[ARC5] Radio release of bombs

[Taigh Ramey]

You are correct, I was asking about an AAF system that enabled the lead
bombardier to release all of the bombs in a squadron. There is a reference
to it from records of the 57th bomb wing operating B-25J's that were using
the system. Here is the initial question posed by a gentleman in Italy:

I'm consulting some records about a B-25s raid in the last days of war.
In the list of planes is written that a box of B-25s carried 
Radio Release -     500 GP Bombs (different fusing)
in the other box is indicated:
Manual Release

Here is a response confirming the use of the system:

Hi Giuseppe, I remember using radio release on some missions during April
'45. Just prior to the mission I would plug in a wire into a small box which
would release the bombs at the target by a radio signal transmitted from the
lead plane at bomb drop. Manual release was by a toggle switch punched by
bombardiers in the formation other than the lead bombardier after they saw
bombs come out of the lead ship. The bomb pattern on the ground would be
different in radio release and in manual release. In manual release the
bombs from other ships in the formation would always hit further forward of
the bombs from the lead ship due to the delay caused by a visual manual
release delay. In other words by waiting to release manually all the
formations planes other than the lead plane would have gone past the point
of release from the lead plane making the bombs fall forward of the lead
plane. On the other hand radio release always caused a more compact pattern
since a radio impulse is always quicker that than a visual manual release.
Hope this helps. Charles Wagamon 485th, 340th, B/N

Another observation:

As far as I know, the concept of radio-release was created and developed in
the field by personnel of the 340th BG in 1944.  I asked one bombardier from
the 321st BG about it and he had never even heard of the technique so I
don't know if the other groups were using radio release.  Does anyone know?
Does anyone know where the antennas were located for sending and receiving
the radio signals?  I have observed what look like small antenna posts on
the glass windows of the bombardier's compartment in some aircraft photos
and I wonder if perhaps these had anything to do with radio-release.  

I think the antennas he is referring to were the outside air temperature
gages that were mounted through the Plexiglas nose for the bombardier.

I am fascinated by this system and its use thus the inquiry. Please excuse
my ignorance but where would I find the milsurplus list?

Thanks,
Taigh
 
Taigh Ramey
Proprietor, Vintage Aircraft
7432 C.E.Dixon Street
Stockton, California 95206
(209) 982-0273
www.twinbeech.com
KEEP 'EM FLYING...FOR HISTORY!
 

-----Original Message-----
From: arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On
Behalf Of WA5CAB at cs.com
Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2005 3:32 PM
To: ARC5 at mailman.qth.net
Cc: alihernlem at hotmail.com; gewhite at crosslink.net; taigh at twinbeech.com
Subject: Re: [ARC5] Radio release of bombs

Gordon, Taigh, et al,

Yes, Knickbein was the Luftwaffe beam guidance system.  Another place where 
it was mentioned was by Churchill under something like "Battle of the
Beams".  
But I think what Taigh is referring to is an AAF system that allowed the
lead 
bombadier to salvo the bomb loads of all aircraft in a squadron.  It used
some 
of the same transmitters and receivers as some of the glide bomb control 
systems.

However, I had the impression that it was practical for/used by the Heavy 
Bombardment Squadrons.  I don't think it would be useful in the typical
medium 
bomber role.  I saw it mentioned in something around here recently during a 
thread on glide bomb controllers.  If I can find it again, I'll post it.

And the subject would no doubt be more appropriate over on the general 
Milsurplus list, which is where the other thread ran.  Not that anyone here
is 
likely to complain.  :-)

In a message dated 4/19/2005 5:02:06 PM Central Daylight Time, 
gewhite at crosslink.net writes: 
> wasn't that the Knickbein System, that the Brits used to  fox so the 
> Germans dropped their bombs somewhere else?

Robert Downs - Houston
<http://www.wa5cab.com> (Web Store)
MVPA 9480
<wa5cab at cs.com> (Primary email)
<wa5cab at houston.rr.com> (Backup email)
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