Some photos of recent military radio displays set up for Veterans Day events. These are from November 11-13, 2016 at the Veterans Memorial Building in Danville CA. The theme for this years event was honoring Korean War veterans.
F-8 Crusader cockpit from the USS Hornet museum
So we set up a small indoor display as a Tactical Operations Center complete with Korean War era radios and equipment. We had well over 2000 visitors (in the building alone) over the 3 day event.
I set up a small subset of the display we did at the annual MVPA Military Vehicles event in Pleasanton in August 2016. Since our event was to be indoors this time, I set up a parachute rigged over a PVC pipe frame since I had no tree to support the chute and I couldn’t hammer tent pegs into the floor to spread it out. So this worked pretty well.
The equipment was largely static-displayed and it included components of VRC-10, A.R.C. Type 12, GRC-9, SCR-284, BC-683, RS-6, PRC-6 and PRC-10 sets. The RT-68/PRC-6 were receiving a recording of a Vietnam-era firefight and I also had 5 letter morse code cypher groups running at 22 WPM for background ambience. I had the RT-68 and PRC-6 operational to let kids try them out. The Type 12 was tuned to the local Air Traffic Control freq as our “Close Air Support” net.
I also had a PU-181 genset on display, large posters of actual battle maps showing the initial attack by North Korea into Seoul and down to Pusan in the south. We had many veteran visitors who had been there at the time. Very interesting conversations to say the least.
The Crusader cockpit from the USS Hornet museum ship is a major hit with passers-by. The kids climb aboard for photos with a helmet. We also had a 105 mm pack howitzer towed in by a Humvee from nearby Camp Parks.
TOC: the Tactical Operations Center
We had a sign asking the kids to try to find some objects inside. Like a battle lantern, telegraph key, Seoul, Army “ear buds” (HS-30 headset), a coded message and even a rubber snake. Gets their attention and gets them engaged. Good fun.
TOC Equipment
Our buddy Ray provided numerous mannequins outfitted in Korean War era uniforms. Here a left-handed CW operator.
Visitors trying out the Code Practice Oscillator
The Code Practice Oscillator is another hit with the kids. It’s amazing to see the (slightly) older kids immediately figure out what it is, how it works and then read the alphabet/code card and start sending code. I ask them to sent their first name and then, from a distance, I tell them what it is.. WOW! Eyes light up..This really works!. Morse Code – Who knew??
Inside the Tactical Operations Center display
UH-1H “Huey” at the Danville CA Veterans Memorial Building
The Huey helo is also major eye candy for the townsfolk. Climb aboard! We also had a 1942 Harley motorcycle, a Mule, M-38A1, M-151 and a GPW jeep all provided by the local military vehicle collectors group.
Get those troops loaded!
Shelter-Half tent vignette
Above: A winter scene depicted. I had built a wood frame to support the shelter half pup tent on the auditorium floor, added some “snow” and a case of C-Rats, sleeping bag, Bunny Boots and period equipment (the snow shoes are more modern military models).
We also had a MASH field hospital setup and other displays brought in by over 30 local citizens who displayed Korean War artifacts that were held by their families. Those included period weapons, an aircraft instruments collection, shadow boxes, scrap books, uniforms and art works etc. The display included a functioning Norden Bombsite demonstration.
MASH Hospital tent display
Inside the MASH vignette – Photo by JCS
We also showed period newsreels, combat footage and even had traditional Korean dancers and Tae Kwon Do demonstrations for entertainment. Several local groups brought in home-made Geedunk (Pogey Bait for your Marines) to keep us fed and lots of pictures were taken. The troops did a great job with the event! Thanks to all who participated.
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Some pix from Veterans Day displays in years past. “Please touch!”
Veterans Day Radio Display
TCS Transmitter as used on WWII PT Boats
SCR-274N Radio Transmitter as used in early- war Mustangs
The mission of our Veterans Memorial Building:
To Remember, to Honor, to Educate.