Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-12-03

CQulpIIlCilG SClS lilOuSll dllO Ill ROOQ
condition
Recent developments have brought
great advances in the art of tropicali-
cation, both on the production line and
in the field. capitalization makes the
equipment virtually moisture proof and
fungus proof. In this work the Signal
Corps has outdistanced Japans COM
munication engineers to marked de-
gree. 1t has helped to give us the edge
in many jungle battles.
In Alaska
Reports from the bitter cold regions
of Alaska and the fog-bound Aleutians
give almost equally as encouraging
glimpses of the winterization program,
which enables engines to start easily
and run dependably in temperatures of
40 degrees below zero
The contribution of American indus
tries in the communications and related
fields affords material for an entire
story in itself but only bare mention
can be made here At the start Of the
war many companies were engaged In
the exploitation of new developments,
especially in the field of electronics.
Some held valuable patents or special
equipment or manufacturing processes
upon which they had based plans for
future expansion. Hundreds of such
trade secrets were pooled and made
available to competitors.
Pooling Ideas and Experts
1t was the combination of the ideas
thus pooled that gave the Signal Corps
the speedy development and the high
production of all types of communica-
lions equipment. Most of the manu-
facturers also contributed their best
technicians and the best thinkers and
inventors In their organization to swell
the ranks of Army experts. One in
ventOr turned over to the War De-
partment for the free use of the Signal
Corps no less than 100 patents worth
millions of dollars. These were made
available to all manufacturers concerned
in payment of royalties of one dollar
a year.
Production figures for Signal Corps
equipment are SO big as to be almost
meaningless except to those who actu-
ally procure and distribute the materiel.
A single Bog Super Fortress, for ex-
ample, demands ton of aircraft radio
equipment including special instru-
ments and devices which have kept
warfare.
The Walkie- Talkie
Among radios the best known are the
walkie-talkies and handie-talkies The
newest model of the walkie-talkie is a
man-packed radio set weighing about Is
pounds and is used by front line troops
for short and direct communications.
1t received its baptism of fire on the
Anzio beachhead. A report sent to the
chief signal officer referred to it as "the
most successful instrument yet devised
for amphibious communications" and it
is safe to add by any army in the
world"
The handle talkie is the celebrated
small brother of the walkie-talkie. 1t
is a 1ve-tube set weighing pounds
and is built with utmost precision. 1t
is the smallest successful radio now used
in battle.
Among others in the Signal Corps
radio family are the larger apparatus
which operate in tanks and halftracks,
the intricate airborne radios for every
type of aircraft, the so-called "guidons"
used in jeeps and landing boats, and the
curiously shaped Gibson Girl" which
is designed to save airmen forced down
at sea-
The Gibson Girl gets its name from
its curves, and the stranded aviator
holds it firmly by his knees, keeping
his hands free to crank it and broad
cast sos calls. It Is dropped to the
sea by means of its own parachute and
is identified by a yellow bag which
shrouds it. The Gibson Girl is water
proof and doesn't sink
Meteorological work is another Of the
NEa4 Corps many tasks. The meteo-