Unusual B-17 installation: Any ideas?

RAMC181 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 17, 2009 6:35 pm

I found this in the NARA files:

Unusual fitting in a B-17 radio compartment...... anyone have any further info on it?

The original caption says it's a "rocket launcher", at the 2900th CCRC which was at RAF Bovingdon, England, at the time the photo was taken (November 1943).
However, VIII Bomber Command HQ's Technical Development Section was established at Bovingdon at the same time, so I wonder if this was something they came up with.

All the best,
Paul

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Fri Apr 17, 2009 9:43 pm

I believe the Luftwaffe experimented with vertical rocket launchers as bomber killers..maybe this is something similar?

SN

Second Air Force · **Posted:** Fri Apr 17, 2009 11:40 pm

There was an experiment with using rocket/bazooka tubes to break up fighter formations, but the tubes were mounted on the aft fuselage of a Liberator and set to fire aft. I've never seen this set-up--I hope someone can find information on it.

Scott

RAMC181 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 18, 2009 6:28 am

I've had a closer look at the photo.
There seem to be four tubes in all, the visible two have "handles" halfway up with what appear to be press-buttons on the upper ends.

All the best,
PB

lestweforget · **Posted:** Sat Apr 18, 2009 6:36 am

I know the Luftwaffe sometimes dropped a kind of parachute cable arramgement to try to snare fighters. Just an idea, have not seen it before , hope someone can tell us!!!

JDK · **Posted:** Sat Apr 18, 2009 7:11 am

lestweforget wrote:

I know the Luftwaffe sometimes dropped a kind of parachute cable arramgement to try to snare fighters. Just an idea, have not seen it before , hope someone can tell us!!!

Sounds like PaC - Parachute and cable which was a British shipboard anti-bomber measure.

lestweforget · **Posted:** Sat Apr 18, 2009 8:12 am

They used PAC at airfields too, most famously used in action during the raid by 9 Do.17's on Kenley airfield on August 19th 1940 during the Battle of Britain. Rockets fired cables up to 600ft, and they then descended by parachute. I cant recall if any were damaged or brought down due to this, but of the 9 Dorniers, onlt one landed back at its base. I am sure I have read an account of a bomber being brought down, or at least helped down, in this way.
In his book First Light, Geoffrey Wellum describes attacking a bomber that is dropping parachute cables (I dont have it to hand and so cant check the details.)

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Unusual B-17 installation: Any ideas?

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