Glad you like the site on the PBJs. I am the webmaster of the site and have many technical drawings an information that is not on the website. Should you require any, especially on the PBJ-1H, let me know and I will see if I can get it for you.
Regards,
TopY
Hello to all from a newbie. Glad I came across this forum, looks pretty neat.
So I'm replying to an old post in hopes of getting some information. Here's my story, sorry it's kind of lengthy.
My dad was in the Navy for the duration of WWII stationed at Sand Point Naval Air Station in Seattle, Washington. He was an amateur radio operator since about 1935. (he passed away this last August at the age of 92) Anyway, he for as long as I can remember turned his ham antenna with a device at the base of his tower. He had told me it was the turret drive motor assembly from a WWII bomber but he didn't know just what model. Since his passing and mom moving to an assisted living facility, we began the process of cleaning out their home in preparation to sell it. One task was to take down his tower and the "turret drive". So, I just couldn't throw it in the dumpster along with the unbelievable amount of other stuff without first finding out what this thing actually was. To make an even longer story shorter, I contacted the Commerative Air Force in hopes of some information. What I found is that in fact this assembly is the drive mechanism from a B-25. It's the very bottom section that drives the entire turret. They put me in touch with the Southern California wing of the CAF and as it turns out they are restoring a PBJ (Navy b-25) and are very interested in the drive unit. MY wife and I will be delivering it in person to the So. Cal. CAF sometime in January, we are donating it in honor of my Dad.
So here's what I'm looking for. My dad modified the unit by removing the original drive motor and replaced it with a small AC motor so he could use it powered by standard household AC. I'd like to get as much information, technical drawings, manuals, specs etc. as I can in hopes of returning it to its original state as best I can before we deliver to the CAF. It's a Bendix unit which is about all I know about it. I did find a photo on this forum that shows an image from a B-25 in the weaponry section and it looks very much like what I have. Anyway, any information would be very much appreciated!!
I'm going to attempt to attach some pictures of the unit, one is prior to removing it from the base of the tower. I have cleaned it up a bit and got it operating again with the AC motor.....
Thanks in advance!! Greg