Help identifying drop tank(?)

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drallenphoto

Airman
11
13
Jun 10, 2025
I'm looking for help identifying what I'm pretty sure is a drop tank, but looking to find out exactly what type. It seems quite small from what I expected. You can see in the images/video the small size as it hangs on the fence. I estimate it's no bigger than 4 feet long.

A little background, I'm researching the history of the USAAF 4th Combat Camera Unit, the predecessor to my current unit the USAFR 4th Combat Camera Squadron at Charleston AFB, SC. I know from unit records that the images from the attached video are here 1 Rue André · 1 Rue André, 60500 Chantilly in Chantilly France where the unit was briefly headquartered in 1943 as it followed the push through to Germany following D-Day.

We're really big into our unit history, and would REALLY like to identify this drop tank and possibly even find one to display at the squadron.

If anyone out there can assist, it would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaj_JR4SJ0U
 

Attachments

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  • 4 CCU_2.jpg
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Agree that it looks rather small to be a drop tank. Most probably a blister of some kind.

You might try looking to see what aircraft were stationed at that airfield, both Allied and Axis, that this could have been liberated from. All airfields had some collection of damaged airplanes pushed to the perimeter. Interesting unit history, they travelled far and wide, but I doubt they'd haul back something like this from an assignment.

If all else fails, get a sheet of aluminum, some sandbags and a mallet. Learn some old school metalworking...
 
I have been in France a lot. I fact,in that place.

I know those fences. . And i have seen drop tanks.

I think it is not a droptank but a bit of scrapp picked up while landing at a base. That unit was not a fighting unit. And if you follow my eBay you will notice that units who had available to film were more well.. flamboyant.
Certainly the Americans. Bless them
 
Appreciate the reply. I've certainly considered it might not be American. What's throwing me is that there seem to be not attachment point of any kind on it. Seems completely smooth, at least in the grainy footage.

We've talked about just making our own, but would be nice to know exactly what we're making first.
 
Thanks. Some interesting tidbits about 4 CCU:
  • Flew extensive B-26 combat missions with the 322nd and 323rd Bomb Groups as well as 416th Bomb Group A-20s. Lost two aircrew members.
  • Produced 40% of newsreel footage from the ETO.
  • First D-Day footage to make it to US newsreels due to innovative production workflows.
  • Aboard the first B-26 to land in France following D-Day.
  • Drove a Jeep up the steps of the villa in the photos above during their 1944 Christmas party!
  • On the ground with 3rd Armored Div spearhead covering close air support.
  • Camera team captured by Germans in Wittenberg, then shortly rescued.
  • First photogs into Dachau concentration camp during liberation.
  • Integral to Special Film Project 186.
  • And much more...
 
Starting the middle of next month I do my summer tour with the B-25 "Maid in the Shade", she has the ADF fairing easily accessible and I'll take some pics with a measuring tape to give you some perspective.

It can either put it in the running or eliminate it as a possibility.
 
That would be amazing, thanks! Quite the combat history for Maid in the Shade and a beautiful gal. I did some aerial photo with Betty's Dream and a few other old warbirds at Edwards a few years back when I was a flight test photog there.
 

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To support your idea: AFAIK those teardrop fairings of the "loop antenna" of the radio compass were the same on B-25, B-17, B-24, C-47 etc.
Here are 2 photos of the "football" LP-21, made in the Warplanes Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in 2008. The B-25J they have there is called "Grumpy" and flyable:


The graphite impregnated model is LP-21LM as seen on the first photo.
Here are photos of the same fairing without the attachment:



Please note how the body of the "football" IS NOT symmetrical (as of a drop tank e.g.) because of the flat attachment area.
The length of the fairing is 26"(66cm)-27"(68.6cm) as per my notes. Don't remember did I measure it straight or over the curvature.
I hope smutny will check this more precisely.
Cheers!
 
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