Mysterious Black Box Discovered at 55 year old Crash Site By Dave Trojan During an investigation of a 55 year old F-86A

Sabre jet crash site near Stacyville Maine an investigator discovered an unusual electronic black box in the debris. The question was what was the box used for and why was it left at the crash site? The guide to the wreck site believed that the box was some kind of radio. He had originally found the black box in the debris field 50 years after the crash, but had no idea what it was. The data plate located on the side of the box was marked RT-82/APX-6 Transponder. Later, upon further research it was discovered that the APX-6 Transponder was not a radio; it was used for IFF, Identification, Friend or Foe. The unit was used to automatically identify the aircraft as friendly whenever it was properly challenged by a suitably equipped friendly air or surface force. The replies were displayed together with their associated radar targets on radar indicators. The unit also could transmit a distress code if needed. Its frequency range was 800-1300 MHz and output power was 1 K watt. The unit was highly classified, maybe up to Top Secret at the time (during the early 1950s) and required special handling. Early frequencies used in these sets were also highly classified and the radio operator or pilot had to carry the entire set with him if no military guard facilities were available. Codes had to be set before flight and were not changeable during flight. One of the most interesting things about the APX-6 Transponder unit is that they contained explosives for destruction of the tuning heads (the cavitrons) if the unit was about to fall into enemy hands. There were three Cartridge Activated Devices (CADs) in front of each of the three cavities controlled by a battery bus. The pilot could initiate detonation if the situation arose using a guarded switch on the IFF panel to manually activate them. The flight manual states that if the APX-6 transponder is destroyed during flight it should be reported immediately after landing. So destruction must not have been particularly hazardous to the pilot and must not have affected any control systems to prevent a normal landing after a manual destruction. There was also an impact switch to automatically actuate the destructors upon a crash landing. The unit contained three detonators that were inserted into the face of the unit and they worked like a type of shotgun shell, but they were more like the size of a .45 round to self destruct the tuning heads. The idea was to keep the bad guys from determining the operating frequency, which, at that time, was changed every day. Later on, after an intact unit was compromised, the Selective Identification Feature (SIF) coder was added to the system and the frequencies were fixed at 1030 and 1090 MHz. Mode 4 IFF came much later. The voltage required to set off the explosives was less than 1 volt. Ground technicians always kept a wary eye on the live rounds when working around the units and there are stories of them accidentally setting them off during maintenance, requiring replacement of the entire unit. I was surprised that the APX-6 was left at the crash site. At the time of the crash, the wreck site was very remote and very little was recovered from the crash site. The APX-6 unit may have been overlooked and laid undisturbed for more than 50 years before being uncovered. Or the unit may have been left behind because they believe that the destructors did their job. Either way, finding a piece of equipment and learning its

history was a fascinating experience. I have discovered the early history of IFF and its limitations and problems. The APX-6 IFF Transponder was standard equipment on many military aircraft in the 1950s. The APX-6 IFF Transponder was manufactured by Hazeltine and used with AN/TPX-22 in the following aircraft: A-1, A-3A/B, A-4A, B-26, B-29, B-36, B-47, B-57, B-66, C-47, C-54, C-117, C-118, C-119, C-121, C-130, E-2, F-86, F-94, H-34, CH-37, P3, T-28, T-33, T-38, HU-16, AF-2W, AD-5, FJ-3/4, F2H-2/2N/2P, F3H, F3D-2, F9F, F11F, HO4S-2, P2V-4/5, PBM-5S, R6D-1, ZPK.

APX-6 at the F-86A crash site, note DESTRUCTORS 1 and 2 still installed.

RT-82/APX-6 side view at the F-86A crash site

Dave Trojan holding APX-6

AN/APX-6 photo found on the internet, note the three DESTRUCTORS removed. The above unit was located for sale on Ebay for $10. What was once secret is now cheap!