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That is not a belt - it is an ammunition feed chute that connects the ammo box to the machine gun and channels the ammunition belt between the box and the gun. The disintegrating links hold the 50 cal. rounds together to form a belt that slides through the the chute. When to gun is fired the bolt of the MG strips the round out of the belt and into the chamber. This results in the links coming apart (disintegrating), and the next round sliding into position to be fed into the gun in the same manor.wow thanks - you better get back to your decorating now - if I find anything else I will post it here
Just posting this picture as one of my favourite finds - 50 Cal Belt
That is not a belt - it is an ammunition feed chute that connects the ammo box to the machine gun and channels the ammunition belt between the box and the gun. The disintegrating links hold the 50 cal. rounds together to form a belt that slides through the the chute. When to gun is fired the bolt of the MG strips the round out of the belt and into the chamber. This results in the links coming apart (disintegrating), and the next round sliding into position to be fed into the gun in the same manor.
Was the ammunition feed chute stationary? Or maybe in a loop that channels the ammunition belt into the gun?That is not a belt - it is an ammunition feed chute that connects the ammo box to the machine gun and channels the ammunition belt between the box and the gun. The disintegrating links hold the 50 cal. rounds together to form a belt that slides through the the chute. When to gun is fired the bolt of the MG strips the round out of the belt and into the chamber. This results in the links coming apart (disintegrating), and the next round sliding into position to be fed into the gun in the same manor.
Was the ammunition feed chute stationary? Or maybe in a loop that channels the ammunition belt into the gun?
That is not a belt - it is an ammunition feed chute that connects the ammo box to the machine gun and channels the ammunition belt between the box and the gun. The disintegrating links hold the 50 cal. rounds together to form a belt that slides through the the chute. When to gun is fired the bolt of the MG strips the round out of the belt and into the chamber. This results in the links coming apart (disintegrating), and the next round sliding into position to be fed into the gun in the same manor.
So as this is about B-17's I guess questions on the bits used with the ordnance will be ok as well.
The first photo is a bit of arming wire and the clamp which held the wire tight until it was released from the bomb shackle
I have found loads of these bits plus below but am not sure what their role was - can someone help me please
I am sure these two parts would have been similar but they have totally different part numbers
Part number - W8438929-FD
Part Number - 8456342-CH
Any ideas what these two parts were for???
No sign of them in the B-17G parts list or of any parts with vaguely similar numbers so I would say they are a vendor part but of what I do not know.
The numbers look vaguely familiar but I am darned if I can place them
Did some research and this is what I found for the 8456342-CH part - Supercharger cooler cap securing bracket. Attaches the cooler cap scoop over the bucket wheel on the supecharger unit supposedly.