Recent content by HP52

Thanks Bart, I will start working on the MZ715 article for the next Bomber Command in Australia Newsletter. One thing I am trying to clear up is whether the crash was caused by enemy action or a collision. My artist friend is a realist and lives near the crash scene.

Must admit to being con-ned on the Norden sight hairs, myself and did an article on Mary Babnic who had hair down to her knees shorn off to provide strands for Norden cross-hairs. Was a good story too - she gave enough hair so that Norden cancelled their requirement for more.

Bart, I have been given rights to use a painting of the action whereMZ715 was lost - 2 aircraft - 14 crew - 1 survivor. Will write up the story for Bomber Command in Australia Newsletter and come back to you

I can say that the French Aero Navale Lancs had Rose Turrets - Just Jane at east Kirkby is one and the Motat Museum has another. Gee Lancs look big but inside they seem tiny, just like the Shackleton

From my knowledge they generally settled into a fixed position though they were cross trained and no reason not to swap except that it could confuse others as to where the voice was coming from!

Was that particular Halibag Don Bennet's

I first came across BMEP in relation to a not well advertised "sort of crash". It was in a Constellation fully fuelled, with reserves to make a diversion from perth to Forrest West Australia from Mauritius. On take-off the FE saw one BMEP (torque meter) needle flicker and the pilot aborted...

My Dad would have met W4054 in Vaenga - Russia in early Sept 1942. I suspect his team would have been called in to at least pre- flight it for the return to UK. His team would have no specific knowledge/training on a new/secret type. They did have a PRU Spitfire operating on their field...

That was on Lancaster bombers.

I have never seen one but I believe they had a similar device to this for bore sighting quad and twin turret mounted guns. The Old Man said the Armourers mate, stood outside and pulled the lower barrels down onto his shoulders to steady them. On this day the Armourer flicked of the safety catch...

I believe the Argus was laid down as a battleship (1918) but was converted to a Carrier. It went with PQ18 to fly Hurricanes off at max range to Murmansk (Vaenga/Severomorsk). It was the only carrier with lifts big enough to handle a ready to fly Hurricane, though one damaged its U/C on the...

When 455 "Sqn Hampdens were called on to bomb the German fleet in the "Channel Dash", they were forced to bomb from low level, due weather and their bombs did not have the height to gain velocity and the bombs were reported as "bouncing off.

Those airspeeds seem remarkable slow - What were they used in (Glider?)

On the Rose Turrets, I think that all the AeroNaval Lancasters recovered from French Polynesia had Rose turrets (One is in MOTAT - NZ) and one in Britain at East Kirkby