Does anyone have any details of the camera and associated equipment installation on the Wellington PRXIIIs used by 69 Squadron in 1944?
Photos suggest some ‘gubbins’ on the rear underside of the fuselage, but not much else is clear.
The starboard side flare tube is obviously used, but would photo flashes be stored in the bomb bay or elsewhere?
By: davidasharp - 13th September 2007 at 17:52
69 Sqdn Wellington XIII bomb bay
Extract from 69 Sqdn ORB August 1944:
A considerable amount of experimental work was carried out in connection with the photographic side of the Squadron’s work. W/C. F.O.S. Dobell took part in the majority of these and supervised the remainder. The first of these experiments was carried out over Stonehenge on August 8th with the object of ascertaining the opinion of A.A. experts as to the vulnerability of Wellington A/C whilst engaged in night photography. Photographs were taken at heights 800’, 1000’, 1200’ and 1400’., using one F61 and one F24 camera. The result of the photography confirmed previous work, which had shown the F61 to give the better picture. Subsequently flares were dropped over Larkhill Range so that the Gunnery experts could decide whether the Wellington was illuminated by its own flares. The experts gave their opinion that the vulnerability of the A/C was not seriously increased by the firing of photo-flash cartridges, as it was already plainly visible at the height at which it was flying.
A later experiment was performed over base using a Wellington A/C with the TAF black and white stripes removed, to observe if the normal camouflage helped to make the A/C less conspicuous at its normal operational height. As a result of this experiment permission was obtained to remove the stripes from all A/C engaged in night reconnaissance.
On August 16th, F/Sgt. Harris and crew, with F/Lt. S.A. Bergon (Electrical Officer) tested a new control setting for the pistol discharger. This setting is connected with the Type 34 Camera Control and permits varying time intervals to be used and allows the pistol discharger to be operated using, two, four or six cartridges instead of always firing six cartridges consecutively as is the usual procedure. The apparatus can be connected to any number of pistol dischargers and may obviate the necessity of reloading whilst in the air, Results of this particular test were not too satisfactory, but it was considered that the A/C flew too low. Further experiments with this apparatus will be carried out shortly.
These experiment have their lighter side. The pistol discharger has caused much comment amongst the “locals”, who have heard its six consecutive “pops” during the nights when local tests have been in progress. One old lady of Harrow was heard to say, in a bus, “yes I’ve noticed it often before. There are six “pops” and then a little later there are six more, and we never get any “doodle-bugs” that night. So 69 Squadron charms away the doodle-bugs.
Extract from 69 Sqdn ORB Sep 1944:
..light flak hitting the bomb-bay, caused the flares to ignite, and, although these were jettisoned the whole aircraft was so much alight that the pilot ordered the crew to abandon aircraft.
2-Dec-44, P/O Hayward: Duty partially carried out. Fire suspected in bomb-bay & flares jettisoned.
Extract from 69 Sqdn ORB Jan 1945 when dropping of bombs was first permitted (on Germany only):
(a) 6 x 250 lbs G.P. Mk IV H.E. bombs and 12 bundles of 4.5 inch Recce flares on nights other than during full moon periods and (b) 18 x 250 G.P. Mk IV H.E. bombs on full moon periods.
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May 19, 2006 at 11:50 am