[303rd-Talk] Bomb Duds and Arming Vanes

[betty cofrances]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Van Pelt" <bvp6565 at yahoo.com>
To: "303rd Bomb Group Talk Forum" <303rd-talk at 303rdBG.com>
Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 9:53 AM
Subject: Re: [303rd-Talk] Bomb Duds and Arming Vanes


> Thanks, Bills, for the information - much appreciated!  Bob
>
> bill runnels <billrunnels at yahoo.com> wrote:  Bob,
> If the so called duds were the first to impact the ground in train, 
> chances are there was a lazy bombardier on the crew. The lower slung bombs 
> (first out) required a little effort to pull the cotter keys from the 
> fuses which they probably did not do so the bombs were released in a safe 
> mode. As our ground troops advanced they found unexploded bombs with the 
> cotter keys still in the fuses. I was there during the period in question 
> and we were required to turn in the pins for a count following each 
> mission for this very reason.
>
> Regarding vane revolutions, the 500 and 1,000 lb. bomb tail fuses (M101 & 
> M102) required 675 revolutions during a free fall of 2,000 feet.
>
> Bill Runnels
> Bombardier
>
> Bob Van Pelt wrote:
> I have been corresponding with a German who lives in Weimar, Germany, who 
> is researching the 9 March 1945 mission by the 3rd BD to that town. He 
> said some of the townspeople saw a trail of bomb craters with some of the 
> bombs exploding and some of the bombs being duds. Can anyone tell me why a 
> bomb would be a dud?
>
> And how many revolutions would a typical arming vane need to make before 
> arming the fuse. I know it would depend on the type of fuse, but just in 
> general.
>
> Thanks!
> Bob
>
>
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