ABC "Airborne Cigar" antennae on 101 Squadron Lancasters - where are they mounted exactly?

[elger]

Does anyone know where and how exactly the ABC or "Airborne Cigar" antennae were mounted on 101 Squadron Lancasters?

 

And is there any information available online about the exact dimensions of these antennae?

[Graham Boak]

I don't know about online, but Martin Streetly did The Aircraft of 100 Group for modellers based on his magnificent Confound and Destroy history.  Worth trying to get either or both of them.

[brewerjerry]

Hi

    profile here about halfway down the page 

 

https://www.gmtgames.com/t-NightfightingPart7-2.aspx

 

   cheers

     jerry

Edited August 11, 2019 by brewerjerry

[sloegin57]

13 hours ago, elger said:

Does anyone know where and how exactly the ABC or "Airborne Cigar" antennae were mounted on 101 Squadron Lancasters?

 

And is there any information available online about the exact dimensions of these antennae?

As far as I am aware, none on line.  However, the attached may help, scanned from and credited to Martin Streetly (Author); "The Aircraft of 100 Group", "A Historical Guide for the Modeller" :-

 

Note :- The numbers in brackets refer to Squadron usage

 

Dimensions of the aerial masts are given here on Page 54 of the above publication :-

 

 

 

NOTE (1) :-  Since the books by Martin Streetly were published in 1984, photographic evidence has come to light of unidentified whip aerials, four in total, being mounted on the upper surface of the rear fuselage, three just aft of the mid upper turret and one just in front of the rear turret.  A similar installation can be found on Halifax III aircraft of 100 Group.  Additionally on the latter, a stub whip aerial has been observed on the outboard faces of the twin vertical fins mounted centrally and roughly in the halfway position.  The use that these aerials were put to is not known to myself.

NOTE (2) :- There is evidence within the film "Night Bombers"  by Air Commodore Cousins, that the under nose ABC aerial was not always fitted to the Lancasters of 101/635 Squadron. 

 

 

HTH

 

Dennis

[elger]

thanks all and especially @sloegin57!