WWII avionics finds a new home after the war

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WWII avionics finds a new home after the war

Helfrick, Albert

When the United States entered WWII all US domestic production of automobiles, aircraft and electronics was halted and every available factory was repurposed to research, develop and produce war material. Aircraft destined for the airlines became military troop transport, automobiles were drafted into military service and any factory that could make even the smallest part for the war effort put aside their regular business and produced needed military parts. Manufacturers of radio equipment which included, home entertainment, industrial, commercial and amateur radio were a very important part of this military effort. The population of radio amateurs was the well from which the armed forces withdrew trained operators and teachers of radio technology and communications such as the use of the Morse code and radio communication protocol in general. Every factory manufacturing transmitters and receivers for radio amateurs was immediately pressed in to military service. The factories and store shelves were cleared of new and even used amateur equipment and shipped to the military. After the war the radio amateurs were once again permitted to ply the airwaves. Their new source of equipment was the enormous amount and variety of war surplus that had accumulated. Every type of surplus electronic equipment was used for parts and modified for amateur radio use.