In follow up to an ongoing discussion on another forum regarding wind finding, can anyone enlighten me with this piece of equipment. Was it relevent to RAF bombers in the later part of the war or from post war types?
Marked:
WIND FINDING ATTACHMENT
MK 1A
6B/308
FOR
API MK1A
821/45
By: smirky - 1st January 2009 at 12:32
That’s an early one you’ve got then. Can anyone else post their serial numbers?? It would be interesting to get a feel for the total number produced each year.
Regarding the windfinding, the unit has two mechanical counters which count up and down in the N_S and E-W directions. Presumably the API gives a pulse output for every unit of distance travelled in the N, S, E or W direction. If one flys a “closed ground circuit” having pressed the reset lever then the final result should be zero readings in the EW and NS directions. The actual reading is due to the effect of the wind on the API. This error can then be calculated on the circular plotter and subtracted off the dead reckoning position provided by the API.
By: Newforest - 1st January 2009 at 11:57
WJ618 is a Canberra B.2, delivered 20/1/54 and scrapped 15/12/66.
By: bazv - 1st January 2009 at 11:51
821/45 is probably the serial number of that particular item,but I agree that the suffix is probably year of manufacture = 1945
cheers baz
By: ME453 - 1st January 2009 at 11:07
The answer then is in the first post; 821/45 = 1945? I’m the one who initiated the “wind-finding” thread on RAF Commands (as part of a discussion we’ve been having on Lanc-Archive!!!), so I’m pleased, I hope, that we’ve got an answer. Thanks Smirky!
Max
By: smirky - 31st December 2008 at 20:45
just had a look and it is marked
WIND FINDING ATTACHMENT
MK.IB
6B/404
FOR
A.P.I. MK.IA.
2970/51
i.e. 1951
was used on WJ618
By: smirky - 31st December 2008 at 16:46
If you are lucky, it might have the aircraft number written on it in white ink.
Mine came off a Canberra.
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December 31, 2008 at 4:07 pm