Can anybody explain to me the self destruct mechanism installed in the I.F.F. box, in a Spitfire.
How much explosive was used and how much collateral damage was inflicted?
Was there a timer delay?
…this is a picture of destruct buttons, (maybe off American A/C) which had to be depressed simultaneously.
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By: Creaking Door - 4th November 2014 at 23:16
Didn’t the P-40 recently found in the Libyan / Egyptian desert have damage caused by its own demolition charge?
By: Arabella-Cox - 4th November 2014 at 22:29
The story of Spitfire N3277, 234 Squadron, 15 August 1940, was covered in ‘Britain at War’ magazine some while ago.
The damage was actually caused by either a 20mm cannon shell fired by a Me 109 of JG 53, or else by a 20mm ack-ack battery which is known to have fired at the Spitfire as Plt Off Hardy brought it into land on the Cherbourg Peninsula.
I believe I am correct in saying that destruct equipment would not have been carried at this time.
The thread here http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?128809-Battle-of-Britain-Images&p=2114908#post2114908 and #79 refers in detail.
By: snafu - 4th November 2014 at 21:51
N3277 (the 1/72 Airfix Spitfire 1a of many moons ago) with its detonator…detonated.
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It was covered on here, with lots of pictures, in Feb…
http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?128809-Battle-of-Britain-Images&p=2114908#post2114908
By: Arabella-Cox - 4th November 2014 at 21:42
Horsa gliders also had a modification to fit a destructor but whether it was only for use when a Gee/Rebecca unit or AMES radar was carried I don’t know. Either way I imagine it was enough to blow the thing apart or at least set it well ablaze.
By: austernj673 - 4th November 2014 at 20:26
Detonators were fitted in sensitive equipment similar in appearance to a posh metal pen lid filled with explosive that would shatter and destroy the equipment without causing extensive damage to the rest of the aircraft.
By: oldgit158 - 4th November 2014 at 15:35
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Pleased to attach a photo of the destruct button and switch in a Spitfire MkVb, one has to switch the toggle switch on, then lift the flap marked “DANGER” then depress both the push buttons at the same time.Hope this answers part of your question.
Regards
Jason
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November 4, 2014 at 2:53 pm