Bomb Stores - Early war bomb handling

[PETERTHEEATER]

This short film from the Pathe archives shows 4, 8 and 12 thousand pound bombs being handled and transported. I point it out because it shows very well the configuration of the pre-war 3054/36 bomb stores with overhead gantry systems and high earth traversing with camouflage netting.

Surprising that such large bombs were stored in this type of store which was manpower intensive when handling.

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=23323

[Carnaby]

Surprising that such large bombs were stored in this type of store which was manpower intensive when handling.
Agree - that first 4,000 lb bomb is also a peculiar shape with a conical nose and slight taper on the tail.

Interesting was, '... the 12,000 lb bomb is never dropped if the crew are in any doubt about identifying the target'.

Also, 'the 12,000 lb bomb ... the most remarkable engineering feat of the war' Hmm.

What are the aircraft?

Graham

[Ossington_2008]

First aircraft seen is the Merlin Wellington Mk II.
It is possible that the "DX" code painted on the side of the 12,000lb trolley indicates ownership by 57 Sqn. During Mar 44 (the film date) it was flying Lancs from East Kirkby. At the time, EK was shared with 630 Sqn, coded "LE," hence the need to differentiate which side of the airfield GSE belonged to.

[PETERTHEEATER]

!944? Shows how observant I am:) I took it to be around 1940-1941 what with Wellingtons, early Marks of 4000 pounder and the camo nets.

One of the trolleys has KC marked on it, another DX so to which airfield(s) to you attribute the film? Clearly a pre-war Expansion or late Expansion due to the Bomb Store pattern.

[Ossington_2008]

I,like you, take this film to be a compilation of dates & places. The Mar 44 ref is of the film release date, taken from the credits.
"KC" was allocated to 617 soon after the dams raid (from "AJ") so maybe some of it is Scampton?

[PETERTHEEATER]

Thanks Ossie, Scampton always seemed to be an RAF showplace, it also had a pre-war Bomb Store. Does anyone know the exact location (it's long gone now) but I figured it to be here:

http://wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepath.htm?lat=53.308916315092695&lon=-0.5436086654663086&gz=17&oz=7&gt=1

Not to be confused with the later Bomb Store in the north west of which there are visible remains.

[ted angus]

Have a look at Pathe film ID 1937;10 lots more of the Wellington being armed

TED

[PNK]

Thanks Ossie, Scampton always seemed to be an RAF showplace, it also had a pre-war Bomb Store. Does anyone know the exact location (it's long gone now) but I figured it to be here

That is correct. Layout below

3443

[PETERTHEEATER]

Thanks Peter, that's another 'itch' scratched!

[Ossington_2008]

Thanks from me too, I thought that loop to the NW near Brattleby was the original.

[PETERTHEEATER]

Thanks from me too, I thought that loop to the NW near Brattleby was the original.

No, that's the later additional bomb store.

[PNK]

I believe the later bomb store was added when the runways were laid (late 1943??)

[Alec Beanse]

That first bomb, the oddly shaped one, could it have been a parachute mine. I've tried to find out but without any success, anyone have any idea?

[P Bellamy]

It looks to be a 4000lb HC MkI, but with a different tail to the usual cylindrical Tail No.24 MkI, and no side fuze pockets for some reason.

All the best,
PB

[WELLINGTON75]

Which airfield?

Re post 7, this film shows, in the background, a Wellington coded OJ, for which 149 squadron at Mildenhall fits. Also one of the vehicles (the crane?) has a code ML3 or ML31 on it's front offside wheel cover. I assume this is a local base MT pool reference.

hth

Dave Molyneux

[PETERTHEEATER]

That first bomb, the oddly shaped one, could it have been a parachute mine. I've tried to find out but without any success, anyone have any idea?

Yes, as Paul says it's one of these:

http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l366/PRACHUAP/4000poundHCMk1.jpg

[Alec Beanse]

Thanks for the replies and the drawing guys, much appreciated. For some reason I had it in my mind that they were flat nosed, you live and learn. Tail unit still looks unusual though with that taper.

[PETERTHEEATER]

You are not completely wrong Alex. The Mark 1 had a distinctive conical nose with just one central fuze pocket; later Marks had a slightly convex nose with three fuze pockets.