Warbird Information Exchange

I'm trying to nail down info on the types of RADAR pods carried by the PBJ-1s...

They had the nose mounted, wing tip mounted, and belly mounted radomes. I understand that the nose and wing tip mounted were the same (system wise) but they just swapped positions for better results. Where was it first mounted, on the nose or wing tip?

Secondly, the belly pod; was it a third option or did it work with the other pod and thus would an aircraft have both at one given time?

Searching pics on line, I see none that show any angle to confirm either.

I think the nose mount preceded the wingtip mount. I've seen nose mount on -1Ds, but not wingtip that I can recall.

I believe the wingtip mount came about with the cannon-armed -1Hs for obvious reasons. (Dunno if USN/USMC ever had -1Gs or not--never seen a pic of one that I know of).

I've seen Js with radar on both (either) nose or wingtip. Dunno if one was preferable to the other or what the story is on that.

I have wondered if the nose was a field mod and the wing tip was factory.

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As Alan Carey has written one of the most definitive books about PBJ operations, Leatherneck Bombers, I certainly hope he'll chime in here. I believe, as Taigh postulates, the AN/APS-3 (Hose Nose) was a modification for use against shipping. The factory wingtip installation on H's and J's were likely a result of that success but, by the time they made it into theatre, there was likely little Japanese shipping left to attack. By the time my own father made it to the Pacific as a replacement pilot with VMB-433, his squadron's PBJ's had been equipped with underwing rockets and they were conducting training in air-to-ground support in preparation for the invasion of mainland Japan. And, yes, there was one sole PBJ-1G, Bureau Number 35097 (serial 42-65031) but, it was used strictly as a stateside trainer. My dad flew it.

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Cheers,

Craig

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