I have been translating an old interview to text (with Wg Comm Dereck ‘Bill’ Kain). In it he mentioned that the Fairey Hendon night bomber apparently used to drop out and dangle long flex cables with lights on the end, acting as a bombing aid I guess. He reckoned they’d be 200 feet long.
He was flying in a Hawker Fury in the No. 73 Squadron aerobatic display team for Empire Air Day (does anyone have a date for this in 1937? I think he’s talking about Newmarket as the venue).
The Hendon bombers had performed before him and had extended their flexes in the display. They obviously left them dangling on landing as when Bill took off one caught on his tailwheel and ripped off the Hendon, and unbeknown to him this 200 foot cable was trailing behind him, and he didn’t know why every time he tried to do the aerobatic routine, looping over his leader, etc., the other pilots were dashing out of his way! he only realised on landiong when he had to coil it up and take it back to the hangar.
What I’m curious about the flex cable with a light on the end – does anyone have/know of where to find on the net photos of these flex cables? How effective were they as night bombing visual aids? They must have been only for very low level bombing I guess.
Any details on that Empire Air Day would be great too please. I’ve had a google and it almost seems like every major RAF Station held a dislay for Empire Air Day in May 1937 – is that right? If so, we’re talking here about Newmarket as that’s where No. 73 Squadron was based at the time.
By: Dave Homewood - 10th March 2007 at 01:29
Thanks guys, I thought it sounded a bit odd too. I have wondered if it is an aerial but would that have been very visible in terms of the other Fury pilots noticing it on his plane and avoiding it? I thought they were quite thin.
I’m also wondering, as it was an air dispaly, if it were something rigged up specifically for the public display? Maybe to simular bombs being dropped they dropped a cable with a light on?
Who knows.
Steve, if you could ask your Hendon crew friend what he thinks I’d be very grateful, thanks. Especially regarding how thick the cable was and how visible.
For further discussion on this you can see my parrallel post at PlaneTalk.
http://forum.planetalk.net/viewtopic.php?t=3509
Thanks again guys.
By: 25deg south - 9th March 2007 at 15:21
Trailing Aerials were occasionally used as a low flying aid over calm water at night by the R.A.F. (e.g. in the Mediterranean by types such as the Maryland) . The splashing of the aerial in the water was visible behind the aircraft and thus provided a warning of proximity to the surface.
By: Steve Bond - 9th March 2007 at 15:04
If it is of any use, I am currently in contact with a Hendon wireless operator who tells similar tales with regards to the trailing aerial. I am sure that is what you are talking about.
By: pogno - 9th March 2007 at 09:48
I cannot see how a cable would have any use as a bombing aid, by the time it had trailed behing the aircraft it would only be a 100′ or so lower than the aircraft. A trailing aerial seems the likely suggestion, these had a lead weight on the end and sometimes crews did forget to wind them in before landing.
By: Aeronut - 9th March 2007 at 08:39
There isn’t some confusion with the trailing radio aerial here is there?
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March 9, 2007 at 3:27 am