Hi - my father often referred to a "Mickey Mouse Box" in his nose compartment of Bostons IIIa. I believe this was a bomb distributor/interval timer that had two round dials that resembled Mickey Mouse's ears. I think it was located on the starboard side, towards the front so that it could be accessed while using the Mk XIV sighting head. Does anyone know of any reference materials for it? Some pictures, ideally.
RAF Bomb Distributor "Mickey Mouse" (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Andymac53
- Start date
Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
ThomasP
Chief Master Sergeant
As far as I know, the term 'Mickey Mouse' or 'Mickey' equipment referred to the US developed H2X bombing and navigation radar.
From this site last updated in 2010 so pre-AI
"Mickey Mouse - bomb-dropping controls - the bombing panel consisted of a clockwork distributor and selection switches (hence like a mickey mouse watch)"
A quick Google search for "bomb distributor box manuals" turned up the following thread here with information on its use starting with the 1935 version in the Hawker Australian Demon that might help.
"Mickey Mouse - bomb-dropping controls - the bombing panel consisted of a clockwork distributor and selection switches (hence like a mickey mouse watch)"
A quick Google search for "bomb distributor box manuals" turned up the following thread here with information on its use starting with the 1935 version in the Hawker Australian Demon that might help.
MiTasol
Major
These are the nearest I can find to what you describe.
This is the equipment layout for the Mk XIV.
Below is the Lancaster installation - I have nothing on switch box 11 in this diagram. Your best bet is probably to find a copy of AP 2023C Volume I or a good copy of this one. THe copy I have is of no use. It does appear to show the above switchbox 11 on the RH side but is so poor it may well be something elxe.
This is the equipment layout for the Mk XIV.
Below is the Lancaster installation - I have nothing on switch box 11 in this diagram. Your best bet is probably to find a copy of AP 2023C Volume I or a good copy of this one. THe copy I have is of no use. It does appear to show the above switchbox 11 on the RH side but is so poor it may well be something elxe.
- Thread starter
- #5
Thanks but from what I've managed to research so far, it was a 'RAF Bomb Distributor, Type 5D' with two large, side by side rotary dials - his ears - with a selector switch or dial (depending on the model) that was in the middle and below - his 'nose'
- Thread starter
- #6
Thanks, I've managed to find them. The confusing part comes regarding the Mk XIV (or T1, which most were). Bostons, and I think Mitchells, only had the 'light' installation as the nose compartment was so cramped. this meant the Mk XIV sight head was fitted, but not the computer. Speed and drift etc were entered into the sight head manually. Which is why they had the separate bomb distributor.
ThomasP
Chief Master Sergeant
Hey Andymac53,
Do you have a photo of the item you are describing? The reason I ask is that this
The Bomb Distributer system would usually be a Bomb Distributer Type x 5d/xx similar to the photos MiTasol posted above (it is the item just above the number "13" in the diagram he posted above) - paired with a Bomb Selector Type x 5D/xx panel with varying number of toggle switches depending on the model and number of stations it can control (ie 2,4,8,16,32,etc). In most cases there would be a Bomb Intervalometer (SP?) unit to control the basic timing of the release, or there could be a Bomb Release Timing panel included in the system to ensure a specific release sequence along with controlling the timing of the release. The Type x would be Type A,B,C,D,etc or Type I,II,III,IV,etc for the model with the xx in the 5D/xx being the mod number.
Do you have a photo of the item you are describing? The reason I ask is that this
sounds like the T-1 bomb sight control box for the "Drift Scale Light" and "Collimater Light" - the left & right large knobs (rheostats for increasing/decreasing the lights in the sight) - with the "Power" on/off toggle switch in the middle - for its nose. This is item number "11-SWITCHBOX" in the diagram that MiTasol posted above. The British Stores Reference Number would be 109/xx (with the xx varying depending on what mod it was). I think it was an American made item.
The Bomb Distributer system would usually be a Bomb Distributer Type x 5d/xx similar to the photos MiTasol posted above (it is the item just above the number "13" in the diagram he posted above) - paired with a Bomb Selector Type x 5D/xx panel with varying number of toggle switches depending on the model and number of stations it can control (ie 2,4,8,16,32,etc). In most cases there would be a Bomb Intervalometer (SP?) unit to control the basic timing of the release, or there could be a Bomb Release Timing panel included in the system to ensure a specific release sequence along with controlling the timing of the release. The Type x would be Type A,B,C,D,etc or Type I,II,III,IV,etc for the model with the xx in the 5D/xx being the mod number.
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #8
That certainly seems to be what I need to find. I've managed to locate the Pilots Operating Instructions which has some interesting notes on the cockpit but nothing, understandably, on the nose section. So, thank you - the hunt is on!
Last edited:
MiTasol
Major
There were multiple 5D/ bomb distributors and I just posted two, I will see what I can find on the T1 sight as the Mk XIV sight manual I have is lacking what you are looking for. 5D indicates the stores section that the part belongs to (5 = electrical and D armament) and the number after the slash is the number based on order of acceptance.
I had a copy of the T1 manual but that went with my power supply failure. (@#$%). I hope it is recovered in the next disc pair that I get salvaged.
MiTasol
Major
Okay. This may be what you are looking looking for.
If you go to https://www.blunham.com/Radar/SignalsMuseum/PDFs/MiscAPs/BombSightXIV.pdf you can download both the Mk XIV and T1 bombsight manual including installation in various aircraft. Appendix 7 - using sight without the computer - is missing naturally.
If you go to https://www.blunham.com/Radar/SignalsMuseum/PDFs/MiscAPs/BombSightXIV.pdf you can download both the Mk XIV and T1 bombsight manual including installation in various aircraft. Appendix 7 - using sight without the computer - is missing naturally.
