Warbird Information Exchange

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on this site are the responsibility of the poster and do not reflect the views of the management.
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 3:31 pm

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Classic Wings Magazine WWII Naval Aviation Research Pacific Luftwaffe Resource Center
When Hollywood Ruled The Skies - Volumes 1 through 4 by Bruce Oriss


Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 10 posts ] 
Author Message
PostPosted: Wed Jan 26, 2022 11:12 am 
Offline
1000+ Posts!
1000+ Posts!

Joined: Sun Sep 17, 2006 10:31 pm
Posts: 1650
I reviewed a collection of photographs yesterday from the estate of an RAF Flt Lt who flew at Boscombe Down in 1944/45. This image was part of the stack.

The aircraft type, and probably the date, appears to be in error, but the place is confirmed by the pilot's son. Anybody know more about those units under the wing?

Image

I don't think he was supposed to bring it home.

Image


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Jan 26, 2022 11:33 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Fri Apr 30, 2004 4:11 am
Posts: 210
Location: COMFORTABLY NUMB
Absolutely no idea but could they be some kind of air dispersal system!

The rear of the tank, which is flattened looks like it may provide a wider area of dispersal, of whatever is contained within the tank, rather than in a stream, if that makes sense :)

_________________
...and pray that there's intelligent life somewhere up in Space cos there's bugger all down here on Earth!


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Jan 26, 2022 12:46 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 17, 2006 6:59 pm
Posts: 817
Location: Redmond,Oregon
The underwing tanks appear to be M10 smoke tanks used to create smokescreens.

ImageA6D92341-F2AE-4767-9758-7F75CB5CC7AC by tanker622001, on Flickr

This site has some information on the M10 smoke tanks used in USAAF service. They were also used by the US Navy and RAF.

https://napoleon130.tripod.com/id918.html


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Jan 26, 2022 10:32 pm 
Offline
1000+ Posts!
1000+ Posts!

Joined: Sun Sep 17, 2006 10:31 pm
Posts: 1650
That's great, thanks.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Jan 27, 2022 11:31 am 
Offline

Joined: Wed Jan 30, 2008 4:00 pm
Posts: 141
Location: Salisbury Plain England
Chemical smoke curtain. Well that was one use for them but they were also capable of dispensing other more nasty liquids in a chemical fog.
Many such trials at the A&AEE were conducted jointly with the neighbouring Chemical Defence Establishment at Porton Down where even today poison gas shells left over from both World Wars are disposed of.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Jan 27, 2022 5:46 pm 
Offline
Long Time Member
Long Time Member

Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm
Posts: 7540
Holy Smoke!

Image
A P-47M Thunderbolt (serial number 44-21228) of the 62nd Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group in flight, trailing smoke from a generator.

Image
56th Ftr Grp, 62nd Sqdn apt. Bob Winters at the stick testing smoke-dispensing wing tanks.

_________________
[Thread title is ridiculous btw]


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Jan 28, 2022 6:34 pm 
Offline
1000+ Posts!
1000+ Posts!

Joined: Sun Sep 17, 2006 10:31 pm
Posts: 1650
You guys can find out everything...


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Jan 28, 2022 6:39 pm 
Offline
2000+ Post Club
2000+ Post Club
User avatar

Joined: Wed May 30, 2007 3:57 pm
Posts: 2265
Location: Minnesota
When Fagen Fighters' P-51D Twilight Tear debuted at Oshkosh in 2011, it sported a set of M10 smoke tanks. In the P-51, these were activated by using the two toggle switches in the cockpit labeled "Chem. Tanks".

Photo by Al Sauer:

Image


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Jan 28, 2022 9:17 pm 
Offline

Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 5:42 am
Posts: 22
Have you contacted the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection? http://www.boscombedownaviationcollection.co.uk/

It's located on the Old Sarum airfield. https://www.oldsarumairfield.co.uk/

_________________
Mike

"He's crazy Lew, he builds toy airplanes!"
- Frank Towns, "Flight of the Phoenix (the good one)


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Jan 29, 2022 11:01 am 
Offline
1000+ Posts!
1000+ Posts!

Joined: Sun Sep 17, 2006 10:31 pm
Posts: 1650
Not me, my role here was just to bring two parties together with the aim of preserving the mementos of an RAF life. But thanks, I'll send along the link.

Dave


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 10 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot], mike furline and 68 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group