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Thread: "Bombs gone"
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Old 11th Oct 2009, 07:47
  #16 (permalink)  
rodthesod
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Southern Turkey
Age: 82
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In the other, a Vulcan was dropping a stick of 1000 pounders. One (or more) 'hung up', but came off the bomb beam and fell onto the doors after they were closed. Nobody knew what state the bombs were in and if the crew had opened the doors in an attempt to jettison them, then the airflow might well have armed them fully. The aircraft returned and landed and the Nav Rad had to go into the bomb bay (through the inspection hatch at the front) and make them safe.
I was the co-pilot in a similar incident, bombing on an island range operating from Darwin. Should have dropped 7 HE 1000 pounders separately. The first released normally but the second hung up. Round again and tried PESJ (pilot's emergency safe jettison where all bombs should release unarmed) - just one bomb released armed and exploded on/close to target. 4 similar attempts achieved exactly same result but the last bomb wouldn't release. We tried another 11 times and outbound on the 18th pattern there was a 'thump' as the remaining bomb fell onto the bomb doors. There were a few choice words about sex and religion throughout this procedure.
We were worried about opening the doors in case the bomb got trapped either side as they folded up and in, but it had to be done. A bit of gentle wing rocking centered the bomb on the curved doors (we hoped) and we pilots guessed the release point visually - we'd had a bit of practice by then so we got a very creditable score I remember. 'Thank f*** for that, let's go to the bar', we said and did.
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