Practice bomb demolished pub toilet
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“I was the Station Armament Officer at Scampton with Lincolns. We had problems with the 25 lb practice bomb failing to detonate upon striking land or water. I suggested to Bomber Command that the cause was the icing up of the spring-loaded safety plunger, which was supposed to pop out and arm the bomb when it fell from the rack.
Bomber Command responded by ordering that the spring-loaded safety plunger should be attached to the rack with a wire lanyard, to ensure its detachment when dropped. This was a disastrous decision. The bomb could be snatched violently on release and tumble end over end and land short of the danger area.
I was then posted to Binbrook to be Station Armament Officer. On one occasion I had to go to the Prussian Queen Hotel at Theddlethorpe, where a practice bomb had gone straight down the ladies loo, while the seat was still warm!
I reported this hazard and came up with a new design of firing system that would be more reliable and safer. After many obstructions and many mishaps, my idea was eventually accepted and the ‘Mark 2’ 25 lb Practice Bomb resulted”.
Wing Commander Kenneth Horatio Wallis DSO, MBE, DEng, PhD, RAF (Ret'd)
Ken flew 32 ops as a Wellington bomber pilot in WW2.
Ken served for 2 years in Strategic Air Command where he flew the giant B-36 with an atom bomb on board during the Cold War.
Ken doubled as James Bond in “You Only Live Twice” flying his own “Little Nellie” autogyro.
Ken set 34 World Records for the autogyro in two classes, and many records still stand.
Ken passed away on 1 Sep 2013.
Bomber Command responded by ordering that the spring-loaded safety plunger should be attached to the rack with a wire lanyard, to ensure its detachment when dropped. This was a disastrous decision. The bomb could be snatched violently on release and tumble end over end and land short of the danger area.
I was then posted to Binbrook to be Station Armament Officer. On one occasion I had to go to the Prussian Queen Hotel at Theddlethorpe, where a practice bomb had gone straight down the ladies loo, while the seat was still warm!
I reported this hazard and came up with a new design of firing system that would be more reliable and safer. After many obstructions and many mishaps, my idea was eventually accepted and the ‘Mark 2’ 25 lb Practice Bomb resulted”.
Wing Commander Kenneth Horatio Wallis DSO, MBE, DEng, PhD, RAF (Ret'd)
Ken flew 32 ops as a Wellington bomber pilot in WW2.
Ken served for 2 years in Strategic Air Command where he flew the giant B-36 with an atom bomb on board during the Cold War.
Ken doubled as James Bond in “You Only Live Twice” flying his own “Little Nellie” autogyro.
Ken set 34 World Records for the autogyro in two classes, and many records still stand.
Ken passed away on 1 Sep 2013.
Join Date: Feb 2006
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
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Or the Avionics bod carrying a box of 3kg practice bombs out to put on the trolley for Deci, he was not amused when the bottom of the box split open, dropping them all onto the apron in front of him.
Song Song range '66. The hessian gunnery targets were strung between poles on the beach. Whilst changing one target I was showered with sand as an Aussie Sabre let fly with 30mm Adens at an adjacent one. Not happy!
Whilst on the subject of Song Song did any Vulcan drivers out there drop 100lb PBs there in that era?
Whilst on the subject of Song Song did any Vulcan drivers out there drop 100lb PBs there in that era?
Join Date: Mar 2007
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This may involve 100lb practice bombs.
In August 1959 my father's 7 Squadron Valiant was a on a 'Sunspot' exercise dropping bombs on the range at El Adem, Libya.
The Operational Record Book reports that 'the aircraft was held off the range for 40 minutes whilst target flares were replaced. The previous set had been stolen by the natives while bombing was in progress for their paraffin value'.
In August 1959 my father's 7 Squadron Valiant was a on a 'Sunspot' exercise dropping bombs on the range at El Adem, Libya.
The Operational Record Book reports that 'the aircraft was held off the range for 40 minutes whilst target flares were replaced. The previous set had been stolen by the natives while bombing was in progress for their paraffin value'.
