Lancaster; cable cutters.

[Load Toad]

I was reading on another web site (aircraft modelling site - can't recall off hand which) about some guy making an accurate model of a Lanc to present to one of it's now elderly crew.

One thing mentioned was that he was modifying the wing to include barrage balloon cable cutters that the Lanc had.

There was some pictures showing how this was supposed to work - but does anyone know if / how they were tested & if they ever were tested in combat?

Found some of the links I'd read:
The principle of the cable cutting experiments was to ensure that the flying cable was such that it made a angle of 45 degrees with (http://www.bbrclub.org/Balloon%20Cable%20Cutting%20Device%20for%20Aircraft.htm)
Lancaster Cable Cutters (http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/technical-requests/lancaster-cable-cutters-9290.html)

[jimgriff]

They were fitted to a number of types and were most definitely used in combat during WW2. They were designed and built by Martin Baker Aircraft - now famous for ejection seats.

[diesel addict]

They must have been deemed very desirable by the powers at Air Ministry - The first prototype Halifax was fitted ( as befitted one of Fred's aircraft ) with automatic leading-edge slots - but these were deleted to enable the fitting of cable cutters .......

[5645andym]

My late grandad was ground crew on Lancs both on squadrons and at an MU (at Ternhill?).

I remember him telling me, it must be over 30-35 years ago now, about the cable cutters in the wing leading edges and about someone who was new to the Lanc losing fingers in one while working on the wing in the dark one night.

He said that after that they always showed the new lads how they worked by dropping a bit of old broom handle in the slot and chopping the end off of it!