Eighty years ago this month, the June 1943 issue of Radio News showed the transmitter that was to become known as the “Gibson Girl.” The two downed airmen had nothing but hope, and their potential rescuer was beyond the horizon, with no way of knowing they were there.
But that was soon to change, and the men would have with them a hand-cranked transmitter capable of summoning help over long distances, thanks to an automated message sent on 500 kHz. Rescuers would be able to hear it for hundreds of miles, and zero in on their location through radio direction finding.
The antenna was to be made out of Belden wire, and they were justifiably proud of it.