From: military-radio-guy Full-Name: Dennis R Starks To: military radio collectors#2 Fcc: Sent Date: Thu, 19 Aug 1999 04:57:59 Subject: MILITARY COLLECTOR GROUP POST, Aug.19/99 Message-ID: <19990819.045705.2151.10.military-radio-guy@juno.com> X-Status: Sent X-Mailer: Juno 1.49 MILITARY COLLECTOR GROUP POST, Aug.19/99 Index: SIGNAL TECHNICAL INTELLIGENCE; Part II, BY LTC William L. Howard MORE POW RADIO; Sandakan POW Camp, From Ray Robinson NEW MEMBER; Bob Sanderson HUMOR; *********************************************** SIGNAL TECHNICAL INTELLIGENCE; By LTC William L. Howard In June 1950, North Korean units came across the border and the conflit began. US forces were hastily deployed to stop the onslaught. Ordnance branch began to re establish the technical intelligence effort. Classes were started, officers assigned and teams deployed to Korea. Significant were the capture of the first post WW II Russian T 34/85 with the 85mm gun. They also captured a Chinese copy of the 75mm recoilless . Such a complete copy that they had even copied the data plate that said made in the Detroit Tank Arsenal! There does not appear to have been any effort by the Signal Corps to deploy Signal Technical Intelligence Teams. The only documents of the period on communication equipment were done by the British. Signal intelligence continued to be a valuable source of information and some signal technical intelligence work was done in Europe by the U.S. Army Europe with headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany. USAREUR produced several booklets on Soviet equipment in the mid 1960's. A series on Ordnance, Engineer and Chemical items were produced and were unclassified. The book on Soviet Ssignal Equipment was classifed CONFIDENTIAL and as such did not get out to the troops. Through the decade of the 1950's material procurement was still the responsibility of each branch and technical intellignece was part of the branch intelligence effort. This changed in 1960s with the establishment of the Army Material Command. Centralized procurement became the new system.Also The Defense Intelligence Agency established. This led to the creation of the Foreign Science and Technlogy Center. Now, in the 1990s, FSTC has been merged into another organization and the name is NGIC. National Ground Intelligence Center. In the area of Scientific intelligence, the launching of the Soviet Sputnik created a mass panic in the defense establishment and congrees. This led to the establishment of DARPA, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Chartered to make certain the defense departments did not over look any promising new technology, they became the central point for scientific reseach and intelligence. Keeping the Central Intelligence Agency and the Defense Intelligence Agency informed of new things to look for/at has been instrumental in keeping our intelligence effort on track in the area of weapons and technology.. T.I. units have gone through many re-assignents. During Vietnam, they were all housed with D Co 519th M.I. Bn and made up the Combined Material Exploitation Center. Here the Signal technical Intelligence was made up of a Signal T.I Detachment and the signal element of D Co/519th M .I. Bn. Technical reports were prepared on captured radios which for the most part were Chinese. No technical manuals were produced. Tight control over war tropies resulted in almost no Chinese radios coming back from the Vietnam War. In the 30 years since the Vietnam war ended, I have only seen one and it has 26 bullet holes in it. As in the past when the conflict wound down, the T.I. unit was brought back to the states and de-activated. Within months of is inactivation, captured material from the mid east wars was recoverd and began to arrive in the Washington area. In haste, D Co of the 519th was re-assigned to Aberdeen Proving Ground and the technical intelligence effort began to take hold. Manuals on Russian equipment to include radios were produced and the equipment was taken on tours of the United States for demonstration to U.S, troops. The National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California was created complete with two battalions of troops equipped with Russian military equipment or look alike items called Vis-mods. By 1988 there was a new Foreign Material Complex established at Abredeen Proving Ground costing 8 and 1/2 million dollars. Technical Intelligence was here to stay. The unit was called upon to deploy a CMEC and three teams to support Desert Storm. During Desert Storm the name CMEC was changed to Captured Material Exploitation Center. Today we have the 203rd M.I. Bn, which in the past,was placed under the command of the nearest M.I. Brigade, first at Fort Monmouth and then at Fort Stewart, Georgia. In 1998 it was placed under the NGIC and will be split between the Active Army and the Reserve. Looking at these units along with the changes in the R & D organizations and then look at the weapons that have been developed. The Cruise Missile traced back to the V 1. the Pershing, etc traced back to the V 2, the M 60 LMG traced back to the FG 42, the MG 42 , and the MG 34. The AK 74 back to AK 47 back to MP 44, RPG 7 back to RPG 2 back to RPG 1 back to Panzerfaust. The list is endless. The details of each weapon is technical information. In the area of electronics and radio it is the authors opinion that the U.S. electronics industry has led the world and therefore signal technical intelligence has served to confirm that rather than provide inspiration to the R & D effort. To discuss in detail each radio of every conflict is beyond the scope of this short article. I have prepared several studies, one on Collecting Japanese Radios, one on collecting German radios, one on Russian Radios 1935 to the present and one on the Radios of the NVA and VC. I have also contributed to a series on Radios of Desert Storm. These articles are available on the internet. General and technical information and a pictures of each set is part of the web site. LTC William L. Howard THE WILLIAM L. HOWARD ORDNANCE TECHNICAL INTELLIGENCE MUSEUM e-mail wlhoward@gte.net *********************************************** MORE POW RADIO; Sandakan POW Camp, From Ray Robinson I visited Borneo in June last year, went diving in the coral waters at Sipadan Island amongst the hammerhead sharks, turtles and Maroi wrasse, stayed on Turtle Island and watched the Hawkbill turtles laying eggs on the beach, and thousands of baby turtles rushing for the sea to escape the diving seagulls, visited the Orangutan sanctuary and saw the human like eyes of the "old men of the forest", climbed Mt Kinabalu for the sunrise, visited the caves under showers of bat dung and watched the swifts soaring amongst the ladders of the locals gathering birds nests, went up the Skrang river in canoes to visit the head hunters and used blow pipes to shoot darts. The only reminders of War are the hot baths built by the Japanese (they still work), the sunken wrecks off Labuan Island, and Sandakan. I visited the Sandakan POW camp site. There is little there now, just a field where the airstrip was, an old boiler, a pond, and a plaque to the people who died there. There is a memorial cairn "where Gunner Cleary was chained to the ground, and then excreted and urinated on for 11 days before he died." Sandakan POW camp was a very unhappy place. Here is some additional information about the POW radio, some of it a little different. It doesn't have the technical details of the BJ account, but covers the human side. It is from the book: SANDAKAN under Nippon: The Last March Don Wall published August 1988 ISBN 0/73116/3748/8 printed by Wm. Brooks & Co., Waterloo, N.S.W. After 70 days, "The Fortress Singapore" surrendered on February 15 1942. In July 1942, 1494 Australians (from the 2nd AIF) were moved to British North Borneo (now called Sabah) to Sandakan Camp, to build an aerodrome. They were joined by a further 500 in June 1943 (mostly British). The Sandakan Camp was originally built by the British to hold 200 Japanese prisoners. All the officers were moved to Kuching, about 600 miles away in Sarawak, where they remained with minimal losses. "Those left at Sandakan were systematically and deliberately starved to death." Near wars end they were marched 100 miles through the jungle to Ranau. There were 6 survivors from the "death march". Keith Botterill, Nelson Short, Owen Campbell, Dick Braithwaite, Bill Moxham, W. Sticpewich. Page 19 "A wireless set began operation on November 4. It was constructed by Cpl. Richards, Small and Mills under Lt. Weynton's supervision. In order the set could be used with the camp power an ingenious chemical rectifier, using a test tube wire supplied by Sgt. McDonagh of the Hospital, was used to convert the AC to DC. Primary coils provided the low tension." "It was kept in false drawer in the carpenters shop" Page 21 "Even while the radio watch was being kept throughout the night other PWs were still receiving punishment from the Japs and Lt. Wells, who assisted in the wireless watch, often walked back to his quarters at 2 am and saw PWs standing to attention as punishment while guards watched from a nearby hut" Page 32 A search of prisoners arriving in Sandakan turned up some interesting personal possessions, a "radio transformer", a "pistol and ammunition", a "Bofors shell". Page 35 As food in Borneo became scarce, some of the local population went to small islands nearby to purchase rice. Joo Ming and Dominic Koh had an argument, which resulted in resentment. Because of this, the Japanese were told that the others had been helping the PWs. Joo Ming was arrested and tortured. >From this, more were arrested, both locals and PWs. Page 37 A camp search was made which found maps, compasses, a pistol, and a diary. "Hoshijima (the camp commander) later gave his account when questioned about the beating he gave Wells. 'I found Lt. Wells' diary. In it it said there was a wireless set in the compound. So after the wood cutting party had finished their work I lined them up and took Lt. Wells to a spot 30 meters from the wood party and I accused him through the translator of having a wireless set in the compound. He denied this so I repeated the question and asked whether he was absolutely sure of this and he said there was definitely not a wireless set, then I told him if he was lying I would hit him and he d "that will be alright". At that time I had Lt. Wells diary in my pocket. I took it out with my left hand and showed it to Wells, and with my right hand I hit him. I only hit him once. I did not hit him repeatedly. "Despite Hoshijima's statement, Lt. Wells received severe punishment. Hoshijima continued "I told him to take me to the spot where the wireless was. He took me into the carpentering room and we look for the set in this room and could not find it, after this he took me to the office, this was the technical section office of the PWs and Wells opened a hidden compartment under a desk and even there there wasn't a wireless. At last after further investigations two Captains told me the following: On a previous night they saw Captain Mathews coming back from latrines with a shovel. This was about 11 o'clock at night. I went there and near the latrine saw some overturned earth and digging at this position I found the wireless." Page 38 Lt Weynton .... Corporals Richards, Small, and Mills were also arrested. Wong Tun Siow was arrested and tortured for supplying valves. Page 41 The Japanese finally settled on fifty-two civilians and twenty PWs as the total required for the trial of those concerned in the 'Sandakan Incident'. Page 44 Sapper Keating died at Kuching before he stood trial, on 11 February 1944, from beri beri, malnutrition, and amoebic dysentery. Capt. Mathews and 8 loyal Asiatics faced a firing squad on 2nd March 1944. The others were imprisoned. Lt. R.G.Wells got 12 years. Some of the Asiatics wives, relatives and children died while their husbands were in prison. The Remaining Chapters The airfield was straffed by P-38s and bombed by Liberators, and put out of commission. Borneo was cut off as the Japanese crumbled. They were worried about the prisoners they had, but the PWs were too weak to escape. By 10 January 1945, of the original 2700 men, 650 had died, and 700 were fit to work. They were down to 4 ozs of rice per day. Because of the threat of invasion, the PWs who could walk were marched through the jungle and the Maitland Ranges, inland to Ranau, carrying 40 to 60 pounds of ammunition, rice, and Japanese officers gear. Anyone who fell out, was shot or bayoneted. Others died of exhaustion and disease. The PWs remaining at the camp were shot. The camp was burned. I found this book depressing, and not very well written. It contains lots of detail, a list of the prisoners with many photographs, and coverage of the war trials. There are 2 other books on this subject, that I have not read. WALLACE, W. Escape from hell. The Sandakan Story. 1958 Lond. WALL, Don. ABANDONED ? Australians at Sandakan 1945. D Wall, Sydney. 1990. Ray Robinson VK2ILV *********************************************** NEW MEMBER; Bob Sanderson Hi Dennis I would very much like to be part of the Military Equipment Collectors Forum I have read the conditions listed in the invitation, and do agree with them. My name is Bob Sanderson, I am a HAM radio operator for 48 years. W8LML I am a member of the Yankee Air Force, Wurtsmith Division, Oscoda Michigan. Our museum there has a growing display of military radio equipment, a mock-up of a B-17 radio compartment fully equipt along with the other mititary aviation displays in the museum. We are expanding our museum display, adding aircraft ( we now have 4) and expect to occupy another hanger this year at the old Wurtsmith AFB (now Oscoda-Wurtsmith AIrport) Bob Sanderson *********************************************** HUMOR; A farmer is in Iowa during a flood. The river is overflowing, with water surrounding the farmer's home up to his front porch. As he is standing there, a boat comes up, The man in the boat says " jump in I'll take you to safety". The farmer crosses his arms and says stubbornly, "Nope, I put my trust in God" The boat goes away. The water rises to the second floor. Another boat comes up, the man says to the farmer who is now in the second story window, "Jump in, I'll save you" The farmer again says, "Nope, I put my trust in God" The boat goes away. Now the water is up to the roof. As The farmer stands on the roof, a helicopter comes over, and drops a ladder. The pilot yells down to the farmer "I'll save you, climb the ladder." The farmer says "Nope, I put my trust in God" The helicopter goes away. The water comtinues to rise and sweeps the farmer off the roof. He drowns. The farmer goes to heaven. God sees him and says "What are you doing here?" The farmer says "I put my trust in you and you let me down." God says, "What do you mean, let you down? I sent you two boats and a helicopter"!!! ------------------------------------------------------------------ "The Law of Volunteering" If you dance with a grizzly bear, you had better let him lead. "The Law of Avoiding Oversell" When putting cheese in a mousetrap, always leave room for the mouse. "The Law of Common Sense" Never accept a drink from a urologist. "The Law of Reality" Never get into fights with ugly people, they have nothing to lose. "The Law of Self Sacrifice When you starve with a tiger, the tiger starves last. "The Law of Motivation" Creativity is great, but plagiarism is faster. "Boob's Law" You always find something in the last place you look. "Weiler's Law" Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself. "Law of Probable Dispersal" Whatever hits the fan will not be evenly distributed. "Law of Volunteer Labor" People are always available for work in the past tense. "Conway's Law" In any organization there is one person who knows what is going on. That person must be fired. "Iron Law of Distribution" Them that has, gets. "Law of Cybernetic Entomology" There is always one more bug. "Law of Drunkedness" You can't fall off the floor. "Heller's Law" The first myth of management is that it exists. "Osborne's Law" Variables won't; constants aren't. "Main's Law" For every action there is an equal and opposite government program. "Weinberg's Second Law" If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker that came along would have destroyed civilization. ------------------------------------------------------------------ A farmer was walking home from a garage sale. He was carrying a pig under his right arm, a spare tire under his left arm, a chicken in each hand and a No. 3 washtub over his head. He came across a woman standing on the road whose car had broken down. "Mister, I am so glad to see you!" she said. "Can you help me?" "Well, maybe I can, ma'am." he replied, "but right now I've got a pig under one arm, a spare tire under the other arm, a chicken in each hand , and a No. 3 washtub on my head. Let me walk home and get my toolbox." "I'm scared to be alone," she said. "Maybe I'll walk with you." which she did. But suddenly she stopped and said, "I'm afraid to stay here alone and I'm afraid of what you will do to me if I walk with you." "Ma'am, I've got a washtub over my head, a pig under my right arm, a spare tire under my left arm, and a chicken in each hand. What could I do?" "There's a way," she said. "You could put the pig in the tub, and the tire on top of the tub to keep the pig from escaping." "Yeah, I guess I could do all that, but what about these two chickens in my hands?" "Well, I could hold those." ------------------------------------------------------------------ A herd of buffalo can move only as fast as the slowest buffalo. When the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the backthat are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, we all know, kills brain cells, but naturally it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. That's why you always feel smarter after a few beers. ------------------------------------------------------------------ How to Tell When You're In Los Angeles: 1. Your co-worker tells you he/she has 8 body piercings: none are visible. 2. You make over $250,000 and still can't afford a house. 3. You take a bus and are shocked at 2 people carrying on a conversation in English. 4. Your child's 3rd grade teacher has two pierced ears, a nose ring and is named "Breeze." 5. If you speak about "urban transit," you're besieged by attractive young women who want to "channel." 6. You can't remember ... is pot illegal? 7. You've been to more than one baby shower that has two mothers and a sperm donor. 8. You have a very strong opinion about where your coffee beans are grown and can taste the difference between Sumatra and Ethiopian. You also know which Brentwood restaurant serves the freshest arugula. 9. A really great parking space can move you to tears. 10. You assume every company offers domestic partner benefits, a fab exercise facility, and tofu takeout. 11. You're thinking of taking an adult class but can't decide between aroma therapy or conversational mandarin. 12. A man walks on the bus in full leather regalia and crotchless chaps. You don't notice. A woman walks on the bus with live poultry. You don't notice. 13. You think any guy with a George Clooney haircut must be visiting from the Midwest. You know that any woman with a George Clooney haircut is not a tourist. 14. Your hairdresser is straight, your plumber is gay, the woman who delivers your mail is into BDSM and your Mary Kay Cosmetic Lady is a guy in drag. 15. It's sprinkling and there's reports on every news station about "STORM WATCH 1999" 16. You call 911 and they put you on hold. *********************************************** The preceding was a product of the"Military Collector Group Post", an international email magazine dedicated to the preservation of history and the equipment that made it. Unlimited circulation of this material is authorized so long as the proper credits to the original authors, and publisher or this group are included. For more information concerning this group or membership contact Dennis Starks at, . A list of selected articles of interest to members can be seen at: http://www.softcom.net/users/buzz/backmail.html ***********************************************