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That was the only time we carried 100 lb bombs. The normal load would be 12 500 or 16 250 lb.Was that the only time you missed a key?
Seems like something that could happen frequently when carrying lots of little bombs.
Interesting that it was done that way. Obviously Lancaster crews couldn't do the same, as they did not have access to the bomb bay.
It would be interesting to know how their system worked.Was that the only time you missed a key?
Seems like something that could happen frequently when carrying lots of little bombs.
Interesting that it was done that way. Obviously Lancaster crews couldn't do the same, as they did not have access to the bomb bay.
Bill.It would be interesting to know how their system worked.
Hi Karl.......The fuses were installed on the ground. Cotter keys were inserted as a safety measure to prevent an accident while loading the bombs in the Bomb Bay. They remained in the fuse for take off and then pulled. The armature wires (no spool) provided the safety in flight. When the bombs were released the wires remained connected to the bomb shackle in the aircraft.The fuse impellers spun off during free fall arming the bomb.Bill.
if i remember correctly from what i have read.
the bombs were fused by the loaders as they were hung in the bomb bay
a wire on a spool attached to the aircraft with an arming pin was put through the fuses, this was pulled out of the fuses as the bombs were released and was retracted back onto the spool.
karl
Thanks Bill.Hi Karl.......The fuses were installed on the ground. Cotter keys were inserted as a safety measure to prevent an accident while loading the bombs in the Bomb Bay. They remained in the fuse for take off and then pulled. The armature wires (no spool) provided the safety in flight. When the bombs were released the wires remained connected to the bomb shackle in the aircraft.The fuse impellers spun off during free fall arming the bomb.
When the bombs were salvoed in an emergence the armature wires went with the bombs making it a safe drop, no detonation.Thanks Bill.
As know there was no access to a lancaster bomb bay during flight, so i wonder if that extra safety step you did was not followed by bomber command ?
The spools i talked about were attached to the bomb shackles.
I Wonder if it was the same with the RAF ?When the bombs were salvoed in an emergence the armature wires went with the bombs making it a safe drop, no detonation.
Thanks for sharing the info. If we had to dump bombs prior to landing it was done at the "Wash".As far as I know, in RAF aircraft such as the Lanc, if the jettison bar was activated, the bombs were dropped 'safe'. I have part of a Lanc bomb selector panel, but it's missing the jettison bar and timer, so I'm uncertain as to the jettison procedure.
I do know that the bombs were fused in 'fusing sheds' near the bomb dump, before being taken out to dispersal for loading. Safety wires on the impellers were fitted to prevent the vanes spinning up when moved, and these were removed once loaded into the bomb bay. As Karl described, spooled wires were connected to the final safety pins, and if jettisoned, the wires were severed, or disconnected at the spool end, leaving the safety pin in the fuse impeller.
There were two 'Jettison Areas' for aircraft returning still 'bombed up', for example if a raid was recalled for whatever reason, or a crew had to abort for technical or weather problems, when it might be unsafe to land with the load on board.
One of these areas was in the English Channel, and the other in the North Sea off the Dutch islands.
Dammit Bill, I was just going to start an expedition to recover King Johns treasure and you tell me you bombed it, another sure fire scheme thwarted.Thanks for sharing the info. If we had to dump bombs prior to landing it was done at the "Wash".