The Radarman was seated in the aft part of the aft pressurized compartment.

Most aircraft models and pictures incorrectly show this as a crew rest area. This is because the earliest versions of the B-29 (the YB-29) did not have radar installed. Instead, the area contained “fold-down” crew berths, as shown below:

In early models, the radarman sat facing forward, as shown below:

However, most radarman sat facing to the left, as shown below:

The B-29 was the first bomber to use radar as standard equipment. The B-29s of the 6th Bomb Group were equipped with the AN/APQ-13 radar. This radar included an H2X (3 cm) radar (aka “Mickey”) and a Q-13 range finding computer. The H2X was an improved version of the British H2S 10 cm radar (aka “Stinky”).

These radars could be used not only to locate targets, but for navigation and weather avoidance and for collision avoidance.  In the caricature above, the radarman is looking through the radarscope and looking at something like the view to the upper right.  The radarman could set the range and each circle on the scope represented a certain number of miles.

Like a modern stereo system, the radar included several separate components:

* Range unit [CP-6/APQ-13]
* Synchronizer [SN-7/APQ-13]
* Low-voltage power supply
* Antenna control box
* Cathode ray tube
* Computer [Q-13]
* Main control box
* Inverter [PE-218D] (below the floor)
* 9.7 GHz antenna [AS-53/APQ-13]
(located outside in radome)
* Remote repeater scope [AN/APA-36]
(located at Navigator station)

The radar antenna was housed in a radome located between the bomb bays. The first versions were partly retractable. Later versions were fixed in a more streamlined radome. The government retouched many pictures of B-29s to hide the radome because it was a high-security item.

According to Bob Crowther (radarman, 39th Squadron):

Actually it was radar that guided the plane to the target on all but the clearest days, and sometimes actually dropped the bombs by directing the bombardier. And there were very few clear runs because both night and cloud cover were our friends – normally the best choice for safety reasons whenever possible. * * * Radar was always used as an adjunct to navigation because of its ability to measure direction and distance to key land marks whether or not they could be observed visually. It was generally more helpful than any other tool, such as LORAN, or directional radio. It was also used sometimes for air to air observations as well as air to land or air to ship, and was even used to direct landings to within yards of final touchdown when landing in thick fog.

Joe Whitney (radarman, 24th Squadron) discussed the training:

My MOS was also 0142. I arrived in Tinian in May of 45. I went to Ellington in Houston Tex. for Navigation school and graduated in Nov of 44. Then on to Victorville Calif for Radar and Bombarder training then to Alamogordo for B29 training.

At Ellington field I had four of the best instructors I ever had. Not only were they fine teachers but great individuals. They were led by Capt Pankoff. The army was looking for volunteers to attend Radar school, but you had to be in the top 10% of your class. So what the heck I could go to another school, so I volunteered. Capt Pankoff decided to leave Ellington and went with us as students to Victorville. I think we were the first class of officers to attend this school. Capt Pankoff was killed on a mission in May of 45.

[Cpt Jack I. Pankoff died on 11 May 1945 when his aircraft crashed into the ocean and exploded after taking off from Guam. All aboard were killed except the aircraft commander. This must have been one of Cpt Pankoff’s first missions. Thanks to Joan Blyth for this information.]

Photo courtesy of Gilbert and Paul Godin, all rights reserved.

S/Sgt Gilbert Godin prepares to board “El Pajaro de la Guerra”.

To see how a mission looked to the radar operator see Radar View of Aug 8 Mission to Yawata Steel Works.