"Bombs gone"
 

Anybody got any more adventurous recollections of what was said when they released ordnance? In exercise or for real? I'm thinking along the lines of "Green leader" in the Rhodesian airforce. Would that be allowed now?

Bombs gone
 

Over Afghan. Commanche 44 I need a 20mm strafe on Grid .............. Friendlies are at ........... Call ready copy Cas brief.

Send it.
In from the east heading 275
Commanche 44 this is ........... Your cleared Hot.


Commanche 44 that was DH good work target destroyed

Well words to that effect.

With 104 views and one reply, does that mean that everyone else is as confused as I am about what the first post means? :bored:

Or I'm probably just being a bit thick.

("confused of out west")

Well, on those (admittedly rare) occasions when I realised (just after release) I'd screwed up my offsets, or done something else wrong I said a number of things ... but they're unprintable.:mad:

'Bomb gone' worked pretty well most of the time.

Acebrave- Just to clarify - it was not a post to enable "bigupmanship" or even "waltyism".
I have recently listened to the "green leader" recordings and just wondered whether that would be allowed nowadays.
I have been a civvy for 4 years now, I was privvy to AWWC nets etc but never to whatever comms bombers use when "doing stuff".

Green leader:
YouTube - 'Green Leader' Raid on Rebel Camps in Zambia

Ah thank you x213a hadn't heard of that before. Those were the days!

There were a couple of good calls from the Buccs in GW1. One here they bombed a Cub as it was taxying. The other when they bombed a bridge with a truck driving straight in to the explosion.

There was also the one when a Valiant dropped a Blue Danube - all 10000lbs of it. The initial call was that it had not got. Some seconds later the bomb appeared followed by "J***** C****** its coming back."

Wasn't there an incident on one of the Wash Weapons Ranges, a, many, few years ago, where "Bombs Gone" was called. Only the end result wasn't exactly as planned or predicted. I seem to recall the demolition of the outside toilets of a certain Public House as opposed to the demolition of multiple particles of Wash mud.

Age, memory and Red Wine may play a part in my recollection. I think a Vulcan was involved.

Any takers?

Canberra, 12(B) Sqn, RAF Binbrook, Theddlethorpe and the Prussian Queen.

It is all documented, with photographs entitled 'flash in the pan', in 'The Saga of the Shinnies.'

"Three old ladies locked in a lavatory
nobody knew they were there.

"Three old ladies locked in a lavatory
12 sqn knew they were there."

Also happened near Nordhorn Range in the 80s with a Jaguar on night bombing. The perpetrator lives in the same village as me now!

Quite a few years ago - late 60's/very early 70s, I think.

As I heard it, the aircraft was a Canberra doing a 'toss' attack. I was told that he mis-identified the lead-in lights (saw two sets of street lights which made a 'T') pulled up early and released a 100lb pb.

The bomb apparently went through the roof of the pub's crapper and straight down the horn.

I was told that the landlord wasn't too upset ... he got his toilet re-built and trade improved dramatically (visiting aircrew.)

There were a couple of other 'notable incidents', AFAIR. In one, a 1000lb bomb ended up in a farmer's field on the Isle of Man. (It didn't go off and apparently the fusing wasn't selected.) The farmer called Jurby range and asked them to collect their property.

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.

...and then there was the Harrier attack on a caravan crossing the River Wye at Hay on Wye. A 28lb PB can significantly alter the appearance of a standard caravan.

The incident was thereafter referred to as the attack on the "Bridge over the River Wye" :}

I think the pilot's words on release were something along the lines of "Ohhhh F**k"

3 2 1 Rifle

"Stores, xx Seconds" is normally all my limited capacity will allow me!

Bombs Gone.......
 

CXX Shacklebomber, Moray Firth radar buoy, mid 60's. Running in at 500 feet with our Canadian Exchange nav in the bomb aimers slot.
"Left left, steady, right, steady, back a bit, bombs gone F*** it - missed!"
We had to climb to 1,000 feet (yes, I know, it took a while) engage the autopilot and recover from all the laughter.

http://www.augk18.dsl.pipex.com/Smileys/shipcaptain.gif

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.

Up for a jolly on an 8 Sqn Shack in 78/79. First part of the flight was a SAR exercise dropping flares to do a simulated stores drop. Using a buoy off Montrose as the target, the first flare is released, and it's a DH. The pilot comes up on the comms "If that was a submarine that would have made his eyes water."

Scientists!
 

Exercise MISTICO - Aberporth Range October 1974
 

Buccaneer In-Service Firings of TV MARTEL

TV Martel was delivered from a LL launch at a range of circa 10nm from the target. After launch the mx climbed to 2000ft and flew autonomously towards the designated position until the target hoved into view on the nav's TV screen. At that point and on selection of 'Terminal Phase' the mx entered a pre-programmed 8 degree dive that the navigator controlled by use of a joystick into the target.

On the very last launch of Mistico 74, F4s from Leuchars had been cleared as part of the trial to try and intercept the mx in flight by using their CW radar; their was 8/8ths cover at about 2500ft and the F4s were above it. All went well with the mx launch until the 12 Sqn nav (actually an Obs on RAF Exchange) selected Terminal Phase and the mx, rather than entering its 8 degree dive decided to climb vertically, through the cloud and towards oblivion. The mild expletive from the Bucc Obs was nothing compared to the reaction of the 2 F4 crews who saw their target pass between them at a range of about 200ft past the port wing of one of them:} - a quick return to LUK and a change of trousers was required. Unfortunately, their words are not available for print!

Foldie:D

One of 37Sqn Shacks last jobs before departing Aden in 1967 was to get rid of a lot of 1000 pounders that had been gathering dust in the Khormaksar bomb dump for years. As G'crew we were not actually involved in the dumping process but there were reports of some bombs exploding on the way down, long before hitting the water. Anyone out there who took part care to report any comments made by 37 crewmembers who did this?

No about 1962 as the Sqn formed with Vulcans in 1963 It was a 25lb PB. The misident was of the car park lights and the target lights. The target lights were arranged in a circle and flashed.

The car park lights were arranged in a circle and low scudding cloud made them appear to flash with predictable results.

USAF F15 achieved a direct hit on the target he was aiming at albeit the bomb was 10 feet below target centre. The Quadrant operator just above was distinctly unimpressed.

A few years later, same Quadrant Hut, same Quad Op. This time it was a GR4 but his bomb landed 30 feet from the Quad. Joe Public only 200 yards away thought nothing of this.

X213aWould what be allowed now?:confused:

There were more than ONE DH on a quadrant hut over the years in Shoalwater bay, Cordelia Rock and Evans Head by the almighty 'PIG'. Bummer of a time in the following days for the unlucky crews however (not me touch wood!). The long flight back in those instances lacked the normal banter following some 'Live' Action.


Samurez Reef however - No Range Hut and No Cameras......

1964, Victor Mk 1, 40000 feet at night, dropped 1 x 1000lb HE(S) on China Rock.

"Heard but not seen"

Then flew to Song Song. Same attack, same result.

They had set their offsets the wrong way round TWICE. They were very lucky as a slightly different error could have seen the bomb on the Sultan's Palace!

I have posted about John, my ex father in law. We were chatting about what went on during bombing missions in his Lancaster and I asked him at what point the crew started relaxing. He said '.. as soon as the bloody bombs went - we knew then, that the pressure was off and that all we had to do was wind the engines up and go like mad for home'. I asked him if the words 'bombs away' were ever used and he said they weren't - there was no standard comms. Sometimes, the crew would hear 'Right, thats it - they're gone' or words to that effect, but everyone knew by the huge leap upwards what had happened anyway and usually by the aeroplane banking.

I asked him if there was any banter on the net and he said 'nope, absolutely none.. nothing at all' and I asked him how the captain kept the crew alert or made sure they weren't dozing. He said that if he was ever flying as mid upper would get told to check the flare chute and report back on it! His worse memory of the missions was gazing down on the grey/black/ choppy North Sea, usually as day broke over it. They would fly over it at about 500 feet and to this day, he hates it with a passion.

In the V-force it was a simple call, in training, "Bomb Gone" SINGULAR. When we used West Freugh we were not allowed to say that. Instead it was "Store Away."

Just non-conforming to accepted voice procedures really. As fore Green leader and would that be acceptable now...I am referring to his comments although I think they were mostly on internal comms.

I sense that a few are just aching to revv up the outrage bus over my OP....Why
?

Thanks to all who have replied.:ok:

I assume the OP was referring to this sort of thing?
YouTube - RAF Tornado GR1 Low Level Gulf war
YouTube - RAF Tornado/TIALD Strike
YouTube - Canadian Lancaster Crew Voice Recording
YouTube - WW2 Bomber Command: Lancaster bombing raid (unknown target)

Thank you:ok:

Bombs on Lybia
 

Best I heard of was from one of the F-111 during the Lybian raid. Apparently as the crosshairs centered up and you could see the plane shake as the two bombs seperated, the next thing you heard on the tape was Knock, Knock, M***** Fuc***.

I always tried to stick to the script myself!

"Bombs gone" followed by "F@%k" from the navigator always got your attention.

Bombs.

Or a certain Jaguar dropping 1000lb HE on an island in Scotland.

While the island bore a striking :) similarity to Garvey Island off the north coast the bird watchers on the west coast island did not deserve to be treated thus.

Now that R/T would have been interesting and no Nav to blame either.:}

Shackleton Mk 3 circa 1970 - Preflight Checks

"Pilot from Nav - Check Bomb Bay Jettison Switch"

Pilot (Sqn Cdr) "Roger - Jettison Switch ON"

12 8.5 pound practice bombs
12 Banded Flame Floats
1 ASR

Delivered to Dispersal at a Coastal Command Base!!!

That would be the day the plumbers were seen running without their mugs?

Buttons!!
 

Data-Lynx, I was the Station Duty Officer at Akrotiri when I believe this happened. I had been in the weapons office earlier in the day when the news first 'hit'. that night I received a phonpatch call about the incident. apart from the Weapons Officer that had taken the original call, I was the onlyother officer on the base, out of 450, that would have known what it was all about :)

Sqn Cdrs Golf Clubs once in the Bomb Bay of an F-111 on the arrival 'fam sortie' of Red Flag....you know where this is going..... Crew aware of 'incident' right after 'Pickle Time'. I don't actually think anything was recorded on the cockpit video - there was nothing to say...! . Clubs arrived a few days later having done the scenic tour of the Nellis Range....I recall a very dusty pile of bits.

Not the same as bombs but I had occasion to be at one end of a two-way range in Iraqistan 2006. My words were something along the lines of "S**t, s**t, f***ing s**t (repeat....)".

Dustbin Dustbin