Makeshift tower

I got sent this image a few years ago, it may be common and posted before not sure of the source hopefully not copyrighted but if not, have a gander at this, any ideas if this was a for runner to the FAC, (forward air controller)

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Regards Ian

I had one years ago home-made for HF and MW reception and yes. By listening to a radio station and rotating the aerial the signal could be attenuated to a 'null' position and a fair estimate made of the transmitter direction in compass degrees. The loop DF aerial seen atop many WW2 bombers achieved the same thing.

But, this being AiX I just know that we have a comms expert out there who will explain it accurately.

Note the pistol armed pilot on the left and the box marked 'Watch Tower' at his feet. The figure in the background appears to be wearing a non-issue leather jacket.

'Look at me in my oil drum Mum'

The aerial looks very similar to the 'Biscay Cross' that U-Boat crews were using mid war to try and counter the recently introduced air-to-surface radar that Coastal Command were using. The idea was that the 'cross' would detect emissions given out by the aircraft giving the U-Boat a chance to crash dive before the arrival of said aircraft. When it was realised that there often wasn't enough time to crash dive, Doenitz equipped some of the U-Boats with quad 20mm AA cannon & ordered them to fight it out on the surface. Fine when you're taking on a Sunderland or Liberator, but on at least one occasion, the 'blip' the U-Boat aerial received was one or more Beaufighters; enough said - !

Looks like a direction finding aerial to me as well, I have a modern version that's been made by etching it like a printed circuit.