SCR-578_Gibson_girl_transmitter_and_kite.pdf

The Gibson Girl Transmitter and Kite The Kiteflier, Issue 93 Page 19 The following extracts are reproduced with permission of the author Louis Meulstee from his article Saved by Radio, Evolution in Air- Sea Rescue radio communications. Addi- tional research by G a radio, with wire antenna to be attached to the kite; two spools of spare wire; a balloon, for use without wind; a can containing some sort of hydrogen generator for filling it; the two metal tubes may be used in the inflation process; some sort of wrench; a strobe light . Page 22 More on the Gibson Girl. Radio Age ran a story on the Gibson Girl in 1984 which reprinted a wartime advertising picture showing airmen in a life raft using the set. Its caption was From our laborato- ries come weapons that will spell disaster to the Axis. Note theres an ironic state- ment, considering where the original design came from! The following report is from the 39th Bomber Group veterans Association web page. Report by S/Sgt James Schwoegler, Radio Operator 39th Bomb Group (VH) Crew 30. The plane made it out over the ocean, but then the third engines propeller broke off, slicing the planes fuselage from the middle to the top and cutting the control the planes fourth engine. They had only one working engine left. The pilot made the decision for the crew to bail out, and it was Schwoeglers job to radio in their location. They planned to ditch near a location code named Lots Wife, which was actually named Sofugan, described by Schwoegler as a rock sticking out of the ocean. The crew began to jump out of the airplane through a hatch leading to the landing wheel well in the nose. The problem for Schwoegler was that lifting the door to the wheel well blocked him in the radio area. After the rest of the crew had jumped out, Schwoegler closed the hatch door so he could get through, much to the pilots surprise. The pilot said Jim, get the hell out! Schwoegler managed to swim to the surface where he attempted to inflate a lifeboat that was part of his gear. I pulled it open and nothing., he said. Fortunately he was able to manipulate the CO2 cartridge that inflated his raft and get it to work. The planes crew was spread over a broad area, but thanks to Schwoeglers signal a B-17 rescue plane was able to locate the crew and drop them a Hig- gins lifeboat with food and medical supplies. Safe in the lifeboat, the ordeal of the 10 sur- vivors was not over. The morning brought so much fog, you couldnt see from here to the next house, Schwoegler explained. This hampered rescue efforts and forced the crew to use a Gibson Girl, a shapely radio d e- signed to be held between the legs and oper- ated with a crank. When cranked, the radio sent out a constant S.O.S. To send the sig- nal, an antenna was raised on a kite. As the radioman, the job of cranking fell to Schwoegler. I dont know how long I cranked, he said. I was real disappointed no one volunteered to take it except the navigator. His efforts bore fruit in the form of a submarine. Is it Japanese or Ameri- can? Schwoegler wondered. Then I saw a guy with a flaming red beard and I knew it was an American. It was the best sight I ever saw. He still has the kite antenna that led the res- cuers to them, but he accidentally left the Gibson Girl on the first sub when they transferred. The (sub crew) loved having us, Schwoegler recalled. They gave up their bunks and everything. The first night (aboard) we ate chicken and steak. We had- nt eaten like that in a while. This depicts the launching of the kite from the dinghyit is NOT a photo of the above story! The Gibson Girl Transmitter and Kite The Kiteflier, Issue 93 Page 23