ELINT B-17 15th AF

[researcher111]

This B-17 phot I found on one the numerous post WWII era publications of the 15th Air Force , is indicated in there the is aircraft was specifically assigned for electronic warfare (SIGINT /COMMINT) tasks on missions from Bari, Italy . This must have been the infancy of ELINT / SIGINT and COMMINT warfare . I looked through all of the 5th BW groups of the 15th AF to determine which unit may have operated such aircraft in 1944 though so far no success . The aircraft seems not to carry any related SIGINT antennas, sensors or signal intel devices and the painting job must have been done in the last moment .

PS : how do I attach the photo other than links ?

[Revi16]

Is this it? https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/b17/...42-3055-photo/


http://www.historyofwar.org/air/unit...ent_Group.html

[Alex Smart]

Hello 111 and Review,
I think the photo was of 42-30437.
But it was also from the 97th Bomb Group.
Alex

[Revi16]

https://449th.com/wp-content/uploads...9-1024x768.jpg


https://449th.com/lucien-fugere-gallery/

[edwest2]

The terms to search for are "electronic countermeasures" and "radar jamming." The Germans were able to home in on some British bombers by detecting their electronic signals.


https://weaponsandwarfare.com/2019/0...ecial-service/

[researcher111]

Yes , this is the correct link

https://449th.com/wp-content/uploads...9-1024x768.jpg

Thanks for all posts, the 97th history book is available at my end ,
however I couldn't find any details as into the ELINT squadron

Cheers
Alex K

[Buckeye30]

Alex. The areas in the tail are where the Airborne Grocer radar-jammimg aerials were , to jam German AI radars; there was probably a Monica tail warning radar transmission aerial under the tail also (but no big dorsal Airborne Cigar aerial).
The 16th Recon Sqn. was assigned to various higher organisations in Twelfth-Fifteenth AFs from 9/43--9/44.
The camouflage was unusual but not unique, Montgomery's B-17E 41-9082 was similar.
Maybe Sand over OD.
Nick

[RSwank]

I don't think this has been posted before but it has an article on the evolution of ferret aircraft. Article starts on pdf page 24 (magazine page 22). It includes a list of WWII ferret aircraft (B-17s and B-24s) on pdf page 27:


https://www.afhistory.org/wp-content...inter-2015.pdf

[researcher111]

Swank & Nick

Great updates, going to take a deeper look , many thanks

Alex K

[Buckeye30]

Hi Alex. For reference these are the main countermeasure (mostly jamming) systems as would be used by the 8th/12th/15th AFs; mostly by the Eighth .Their equivalent of the 16th was a Radio Countermeasures Sqn , the 36th BS (RCM) formerly in the Eleventh AF.
Their equipment at the end of 1944 was Mandrel, Jostle, Dina, ELINT, Jackal and Carpet. I don't recall them using the term "Ferret" for their aircraft.
Looking at the photo of 437 again I think it's more likely to be a thin coat of black over the Olive Drab for night operations; the RAF had found that a disruptive pattern was more effective than solid colour on moonlit nights for their night fighters, but the RCM and Night leaflet Sqns. in the UK used overall or partly black finishes (their Gloss Black was very effective against searchlights).

Nick

https://www.qsl.net/pe1ngz/airforce/...f-jamming.html