Another one for the collective..
Anyone know why some Whirlwinds had TR9D HF radios in 1942/43?
They were supposed to have been replaced in the European theatre by VHF sets, by Ministry edict by early 1941. Certainly many other WW’s had TR1133/TR1143 VHF sets – just not all of them.
The ground stations for fighter command ops will have all gone over to VHF by the time that this example was photographed (note bombs and Type C roundels), so why the aerial wire stretched from mast to tail? You might need to squint, but it’s definitely there! This was not needed for VHF sets, and is an indicator of HF instead. Both TR9D and TR1133 are specified in the AP, as interchangeable.
Was it because of convoy duty work, and admiralty radios using HF for voice comms?
[ATTACH=CONFIG]222935[/ATTACH]
By: Beermat - 16th November 2013 at 08:25
Thanks Niall – that’s great. And helps to clear things up.
By: NiallC - 15th November 2013 at 22:21
Matt
My understanding is that the early Whirlwind radio installation – with the mast on the canopy – could only accommodate HF (TR.9) radio. The later installation (mast on the forward deck) could accommodate both HF and VHF.
The photo you attached is of P6997 taken in August ’42 while at A&AEE undergoing trials of the bomb installation.
From the book:
P6997: 24.1.41: 51MU. 9.4.41: A&AEE for takeoff trials with 9lbs boost and to determine the effect of thickened wing resulting from the application of external self-sealing fuel tank covering. 28.5.41: Westland. 18.6.41: To AFDU for trials with Gyro gun sight. Also flown for an Air Ministry aircraft recognition film. 7.8.41: Westland.16.8.42: A&AEE for bombing trials.14.9.42: Westland. 3.1.43: 18MU. 26.1.43: 137 Sqn 24.6.43: 263 Sqn when 137 Sqn re-equipped. 11.1.44: 18MU on re-equipment of 263 Sqn. 14.7.44: Declared non-effective when Whirlwind classed as obsolete. 30.9.44: Struck off charge & subsequently scrapped by Airwork.
You’ll note that, prior to this set of photos being taken, this aircraft had at no point served with an operational squadron. So, although Fighter Command may have completely adopted VHF radio, perhaps experimental establishments (A&AEE, AFDU etc) did not? And perhaps that’s why it still appears to have an HF installation?
Niall
By: Beermat - 15th November 2013 at 17:25
Hi Matt
It’s all very confusing. This is from Vol.I of the AP we have, and it shows both radios as plugging in to the same environment interchangeably – but I’m sure that can’t be right, can it? The controllers were definitely different??
[ATTACH=CONFIG]222950[/ATTACH]
Edit -or did they just end up with two sets of controls – the “send/receive controller” appears dedicated to the TR9D only?:confused:
By: Matty - 15th November 2013 at 15:11
Matt this brings up another thing I was going to ask about; the APs and updates. It’s my understanding APs would be updated with new photos and illustrations but the Whirly AP we have still shows the TR9 controller but as you state we know this should have been swapped out for TR1133 fairly quickly and in fact all Whirlies after the first 24 should have these. Did they just not bother or is there an updated AP out there with new cockpit photos?
Sign In
November 15, 2013 at 1:13 pm