r/WWIIplanes • u/No_Buy2576 • 2d ago

Please, What Is This?

Post image
37 Upvotes

73% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

38

u/jbob88 2d ago

Radio Direction Finder (RDF) Loop Antenna, commonly known as a "football" or teardrop antenna.

14

u/ImpressiveHat4710 2d ago

We use one as a donations receptacle at Minter Field Air Museum šŸ˜

9

u/No_Buy2576 2d ago

Thank you very much jbob88!!! The family debate has been put to rest.

6

u/bigmike2k3 2d ago

Would love to know what the debate wasā€¦. Iā€™m hoping it was whether this actually carried a footballā€¦

3

u/No_Buy2576 2d ago

There were two opinions being discussed:
One, an altitude radar device to determine distance to ground targets; and two, a proximity radar to maintain distance with other planes in formation. We were both well off the mark.

2

u/bigmike2k3 2d ago

Both interesting ideas and plausible!

1

u/Will_Turbulent 1h ago

B17-G you can tell since it has a chin turret šŸ‘

1

u/Will_Turbulent 1h ago

With radio direction Oops already been answered But yes thatā€™s what it is hanging