Hi All,
Maybe it is being this side of the pond, but I am increasingly growing an unhealthy interest in A-20s,Bostons,Havocs, etc.
And found the following via the the link in the thread about a lancaster belly gunner log….
quote…
There are lots of quotations from secondary sources (various authors) including …
Bill Gunston (Night Fighters – A Development and Combat History) and Martin Middlebrook (BCWD and The Nuremberg Raid)…………
……… tested in several RAF aircraft between the wars and experimented with at great length with RAF nightfighters – mainly Havocs – as recently as 1941. I believe that none of the upward firing Havocs carried cannon, a typical armament being six oblique Browning .303s.”
Does anyone know anymore about these oblique installations in the RAF WW2 aircraft, serials of aircraft used for trials, or any useful web links or books , or know if any files exist at the NA-PRO.
Curiosity again bites me.
Cheers
Jerry
By: 25deg south - 13th May 2010 at 08:03
There were also the experiments with upwards firing rockets (IIRC) from the “Sunflower” Hurricane , of which little seems to have been be published.
By: brewerjerry - 13th May 2010 at 02:11
Hey
Awesome Guys..:D
Sam
many thanks for the link to the photo, I am on that board but there is so much info on that site I miss stuff.
Air Ministry
My hero..If you find time to use a digital camera it would be great, let me know what your interests are just incase i have something I can return for the favour.( I sadly miss the NA/PRO, likewise the aerojumbles)
Merlin Pete,
Ace…… BD126 was with the GRU at Exeter in May 41, so this may be the full serial, for Havoc 126.
This board is great, so much knowledge.
Cheers
Jerry
By: MerlinPete - 12th May 2010 at 22:53
The Operations Record Book from the Fighter Interception Unit shows that what they referred to as the “Six Shooter Havoc” was on test during August and September 1941 at Ford.
They record the aircraft as “Havoc 126” and commented that there were frequent R/T failures due to damage caused during installation of the six-gun turret.
At this time they were also testing a “Naval night spy glass”. I`m not sure what that refers to?
Pete
By: Arabella-Cox - 12th May 2010 at 21:25
Found this in the catalogue of the National Archives:-
Piece details AVIA 15/873
AVIA 15 Ministry of Aircraft Production and predecessor and successors: Registered Files
ARMS AND ARMAMENT: Ordnance (Code 9/5): Installation Trials of 6 upward firing guns in Havoc night fighter
Covering dates 1940-1942
I’m off back down to Kew soon. Speak to me nicely and I might look it up for you…
By: BSG-75 - 12th May 2010 at 20:50
Not quite oblique but the Gloster F9/37 Reaper carried 5 20mm cannon, 2 below, 3 above the cockpit at about a 25 degree angle.
By: sam - 12th May 2010 at 20:15
I distinctly remember making a model of this years ago and painting on some dots to represent upward firing machine guns.
Not quite as I remember it but a bit of googling produces these photos of a Havoc II with 6 upward firing machine guns – scroll down about a third of the page:
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May 12, 2010 at 6:35 am