Vulcan Bomb-Aimer Position
I remember (vaguely) in late'60's early'70's (would have to consult log-books!) conveying a very senior WRAF officer (She was one or two star, can't remember which, but the highest ranking lady I can remember from that time) from Waddo to Goose in the mighty Vulcan. A remarkably comfortable looking bunk plus curtain etc ...) was set up in the bomb aimers position for her flight. Waste of time/effort as she spent all her time finding out what every crew member did. A real pleasure to have aboard!
Bill
Bill
Taking this thread a bit down market...
Masirah to Gan (after a fairly ‘heavy ‘ night.)
Half way up the climb in a Victor K1A, Captain says I’ve got a bit of a problem !
Fuel tray in the ‘Up’ position JB exits the LHS,we empty the ration box and he has a touch of the ‘green apple quicksteps’ into the box helped by a few superfluous plotter’s charts.
Ration box placed on the bomb aimer’s window, heat turned off so it freezes over fairly quickly.
Only need oxygen for about 20 minutes until the atmosphere is.., er.. OK
Land at Gan and explain the problem to the groundcrew.
Masirah to Gan (after a fairly ‘heavy ‘ night.)
Half way up the climb in a Victor K1A, Captain says I’ve got a bit of a problem !
Fuel tray in the ‘Up’ position JB exits the LHS,we empty the ration box and he has a touch of the ‘green apple quicksteps’ into the box helped by a few superfluous plotter’s charts.
Ration box placed on the bomb aimer’s window, heat turned off so it freezes over fairly quickly.
Only need oxygen for about 20 minutes until the atmosphere is.., er.. OK
Land at Gan and explain the problem to the groundcrew.
Taking this thread a bit down market...
Masirah to Gan (after a fairly ‘heavy ‘ night.)
Half way up the climb in a Victor K1A, Captain says I’ve got a bit of a problem !
Fuel tray in the ‘Up’ position JB exits the LHS,we empty the ration box and he has a touch of the ‘green apple quicksteps’ into the box helped by a few superfluous plotter’s charts.
Ration box placed on the bomb aimer’s window, heat turned off so it freezes over fairly quickly.
Only need oxygen for about 20 minutes until the atmosphere is.., er.. OK
Land at Gan and explain the problem to the groundcrew.
Masirah to Gan (after a fairly ‘heavy ‘ night.)
Half way up the climb in a Victor K1A, Captain says I’ve got a bit of a problem !
Fuel tray in the ‘Up’ position JB exits the LHS,we empty the ration box and he has a touch of the ‘green apple quicksteps’ into the box helped by a few superfluous plotter’s charts.
Ration box placed on the bomb aimer’s window, heat turned off so it freezes over fairly quickly.
Only need oxygen for about 20 minutes until the atmosphere is.., er.. OK
Land at Gan and explain the problem to the groundcrew.
Thanks for pic, Ref senior WRAF officer, guess in those days could only have been DWRAF in them far off days, a job Aunty Joan was allegedy offered and similarly allegedly responded that if she was too be an *adjectival) air commodore she would be a proper (adjectival) air commodore!
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
I would not call the T4 computer manual nor would I confirm it being more accurate than the radar.
The T4 had a gyro stabilised sighting glass and the computer was fed airspeed and altitude etc. If the computer was U/S the sighting head could be used in manual mode.
In the Varsity, at 4,000 feet and 150 kts 17 feet was possible.
For any accuracy the Vulcan bombsight had to be calibrated. We would go to El Adem range to drop 16 single 100lb practice bombs from around 45k. Forward vision was around 15 miles. With a forward throw of 7 miles the plotter had just one minute to identify the target and align the aircraft. To assist the nav rad, who also controlled the bomb selection, would direct the aircraft toward the target. Once sighted the plotter could steer the aircraft though a rotary knob and the auto pilot. The bank sensitivity could be adjusted.
Apart from the poor visual range the weak point was the physical linkage to the gyro stabilised sighting glass hence the need for calibration. On our first run everything was fine until the plotter started to direct aircraft. I saw the bombing director indicator drift off and aborted the run. I did the same for the next two runs until the skipper said to let the plotter drop one. It landed 1,600 yards off. The next at 1,400. Thereafter we dropped the rest on radar.
As it happened the aircraft had only been calibrated the week before and we should not have been allocated that one. Back at Cottesmore I challenged the IX Sqn plotter. He agreed that the first bomb was way off so he simply aimed off. Prat. That would be no use to the next crew on an operational first run attack.
The T4 had a gyro stabilised sighting glass and the computer was fed airspeed and altitude etc. If the computer was U/S the sighting head could be used in manual mode.
In the Varsity, at 4,000 feet and 150 kts 17 feet was possible.
For any accuracy the Vulcan bombsight had to be calibrated. We would go to El Adem range to drop 16 single 100lb practice bombs from around 45k. Forward vision was around 15 miles. With a forward throw of 7 miles the plotter had just one minute to identify the target and align the aircraft. To assist the nav rad, who also controlled the bomb selection, would direct the aircraft toward the target. Once sighted the plotter could steer the aircraft though a rotary knob and the auto pilot. The bank sensitivity could be adjusted.
Apart from the poor visual range the weak point was the physical linkage to the gyro stabilised sighting glass hence the need for calibration. On our first run everything was fine until the plotter started to direct aircraft. I saw the bombing director indicator drift off and aborted the run. I did the same for the next two runs until the skipper said to let the plotter drop one. It landed 1,600 yards off. The next at 1,400. Thereafter we dropped the rest on radar.
As it happened the aircraft had only been calibrated the week before and we should not have been allocated that one. Back at Cottesmore I challenged the IX Sqn plotter. He agreed that the first bomb was way off so he simply aimed off. Prat. That would be no use to the next crew on an operational first run attack.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
The third and fourth pictures show the prone position cover stowed forward against the forward bulkhead. The cover would normally be down to protect the sighting head and provide a smooth working platform to get at the kit under the pilots' seats. Also for access the radar forward of the bulk head. The first image shows the access to the radome.
In that last picture, on the right is a brown cable which protects the bomb firing button. The button grip is the grey corroded shape to the right. The red safety flap would because locked when a nuclear weapon was loaded.
In that last picture, on the right is a brown cable which protects the bomb firing button. The button grip is the grey corroded shape to the right. The red safety flap would because locked when a nuclear weapon was loaded.
Back in the mid '60s I worked on SongSong range, a set of islands off the Malaysian mainland; two weeks on, then a trip back to Butterworth to see civilization for a weekend. On occasion we spotted for Vulcans dropping 100lb practice bombs. The target was called a barge, in reality it was a large floating metal box structure. The wait after the 'bomb gone' message seemed ages, I was told the release point was Perai railway junction, maybe someone can confirm that. I never saw a DH, although memory tells me the aiming point was offset to avoid the damage a DH would cause. The Vulcans provided a bit of variety from the bread and butter work with Canberras dropping 25lb PB and RAAF Sabres with 3in rockets and 30mm. Night bombing was not enjoyed as it involved a trek through the jungle in the dark on a narrow path - far too much rustling going on out of sight. But we could be rewarded watching turtles come up the beach under the quadrant lights and lay their eggs; occasionally we would spot a monitor lizard plundering the buried eggs.
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I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Once spent a pleasant afternoon on Song Song range. Did two high level drops with 100lb PB and we also did one visual drop with 25lb PB. In both cases we aimed to hit the target confident that we wouldn't.
For a radar attack we actually aimed at the Song Island itself with the equipment offset to drop the bomb on the target.
For a radar attack we actually aimed at the Song Island itself with the equipment offset to drop the bomb on the target.
Song Song range comprises a group of three islands some 25 miles north of Penang. One was the base with domestic facilities, the other two were used for target spotting and air/ground gunnery. The RAF Marine Craft Unit based at Gleugor ran a taxi service to the islands. Not as exotic as Phuket I'm afraid.
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Song Song range comprises a group of three islands some 25 miles north of Penang. One was the base with domestic facilities, the other two were used for target spotting and air/ground gunnery. The RAF Marine Craft Unit based at Gleugor ran a taxi service to the islands. Not as exotic as Phuket I'm afraid.
Swings chair around and looks out of said window to the north. On the murky horizon, can just make out the outline of Pulau Bidan, the largest of the group of three islands. It was Bidan that had the accommodation for the range.
The other two islands, Pulau Song Song itself and Pulau Telur, are hidden behind Bidan so not visible from my location.
Just found this on the interweb. Might bring back a memory or two.
https://www.expatgo.com/my/2016/05/2...pping-in-kedah
Slow Biker
At Song Song Range we did indeed use an offset on the Float Target, to avoid damaging or sinking it. We built in a correction factor to the Bombing Angle at the Bombsight Sighting Head to give a 200 yard undershoot on the target.
In 1964 or 65 the target had been replaced with a brand new float, The first attack, with 25 lb Practice Bombs was made by a 45 Sqn crew. They applied the 200yd offset, but, unfortunately the Nav Observer managed to drop the first bomb with a 200 yd error. It was of course an overshoot, so, inevitably it was a Direct Hit on the Float Target causing enough damage for the target to need to be towed away for repair. He was not very popular at HQ FEAF.
At Song Song Range we did indeed use an offset on the Float Target, to avoid damaging or sinking it. We built in a correction factor to the Bombing Angle at the Bombsight Sighting Head to give a 200 yard undershoot on the target.
In 1964 or 65 the target had been replaced with a brand new float, The first attack, with 25 lb Practice Bombs was made by a 45 Sqn crew. They applied the 200yd offset, but, unfortunately the Nav Observer managed to drop the first bomb with a 200 yd error. It was of course an overshoot, so, inevitably it was a Direct Hit on the Float Target causing enough damage for the target to need to be towed away for repair. He was not very popular at HQ FEAF.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Not sure which range but I know one DH hit the gas bottles and it was spectacular.
In the 60s a direct hit was rare. By 2000 targets were frequently damaged and were often more hole than target.
In the 60s a direct hit was rare. By 2000 targets were frequently damaged and were often more hole than target.
Told to me by a navigator in the early sixties so I don't know how true it is:
In the days when Valiants used to carry a 10,000 inert in the bomb bay to simulated a nuclear bomb load there was a sudden loud thump in the back and the radar saw to his horror that the inert had released itself and was resting on the bomb doors.
After much discussion up to 3Gp. level it was decided to jettison it over Wainfleet Range. On the way the Nav Radarwas told to treat it like a 'type 0' as it's ballistic properties were unknown.
With the target on the radar the bombing function was selected and the autopilot guided the aircraft unerringly to the release point.
At one minute to go the bombing function opened the bomb doors.
They never did find it.
In the days when Valiants used to carry a 10,000 inert in the bomb bay to simulated a nuclear bomb load there was a sudden loud thump in the back and the radar saw to his horror that the inert had released itself and was resting on the bomb doors.
After much discussion up to 3Gp. level it was decided to jettison it over Wainfleet Range. On the way the Nav Radarwas told to treat it like a 'type 0' as it's ballistic properties were unknown.
With the target on the radar the bombing function was selected and the autopilot guided the aircraft unerringly to the release point.
At one minute to go the bombing function opened the bomb doors.
They never did find it.
Last edited by Fareastdriver; 7th Oct 2019 at 17:59.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Obvious init, to get the soup cans out of the heater.😀
To be honest I have not the vaguest memory of them. Probably a fire as somewhere too.
What I do remember was the leak patches stowed on the back of the rear crew seats before they were changed for swivel seats. IIRC these were patches perhaps 12 inches square, sheet of rubber type, a number of steel rods and a wire mesh. Never saw one opened or practiced. I think in the event the aircraft sustained battle damage I was supposed to find the leak and place the repair panel over it. As almost every skin area was covered with fuse panels or inaccessible behind equipment I don't think there was much chance of them working.
To be honest I have not the vaguest memory of them. Probably a fire as somewhere too.
What I do remember was the leak patches stowed on the back of the rear crew seats before they were changed for swivel seats. IIRC these were patches perhaps 12 inches square, sheet of rubber type, a number of steel rods and a wire mesh. Never saw one opened or practiced. I think in the event the aircraft sustained battle damage I was supposed to find the leak and place the repair panel over it. As almost every skin area was covered with fuse panels or inaccessible behind equipment I don't think there was much chance of them working.
