A Spitfire part?

[Marcogrifo]

Hi all, hope this is the right place to post an inquiry.

This part was found near a site (in Italy, I think) where a Spitfire crashed during WWII; has anybody a clue about what can it be?
Thanks in advance.

Cheers

P.S.: I'm not the owner of that part, so I can't say more about it...

 

[Colin1]

Given the mechanical action that you've demonstrated
and the metal pipe union above it, I'll take a guess and say cooling system, possibly even the thermostat assembly.

I'll have a dig around and see if I can find anything more scientific than my guess

 

[Marcogrifo]

Given the mechanical action that you've demonstrated
and the metal pipe union above it, I'll take a guess and say cooling system, possibly even the thermostat assembly.

I'll have a dig around and see if I can find anything more scientific than my guess

Thank you, Colin.

 

[Colin1]

Actually
it looks more like a mechanical cam-driven pump of some sort, than a thermostat assembly

 

[spitfirefive]

Hello chaps,
the part in the posted photo's is a firing solenoid, the unit was mounted the bottom rear end of a .303" Browning, the lift arm is the manual bolt release for the gun.

Kind regards,
Dave

 

[Colin1]

the part in the posted photos is a firing solenoid, the unit was mounted the bottom rear end of a .303" Browning, the lift arm is the manual bolt release for the gun

Nice one Dave
I was looking in completely the wrong area

 

[spitfirefive]

No problem sir, glad to be of help.
Kind regards,
Dave

 

[Colin1]

Can I take it then that the pipe union was for pneumatic delivery, rather than hydraulic?

 

[spitfirefive]

Hello Colin1,
that is correct sir, the weapons were pneumatically fired.
Kind regards,
Dave

 

[Colin1]

Not the clearest shot in the world, but gives some idea of the location Dave was talking about

The installation from below and to the rear; to the left of the gun may be seen the harmonisation locking quadrant for raising or lowering the barrel; the braided cable running underneath the gun carried high pressure air to fire the weapon.

 

[Micdrow]

Nice job there guys!!!

 

[spitfirefive]

A closer view of the unit fitted to a replica .303" Browning mounted in a Spitfire MkV wing, minus air connection and gun mounting bolts.

Kind regards,
Dave

 

[Marcogrifo]

WOW! Many Many Thanks guys!
Excellent job

BTW, I suspected that lever had to be operated by hand, but I didn't figure out it was related with armament.

Here what the owner of the part has found:

Cheers