Need US bomb ID , 1945, T-96, Transmitter ?

[917601]

42” tall , 6 3/4” dia. Removable dome ( rear) has antenna wire spool , removeable fin side ( front), has a parachute packed inside. Marked T-96, a data plate says “ Aircraft Accessories Corp, Radio Transmitter , T-96/CRT-2. Micro switch and lever activated . Dated 1945. What is it ? It appears to be a radio transmitter that is activated when it leaves the bomb rack ( bomb rack is stenciled), and transmits going down by parachute.

 

[ordnance]

It's a radio frequency jammer, one of 5 similar ones that make up a set of 6. Together they interrupted radio transmissions from 950 kc to 7000 kc. The T96 covered 1950 kc to 2580 kc.

They were meant to be be dropped in a complete group, either individually or in a cluster adapter. They could also be set to work immediately upon deployment or with variable timing with a wind-up clock inside the body to help avoid detection by direction finding radios.

I recall reading someplace that some field commanders were reluctant to employ them as they were afraid they would disrupt our radio communications. It took some convincing for them to understand there was a difference between AM and FM radios and these would not jam our own equipment. But I don't know how much actual usage they got during the war as they came out in late 1944.

I had one standing in my room in college and would wind up the clock so it could sit there emitting a sinister ticking when things were very quiet.

 

[Slick]

Have never heard of such a thing. Veddddy intahresting.

 

[917601]

Found a picture of one at the Air Force Museum.

 

[MINENAZ16]

T-97 : https://www.ebay.com/itm/WWII-AN-CR...747968?hash=item36668cf5c0:g:6bEAAOSw1H9fDMJw

 

[MINENAZ16]

The set : TM 11-512 Radio Set AN/CRT-2

 

[Sprockets]

Ordnance-As an expert, can you tell me how the antenna transmitted when shorted out on the ground, or did it rely on falling upon a forest area? Also, the back to front loading-was this designed to help throw off the heavy antenna cover? I supose dry batteries were used?

 

[weberoed]

This used about 24 D cell size batteries, is a radio jammer, life span about 12 hours, parachute just deployed it for a semi soft landing, approximately 850 were made. It did not short out by design was protected. I am still trying to find the TM, but have collected alot of info on it. just a neat piece of history. there is suppose to be a anti radar one that only worked while deploying.

 

[ordnance]

I'm not sure why they were hung back to front on the airplane but perhaps to help the antenna deploy, although it certainly wouldn't have been a problem once the parachute opened.

They probably worked better with the antenna wire hung up in a tree canopy but the wire had a full insulation coating and would have worked in contact with the ground, too.

Mike, I can scan a copy of the manual when I get the time or you can buy a hard copy from Robert Downs in Houston, the only source I know of it. Let me know if you want his contact info.

Rick

 

[weberoed]

I cant find the manual, would appreciate it for a scan, but can you send me contact info for hard copy?

 

[Sprockets]

Weberoed-Did you strike gold in obtaining a copy of a manual?

 

[weberoed]

no luck so far

 

[Weasel Pilot]

Well, when you do, please let me know, I'd LOVE a copy (or pdf, or whatever)