Norden Bombsight and Bombing Equipment

[Tim Moore]

A fellow member requested that I combine several of the instructional videos into one post so that more obscure items would be more easily found. Here goes:

The Norden Bombsight:


View: https://youtu.be/Wsr46v8vV8o


96-year old working the Norden Bombsight and simulator:


View: https://youtu.be/0r-V2t_9tYk


The Intervalometer for dropping bombs in train or salvo:


View: https://youtu.be/FnWuCxueUTQ


The Automatic Bombing Computer, for rapidly computing the drop angle and drift:


View: https://youtu.be/eWhaK9G0Jzo


The Preset Dropping Angle Scales, for determining the dropping angle in advance:


View: https://youtu.be/ynUvAWkfus0

The Bombardier's Kit from the Bombardier's Information File, and a modern example:

 

[pbehn]

Tim, in a short time you may have gained internet immortality, the Norden sight is often discussed. If you have any information how does it compare to British bombsights in theory and practice?

 

[Tim Moore]

I am afraid I am unqualified to offer any opinion on British bombsights. I understand that the Mark XIV/T-1 was very good and could be set up for a bomb run in short order. I despair somewhat of ever getting a T-1 up and running; I have an unused computer and the sightheads can be found, but they were connected by rotary drive shafts that appear to be quite rare. In addition, to get one up and running you would need a vacuum system to run the gyro as will as pressurized air to run the pitot system. Still, I sure would like to take a crack at getting one going. Next week I plan to start on a Sperry S-1.

 

[billrunnels]

Tim........For a minute I felt like I was In a class room at Bombardier School. Your commentary is well done! As you probably know, the manual PDI application was used only when the Auto Pilot was not working. The pilot could not respond to an indicated correction as fast as the Auto Pilot.

On a normal bomb run the pilot turned control of the aircraft over to the bombardier when reaching the Initial Point (IP). He then had a two fold responsibility - manually maintain a Given Altitude and Indicated Air Speed (IAS) of 150 mph. The Bombardier remained in command until "Bombs Away". Command reverted back to the pilot and he started a turn from the target area.

i will review your commentary on navigation but may be of little help as the bombardier was only rated in"Pilotage" and "Dead Reckoning" navigation.






















t

 

[Tim Moore]

Thank you so much for your very kind remarks.

 

[Tim Moore]

Speaking of Bombardier School, I found you in one of my books, "Bombardier". It shows you were at Midland, Texas, designation "MI 44-13".