LIBERATOR RADIO RACK

Since the LB.30 series was produced for Britain and France at a time when the United States was still neutral, the communications equipment for these aircraft were primarily composed of units commercially sold by the Bendix Corporation. These were housed in a large rack assembly, just aft of the radio operator's position behind the cockpit.

The photo above shows a radio operator aboard an LB.30, converted for cargo duty, flying the transAtlantic route after the US entry into the war. The Bendix gear has been removed and a standard US Army SCR-287 system installed. The rack which normally held the Bendix equipment is visible behind the radio operator.

The left side of this manual page shows the Bendix radio rack. From top to bottom, visible here are the two MT-53 Antenna Loading Units, the MN-26 Radio Compass, and the two TA-12 Transmitters.

Early war manuals are frustratingly slim and the prints do not help much either. We know that each transmitter required its own MP-28 Dynamotor/Modulator and, according to the manual, the rack also held an RA-10 Receiver. The issue is that prints only concern themselves with the rack itself, only referencing certain radio pieces in passing - and leaving out these particular units. Now, the sensible location for the MP-28s are at the bottom of the rack, where they are safest. Judging from the photo above, that seems to be the case. But where was the receiver? So far, we are not sure. Radio expert Michael Hanz states that, since the unit itself was controlled from afar, it really did not matter where it was located. It may be that it was under the floor.

Still, it is rather important, as we have just acquired an unissued RA-10 for the Liberator!

This beautiful new addition came with the first MT-53 Antenna Loading Unit for our two TA-12 Transmitters. It too arrived unissued.

We have an example of the MN-26 Radio Compass unit but it is in poor shape and we would prefer it be replaced.

The controls for this equipment were mounted on the radio operator's desk, facing forward.

The pieces you see here are, from left to right: Type 3616 Control Box, MR-9 Control Box, Type 3618 Intercom Box, and partially obscured, the 1134 Intercom Amplifier.  An MT-11 CW Key sits just below the MR-9 Box. 

IFF systems were prohibited from being photographed but the control box for the R.3003 IFF was mounted to the square section on the right wall. 

Under the table, the mount for where the RAF would install the TR-9F transceiver is also visible.

Our progress so far on the smaller radio components for Maid of Athens.

From left to right: MN-26 Radio Compass Loop, (top) MN-52 Radio Compass Loop Control, (bottom) MN-40 Radio Compass Master Indicator, (top) MR-9 Radio Receiver Control, (bottom) Type 3618 Intercom Box, (top) two IN-4 Radio Compass Left/Right Indicators, (center) MN-28 Radio Compass Control, and (bottom) MT-11 CW Key.

The MN-28 Radio Compass Control is a tad scratched up in comparison to the other boxes but is otherwise in good shape. The MN-26 Loop is the smaller of the two loop variants and we believe that the larger, MN-24 Loop would be more accurate for the Liberator.

Altogether, the aircraft's radio complement comes to this:

Type 18 IFF Control Unit Type 1134 Intercom Amplifier Type 3611 Intercom Power Supply Type 3616/3726 Control Box Type 3618/3620 Intercom Boxes (x5) 1 of 5 COMPLETED

IN-4 Indicator COMPLETED MN-24 Loop MN-26 Radio Compass MN-28 Radio Compass Control COMPLETED

MN-40 Indicator COMPLETED MN-52 Loop Control COMPLETED MP-28 Power Supply (x2)

MR-9 Radio Receiver Control COMPLETED MT-11 CW Key COMPLETED

MT-53 Antenna Loading Unit (x2) 1 OF 2 COMPLETED

R.3003 IFF Transponder

RA-10 Receiver COMPLETED TA-12 Transmitter (x2) COMPLETED TR-9F Transceiver

The radio operator's station aboard a Canadian built Avro Lancaster.

Note how this aircraft is equipped with much the same radio equipment as the Consolidated LB.30.

If you can help complete the communications gear for Maid of Athens, please do let us know! It is our goal to make this Liberator II as accurate as possible, bringing her back to her 1941 configuration.