LES RADIOS ALLIÉES - Volume 1 - British, American and Canadian Signal Equipment 1940-1945

Never before had an encyclopaedic work presented such a comprehensive survey of Allied military signal equipment to so wide an audience.

Though not exhaustive, these two volumes of Les radios alliées, 1940–1945 invite you to enter a world that many WWII Militaria collectors have yet to discover. Radio remains a world waiting to be explored — a world where finding a collectable piece that saw action is still possible.

Every reader with a passion for the fighting in Europe — from the landings on the Normandy beaches to Victory Day — needs to grasp the complexity of the radio-electronic communications equipment employed by the Allies. The descriptions accompanying each set are drawn entirely from original technical manuals.

No fewer than 160 signal sets — BC 611, BC 1306, Wireless Set No 18, No 19, the Amplifier RF No 2, the Wavemeter Class D, and others — used by the Anglo-Saxon forces (British, American, Canadian, New Zealand, French, …) are presented in every aspect: in operational context, in full technical detail, and with all their accessories.

Accessible to a broad readership, it addresses collectors, enthusiasts for the repair and restoration of period equipment — who will find it a delight — as well as those with a passion for the 1939–1945 period as a whole. This first volume covers the radio communications equipment of the Pathfinders — their beacons, so emblematic in their role on 6 June 1944 in Normandy — and that of several essential components of the Allied military forces: armoured units, air forces (USAAF, RAF…) and naval forces (US Navy, Royal Navy, etc.).

Supported by dozens of period technical manuals, the vast range of equipment manufactured and used by American, British and Canadian forces — naturally also found among other nations fighting on the Allied side — is described in detail unmatched anywhere else: transceiver sets, antennas, microphones, batteries, amplifiers, miscellaneous accessories, transport cases and bags, all explained and photographed with precision, shown in dismantled and operational configurations (radio valves, for instance), including extremely rare and 100% authentic items presented here for the first time.

Throughout this book, the exceptionally rigorous, highly specialised and skilled organisation of radio signal personnel comes clearly into view. Thanks to Denis Derdos and Heimdal, a major gap has now been comprehensively filled.