Vulcan Bomb-Aimer Position
Thread Starter
Vulcan Bomb-Aimer Position
Quickie... I am seeing references elsewhere to 'the Vulcan bomb aimer's prone position' window. Really? Ever?
CG
CG
I beleive that the original idea was, as a last resort if all else failed, one of the Nav's (I think Plotter) could use a manual bomb sight in the window on the bump underside.
Thread Starter
Well isn't every day just a school day!
Cheers. That was me on Walt-Watch. Lucky I asked the grown-ups before opening my gob!
CG
Cheers. That was me on Walt-Watch. Lucky I asked the grown-ups before opening my gob!CG
A bed was also installed over the visual bombing couch to carry the occasional VIP, I understand. Although in my time they usually had more sense and would prefer to fly in a VC10.
It is said that the CDS who murdered TSR-2 was once due to fly in a Vulcan to the Eagle River Conference, but which was actually thought to be a fishing trip. The saga became headline news after a groundcrew member told his wife. CDS cancelled the trip to prove that the story was false, but let his displeasure be known....
It is said that the CDS who murdered TSR-2 was once due to fly in a Vulcan to the Eagle River Conference, but which was actually thought to be a fishing trip. The saga became headline news after a groundcrew member told his wife. CDS cancelled the trip to prove that the story was false, but let his displeasure be known....
During my time (74-79) an F95 camera was mounted above the vis bomb aiming window for Low level bomb scoring. The nav rad ran the camera approaching the target and the kit put a marker on the release frame. Once developed the wing weapons staff pored over the photos with a 50 thou map and identified the release point. Applying the release parameters recorded by the plotter allowed a forward throw to be calculated and thus an impact point and score. All very important for crew classification! I never got the hang of changing the cassettes though- leading to many void attacks in Goose Bay.
Last edited by Timelord; 30th Sep 2019 at 15:02.
Thread Starter
Lying down for a living-perfect! I knew about the Victor, but not the Vulcan. TTN, which member of the crew would have been the bomb-aimer? I assume he was a nav of some flavour?
CG
CG
Just for completeness, the Valiant had one too in the same locattion as the Vulcan
charliegolf I was only a tanker man so never even went into that position for a snooze in all the 6 years I flew on the K1, so I wouldn't know who did the visual bombing. P-N will let us know whether it was the plotter or radar on Vulcans.
Vulcan visual bomb aimer position
Prior to 1968 a T4 bomb site was fitted around that time the F95 camera came onto use, fitted onto the bomb site spigot either one or the other could be used. Used at Cottesmore from late 1967 onwards. F95 controller operated by Rad Nav
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Two memories from Cottesmore, (sac airframes!). The window was an exact fit and sat on a bed of araldite, first time I had used it. Also, there was an official B Cmd Mod to install the bed for VIPs, plus large jubilee clips for fishing rods, in the bomb bay!
All the V's had a Visual Bomb Aimer Position in them. Normally fitted, in their earlier days, with a T4 Bombsight. They were operated by the Nav Plotter as the Nav Radar was busy playing with his magic Televison machine. The accuracy of the Visual bombsight was significantly better than the Radar, but did require you to identify the target. This could be difficult/impossible at night or in cloud. I have seen it being used to drop 112 lb practice bombs on Song Song range in Malaysia.
The Victor K1 and K2 had three windows in the nose for this purpose. Over the years on the K1 and K2 there had been no need for these, so whenever a window had become unserviceable it had been replaced by a metal plate, which was cheaper and lighter, so most aircraft had some or no windows.
When Op Corporate was activated there was a requirement for Photo Recce of Port Stanley, and the only aircraft which, with the aid of Air to Air Refuelling, could do it was the Victor K2. The first Victor K2s that went to Ascension in 1982 were all fitted with nose and left hand side windows to allow cameras to be operated. A major operation was required to retrieve windows from various old aircraft from the Fire Training Schools at Catterick and Manston, as well as Museums at Duxford and in the USA/Canada.
Fortunately we were never called upon the fly down Port Stanley runway at 250 ft in daylight to take photos. Surely a postumous DFC for the captain and bugger all for the others.
However I believe the Victor AARI on Black Buck One may have witnessed the attack from the Bomb Aimers position.
I have, however, used it in Victor K1s for the run in the airshows.
The Visual Bombing Course at Lindholme was standard for all Canberra, & V Bomber crews, as well as Argosy and Shackleton Navigators who were deploying to the Middle and Far East.
The Victor K1 and K2 had three windows in the nose for this purpose. Over the years on the K1 and K2 there had been no need for these, so whenever a window had become unserviceable it had been replaced by a metal plate, which was cheaper and lighter, so most aircraft had some or no windows.
When Op Corporate was activated there was a requirement for Photo Recce of Port Stanley, and the only aircraft which, with the aid of Air to Air Refuelling, could do it was the Victor K2. The first Victor K2s that went to Ascension in 1982 were all fitted with nose and left hand side windows to allow cameras to be operated. A major operation was required to retrieve windows from various old aircraft from the Fire Training Schools at Catterick and Manston, as well as Museums at Duxford and in the USA/Canada.
Fortunately we were never called upon the fly down Port Stanley runway at 250 ft in daylight to take photos. Surely a postumous DFC for the captain and bugger all for the others.
However I believe the Victor AARI on Black Buck One may have witnessed the attack from the Bomb Aimers position.
I have, however, used it in Victor K1s for the run in the airshows.
The Visual Bombing Course at Lindholme was standard for all Canberra, & V Bomber crews, as well as Argosy and Shackleton Navigators who were deploying to the Middle and Far East.
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