Warbird Information Exchange

Hi guys,

Does anyone know where I can find a list of what US planes used the SCR-274-N radio set during WWII?


Thanks,

Kyle

The SCR-274 N is referred to as the "Command Set" radio. It is a relatively short range HF set, comprised(usually) of two transmitters, and three receivers,along with various other components. It was used for communications between aircraft, where the Liaison Sets(BC-375 & BC-348) were used for long range communications, such as back to base.

The size of the set restricted it from most of the small aircraft: Generally, they would be found on US Army aircraft(There is an almost identical set used by the US Navy, called the ARC-5 set) such as all sizes of bombers, cargo and large liaison & patrol aircraft. I understand they were used in the P-40, but I am not sure. I have seen components of the set used in other aircraft, such as the L-5 IIRC.

Their design required a radio operator aboard, in order to change transmit frequencies, however, the receiver frequencies were controlled remotely.

Robbie

This is the setup in the L-5G:





(Stinson L-5G 45-35050)

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Taylor Stevenson

Kyle,

It might be easier to ask what US Army aircraft in WWII didn't have an SCR-274N installed. Just about all of them did at some point especially later in the war. They were installed in some Navy aircraft too, at least the ones that had Army procurement lineage.

As shown in Taylor's L-5G it was installed in everything from L birds up to the largest bombers. There were different iterations of the 274N with as few as one receiver and one transmitter up to four of each.

The Navy had an early version called the ATA/ARA which was almost identical to the SCR-274N and the later AN/ARC-5 which had very few similarities to the ATA/ARA and SCR-274N. The ARC-5 was used long after WWII well into the 1970's.

Taigh

_________________
To donate to the PV-2D project via PayPal click here http://www.twinbeech.com/84062restoration.htm

We brought her from: to this in 3 months: Help us get her all the way back

All donations are tax deductible as the Stockton Field Aviation Museum is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Tell a friend as the Harpoon needs all the help she can get.

Thank you!

Taigh Ramey
Vintage Aircraft, Stockton, California
http://www.twinbeech.com
'KEEP ‘EM FLYING…FOR HISTORY!'

Thanks guys! I just picked up a really nice BC-459A, thats why I was wondering. Unfortunately the radio is missing the screws that hold the cover on, other than that is complete. How much do these normally go for?



Kyle

Is this one of those sets? It's in an F-5 ( P-38 ) from the 9th PRS.



Mike

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Mike,

It was always my understanding that Lightnings with the radio mast under the nose used the SCR-522, whereas those with the V wire antenna from canopy back to the verticals mounted the SCR-274. Perhaps Taigh can confirm or deny?

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

That's definitely a SCR-274 transmitter in the rear of the cockpit.

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Taylor Stevenson

The question of price came up- they are pretty much whatever the market will bear: Usually see them starting around $20 on e-bay, usually close higher, depending on who wants it...

I sold a full set for $500 a while back, but they were USN ARC-5s, and I probably would have gotten much more had I not made it a buy it now...

Robbie

If you had a full set of NOS WWII era SCR-274N (not ARC-5/ post war/ navy stuff) youd be looking at around $1200-2400 (Including Racks, mounts, pl plugs, insulators etc.). If you want to do some work, you could get items needing to be restored for much, much less. To give you a scope of what certain things are worth in NOS, in the box condition and rough (needs restoration):

BC-453 Receiver $120 (rough $30)
BC-454 Receiver $120 (rough $30)
BC-546 Modulator $400-600 (rough $130)
BC-415 Transmitter Control Box $300-600 (rough $50-100)
BC-450 Receiver Control Box $125 (Rough $50)
BC-459 Transmitter $200-300 (Rough $30)
BC-442 Antenna Relay Unit $75 (rouch $10)
Then you'd need all the FT racks and mounts, MC-215 spline drives, MC-211-A 90degree connectors, PL-plugs, insulators, etc.

(Above prices are from personal experience hunting the items on eBay for the past 3 years)

I just compiled a set for my L-5, but I think it would be really fun to start collecting the entire set, because there's so much to the collection. It would be a lot of fun to get them in non-NOS condition and restore them. Good luck in the hunt!

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Taylor Stevenson

Gee- I underpriced my radios when I had them for sale earlier in the year!(I have since decided to hold on to them, I came up with an idea for a better display setup.)

Nice to have a ballpark figure on them tho...

Robbie

Very cool info guys, I am very tempted to try and get all the components to make a complete set now...


Thanks again!

Kyle

Quit while you still can! It is a disease that is hard to shake once it gets into your blood.

The shock mounts and connectors can be harder to find and may cost more than some of the radios themselves.

Here is a shot of the complete system as pictured in the manual. The typical installation as found in most WWII bombers had two transmitters and three receivers and rarely, if ever, will you see installations with four transmitters as shown.

The black wrinkle finish radios pictured are typically early contract as the later ones are natural metal finish.



It is a beautiful set with a lot of history and it is a blast to try and find all of the parts to make it complete. Like I said quit while you still can!

_________________
To donate to the PV-2D project via PayPal click here http://www.twinbeech.com/84062restoration.htm

We brought her from: to this in 3 months: Help us get her all the way back

All donations are tax deductible as the Stockton Field Aviation Museum is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Tell a friend as the Harpoon needs all the help she can get.

Thank you!

Taigh Ramey
Vintage Aircraft, Stockton, California
http://www.twinbeech.com
'KEEP ‘EM FLYING…FOR HISTORY!'