","category-guest-posts","category-ham-radio","category-nostalgia","category-radio-history","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-6zh","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":27209,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/07\/mike-spots-the-rca-ar-88-in-series-prime-suspect-tennison\/","url_meta":{"origin":25251,"position":0},"title":"Mike spots the RCA AR-88 in series “Prime Suspect: Tennison”","author":"Thomas","date":"July 21, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0contributor,\u00a0Mike Hansgen (K8RAT), who adds the following to\u00a0our growing archive of radios in film. Mike writes: Near the end of the current episode of \"Prime Suspect: Tennison\" [the radio operator mentions] he was listening on \"the RCA 88\". \"Tennison\" is set around the early '70's. Great catch,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Aviation"","block_context":{"text":"Aviation","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/aviation\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/RCA88_Prime_Suspect_Tennison-1024x435.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/RCA88_Prime_Suspect_Tennison-1024x435.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/RCA88_Prime_Suspect_Tennison-1024x435.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":19178,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/05\/one-week-of-hamvention-air-force-museum-wright-brothers-and-national-parks-on-the-air\/","url_meta":{"origin":25251,"position":1},"title":"One week of Hamvention, Air Force Museum, Wright Brothers and National Parks On The Air","author":"Thomas","date":"May 25, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"I returned home last night\u00a0from my week-log\u00a0Dayton Hamvention\u00a0trip around 8:30 PM. The Hamvention actually ended at 1:00 PM on Sunday, May 22, but my buddy Eric McFadden (WD8RIF), his son Miles (KD8KNC) and I stayed Sunday night in Dayton, and Monday night at Eric's home in Athens, Ohio. After packing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Antennas"","block_context":{"text":"Antennas","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/antennas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"DSC_4449","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_4449.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_4449.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_4449.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11167,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/10\/mike-recalls-visiting-the-original-wullenweber-test-site\/","url_meta":{"origin":25251,"position":2},"title":"Mike recalls visiting the original Wullenweber test site","author":"Thomas","date":"October 24, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"In response to our post Uncovering Wullenweber\u2019s \u201cElephant Cages,\u201d Mike comments: Sometime back around 2005-2009, I was doing maintenance on a NOAA climate station near Bondville, IL, and noticed several tall utility poles in the distance. As I figured they looked suspiciously like an antenna array, I asked the site\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Illinois","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Illinois.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Illinois.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Illinois.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9429,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/05\/swling-with-heavy-metal-my-signal-corps-bc-348-q\/","url_meta":{"origin":25251,"position":3},"title":"SWLing with heavy metal: my Signal Corps BC-348-Q","author":"Thomas","date":"May 1, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"I write a great deal\u00a0about DSP portables, SDRs, and modern ham radio transceivers, but truth be known, my passion\u00a0is\u00a0for\u00a0older rigs\u2013ahem,\u00a0much older\u2013the antique \"boat anchors\" of the radio world. Tuesday\u00a0afternoon, I had a rather involved\u00a0soldering project to do on behalf of my organization, Ears To Our World. \u00a0While I worked, I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"SignalCorps-BC-348-Q","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/SignalCorps-BC-348-Q-1024x706.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/SignalCorps-BC-348-Q-1024x706.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/SignalCorps-BC-348-Q-1024x706.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":58011,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2023\/10\/radio-waves-wwfd-all-digital-end-of-cbc-long-dash-hd-aviation-interference-nc-broadcast-history-museum-plans-and-ukrainian-radio-resistant-to-jamming\/","url_meta":{"origin":25251,"position":4},"title":"Radio Waves: WWFD All Digital, End of CBC Long Dash, HD Aviation Interference, NC Broadcast History Museum Plans, and Ukrainian Radio Resistant to Jamming","author":"Thomas","date":"October 16, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Radio Waves:\u00a0 Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio Welcome to the\u00a0SWLing Post\u2019s Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio.\u00a0Enjoy! Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors Dennis Dura, Mark Koskinen, Stuart Smolkin, and Ron Chester for the following tips: AM\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Vlad-Radio-Dial-Kiev-Ukraine-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Vlad-Radio-Dial-Kiev-Ukraine-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Vlad-Radio-Dial-Kiev-Ukraine-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Vlad-Radio-Dial-Kiev-Ukraine-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":22149,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/11\/hoax-radio-transmissions-at-melbourne-and-avalon-airports\/","url_meta":{"origin":25251,"position":5},"title":"Hoax Radio transmissions at Melbourne and Avalon airports","author":"Thomas","date":"November 10, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Phil Brennan, who writes: Your readers might be interested in this article from today's Guardian:\u00a0 Hoax radio transmission at Melbourne airport forces plane to abort landing Police are investigating 15 incidents of illegal radio transmissions with aircraft at Melbourne and Avalon airports, including hoax\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The Melbourne Airport (Source: melbourneairport.com.au)","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Melbourne-Airport.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Melbourne-Airport.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Melbourne-Airport.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Melbourne-Airport.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25251","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/35"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25251"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25251\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25251"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25251"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25251"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}