Joan-Eleanor system
Encyclopedia
The Joan-Eleanor system was a very high frequency
(VHF) radio system developed during World War II
for use by agents working behind enemy lines to relay information and replaced the earlier S-Phone
system used by agents.
(OSS) by DeWitt R. Goddard and Lt. Cmdr. Stephen H. Simpson, with some contributions from mobile radio pioneer Alfred J. Gross
. It was reportedly named for Goddard's wife's Eleanor, and a WAC
Major of Simpson's acquaintance named Joan.
The initial design work was performed at RCA
's laboratories in Riverhead
, NY, and the production units produced by Citizens Radio of Cleveland, Freed Radio Corporation of NYC, Dictagraph Corporation of New York, and the Signal-U Manufacturing Company. Most of the testing was carried out at Bovington, England, beginning in July 1944, with the first operational use later that same year.
The system was classified as top secret
by the US military and was not declassified until 1976.
The system was designed to use the VHF band, since it was known that these frequencies could not be effectively monitored by the enemy. The agent made his report in plain speech, and the aircraft recorded the transmission on a wire recorder. Since Morse code
was not required, the agent did not need to be trained in it, thus reducing overall training time, which was considered an advantage in the European theater. Additionally, the aircraft could ask for immediate clarification if required, without the delay of encryption
and decryption, or an intelligence officer aboard the circling aircraft could talk directly with the agent.
Because of the low power and the unit's limited range, the transmissions were virtually undetectable and the Germans were unaware of the system.
as a combination super-regenerative
detector while receiving, and an oscillator during transmission. Two other vacuum tubes acted as a microphone amplifier
and modulator. The antenna was a simple dipole
attached to the top of the unit and the only controls were for regeneration and fine tuning. The unit was powered by two D cells
for the tube filaments, and two 67.5 V batteries for the tubes' plates. The original operating frequency was 250 MHz, but it was discovered that the Germans had a receiver capable of operating at this frequency, and it was changed to 260 MHz.
aircraft, the Mosquito being used for most missions due to its high speed and high altitude capability which rendered it safe from most defenses.
PR (Photoreconnaissance) Mk. XVI aircraft of the 654th Bombardment Squadron, 25th Bomb Group Rcn at Watton, UK. Since 25th Bomb Group personnel flew Joan-Eleanor missions for OSS, Watton wished credit for these in monthly operational tabulations. They assigned the label Red Stocking to the missions, which it has been suggested was an attempt to persuade German intelligence services that they were weather flights similar to the "Blue Stocking" missions. For J-E missions the rear-fuselage compartment, aft of the bomb-bay, was fitted with an oxygen system and modified to accept the SSTR-6 transceiver and wire recorder, with an operator sitting on a cramped seat, and accessed through a side hatch.
The first successful operational use of the system was made on 22 November 1944 by Stephen H. Simpson; he recorded transmissions from an agent codenamed "Bobbie" while orbiting at 30,000 ft over occupied Holland. Another occurred on 12/13 March 1945 when a Mosquito PR XVI at 25,500 ft near Berlin established radio contact with agents who had earlier been dropped on 1/2 March from an A-26 Invader
.
On 13 March 1945, HQ 8th AF ordered the OSS JE Project transferred to the 492nd Bomb Group
's Liberator base at Harrington, Northamptonshire
. On this day the term Red Stocking ceased to exist. On 14th March two Mosquitoes and an A-26 flew to Harrington followed on the 15th by other Mosquitoes and A-26s. The 25th BG aircrew flew the OSS Mosquito JE missions until 492nd men completed training on this aircraft type. Both Mosquito and A-26 remained stationed at Harrington, and on occasion a Mosquito flew to Watton for inspection. OSS JE project personnel at Harrington frequently consulted Watton. The 654th Bombardment Squadron flew 31 Joan-Eleanor (JE) missions from Watton on behalf of the OSS over Holland and Germany, and an additional 31 JE missions from Harrington.
Very high frequency
Very high frequency is the radio frequency range from 30 MHz to 300 MHz. Frequencies immediately below VHF are denoted High frequency , and the next higher frequencies are known as Ultra high frequency...
(VHF) radio system developed during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
for use by agents working behind enemy lines to relay information and replaced the earlier S-Phone
S-Phone
The S-Phone system was an ultra high frequency duplex radio telephone system developed during World War II for use by Special Operations Executive agents working behind enemy lines to communicate with friendly aircraft and coordinate landings and the dropping of agents and supplies...
system used by agents.
Design and development
The Joan-Eleanor system was developed from late 1942 onwards for the US Office of Strategic ServicesOffice of Strategic Services
The Office of Strategic Services was a United States intelligence agency formed during World War II. It was the wartime intelligence agency, and it was a predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency...
(OSS) by DeWitt R. Goddard and Lt. Cmdr. Stephen H. Simpson, with some contributions from mobile radio pioneer Alfred J. Gross
Alfred J. Gross
Alfred J. Gross , a.k.a. Irving J. Gross was a pioneer in mobile wireless communication. He created and patented many communications devices, specifically in relation to an early version of the walkie-talkie, Citizens' Band radio, the telephone pager and the cordless telephone...
. It was reportedly named for Goddard's wife's Eleanor, and a WAC
Women's Army Corps
The Women's Army Corps was the women's branch of the US Army. It was created as an auxiliary unit, the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps on 15 May 1942 by Public Law 554, and converted to full status as the WAC in 1943...
Major of Simpson's acquaintance named Joan.
The initial design work was performed at RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
's laboratories in Riverhead
Riverhead (town), New York
The town of Riverhead is in Suffolk County, New York, on the north shore of Long Island. The population was 33,506 at the 2010 census. The name signifies that the mouth of the Peconic River is in this town...
, NY, and the production units produced by Citizens Radio of Cleveland, Freed Radio Corporation of NYC, Dictagraph Corporation of New York, and the Signal-U Manufacturing Company. Most of the testing was carried out at Bovington, England, beginning in July 1944, with the first operational use later that same year.
The system was classified as top secret
Classified information
Classified information is sensitive information to which access is restricted by law or regulation to particular groups of persons. A formal security clearance is required to handle classified documents or access classified data. The clearance process requires a satisfactory background investigation...
by the US military and was not declassified until 1976.
Description
The system comprised a pair of transceivers:- A handheld SSTC-502 transceiver for use by an agent in the field.
- An SSTR-6 transceiver carried on an aircraft flying overhead at a prearranged time.
The system was designed to use the VHF band, since it was known that these frequencies could not be effectively monitored by the enemy. The agent made his report in plain speech, and the aircraft recorded the transmission on a wire recorder. Since Morse code
Morse code
Morse code is a method of transmitting textual information as a series of on-off tones, lights, or clicks that can be directly understood by a skilled listener or observer without special equipment...
was not required, the agent did not need to be trained in it, thus reducing overall training time, which was considered an advantage in the European theater. Additionally, the aircraft could ask for immediate clarification if required, without the delay of encryption
Encryption
In cryptography, encryption is the process of transforming information using an algorithm to make it unreadable to anyone except those possessing special knowledge, usually referred to as a key. The result of the process is encrypted information...
and decryption, or an intelligence officer aboard the circling aircraft could talk directly with the agent.
Because of the low power and the unit's limited range, the transmissions were virtually undetectable and the Germans were unaware of the system.
SSTC-502 transceiver
The hand-held SSTC-502 transceiver used a dual triodeTriode
A triode is an electronic amplification device having three active electrodes. The term most commonly applies to a vacuum tube with three elements: the filament or cathode, the grid, and the plate or anode. The triode vacuum tube was the first electronic amplification device...
as a combination super-regenerative
Regenerative circuit
The regenerative circuit or "autodyne" allows an electronic signal to be amplified many times by the same vacuum tube or other active component such as a field effect transistor. It consists of an amplifying vacuum tube or transistor with its output connected to its input through a feedback...
detector while receiving, and an oscillator during transmission. Two other vacuum tubes acted as a microphone amplifier
Amplifier
Generally, an amplifier or simply amp, is a device for increasing the power of a signal.In popular use, the term usually describes an electronic amplifier, in which the input "signal" is usually a voltage or a current. In audio applications, amplifiers drive the loudspeakers used in PA systems to...
and modulator. The antenna was a simple dipole
Dipole
In physics, there are several kinds of dipoles:*An electric dipole is a separation of positive and negative charges. The simplest example of this is a pair of electric charges of equal magnitude but opposite sign, separated by some distance. A permanent electric dipole is called an electret.*A...
attached to the top of the unit and the only controls were for regeneration and fine tuning. The unit was powered by two D cells
D battery
A D battery is a size of dry cell. A D cell is cylindrical with electrical contacts at each end; the positive end having a nub or bump...
for the tube filaments, and two 67.5 V batteries for the tubes' plates. The original operating frequency was 250 MHz, but it was discovered that the Germans had a receiver capable of operating at this frequency, and it was changed to 260 MHz.
SSTR-6 transceiver
The airborne SSTR-6 transceiver comprised a superheterodyne receiver with two RF amplifier stages, two limiter stages and an FM detector. Power was supplied by four 6 V wet cell batteries. The equipment was used in B-17 and de Havilland MosquitoDe Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
aircraft, the Mosquito being used for most missions due to its high speed and high altitude capability which rendered it safe from most defenses.
Operational
The initial aircraft used with the J-E system were de Havilland MosquitoDe Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
PR (Photoreconnaissance) Mk. XVI aircraft of the 654th Bombardment Squadron, 25th Bomb Group Rcn at Watton, UK. Since 25th Bomb Group personnel flew Joan-Eleanor missions for OSS, Watton wished credit for these in monthly operational tabulations. They assigned the label Red Stocking to the missions, which it has been suggested was an attempt to persuade German intelligence services that they were weather flights similar to the "Blue Stocking" missions. For J-E missions the rear-fuselage compartment, aft of the bomb-bay, was fitted with an oxygen system and modified to accept the SSTR-6 transceiver and wire recorder, with an operator sitting on a cramped seat, and accessed through a side hatch.
The first successful operational use of the system was made on 22 November 1944 by Stephen H. Simpson; he recorded transmissions from an agent codenamed "Bobbie" while orbiting at 30,000 ft over occupied Holland. Another occurred on 12/13 March 1945 when a Mosquito PR XVI at 25,500 ft near Berlin established radio contact with agents who had earlier been dropped on 1/2 March from an A-26 Invader
A-26 Invader
The Douglas A-26 Invader was a United States twin-engined light attack bomber built by the Douglas Aircraft Co. during World War II that also saw service during several of the Cold War's major conflicts...
.
On 13 March 1945, HQ 8th AF ordered the OSS JE Project transferred to the 492nd Bomb Group
Operation Carpetbagger
During World War II, Operation Carpetbagger was a general term used for the aerial resupply of weapons and other matériel to resistance fighters in France, Italy and the Low Countries by the U.S...
's Liberator base at Harrington, Northamptonshire
Harrington, Northamptonshire
Harrington is a village and civil parish in Northamptonshire, England, administered by Kettering Borough and Northamptonshire County councils. At the time of the 2001 census, the parish's population was 154 people. The parish church of St. Peter and St...
. On this day the term Red Stocking ceased to exist. On 14th March two Mosquitoes and an A-26 flew to Harrington followed on the 15th by other Mosquitoes and A-26s. The 25th BG aircrew flew the OSS Mosquito JE missions until 492nd men completed training on this aircraft type. Both Mosquito and A-26 remained stationed at Harrington, and on occasion a Mosquito flew to Watton for inspection. OSS JE project personnel at Harrington frequently consulted Watton. The 654th Bombardment Squadron flew 31 Joan-Eleanor (JE) missions from Watton on behalf of the OSS over Holland and Germany, and an additional 31 JE missions from Harrington.