Identify the hoist

Nope, not Hunter gun pack. The hoists used on the Hunters wasn’t specific to that application anyway, they were standard RAF Type C bomb hoists of which this isn’t one. It does look vaguely similar though.

A spigot (just a large ‘lug’ with a protective plate) was screwed into a hole one each side of the Hunter fuselage above the gunpack and one hoist was hooked on each. The hook required for that would be in a similar position to the fitting in the second photo but it is literally a ‘hook’ and certainly not the device visible here. A third hoist was hooked onto a fitting built in to the aircraft at the front centre of the gunpack. The end of the wire rope from each side hoist was then hooked onto a strap which passed under the gun pack to support it. The cable from the front hoist hooked directly onto the front of the gun pack. The pack was then unlocked and all three hoists were wound down together to lower the pack out of the aircraft.

In order to attach the wire rope to the gun pack (and the support strap) it needed to be terminated with a hook so again that doesn’t match what we have here which is some sort of ball fitting.

I have one of these Type C hoists in my shed, if I can get at it easily I’ll photograph it for comparison.

My guess is that this is not aircraft or application specific but rather a general purpose bomb hoist equivalent to the Type C used by the RAF.

I thought Hunter gun pack straight away….USAF bit is confusing though, however, I have a lump of Canberra radio that is stamped USAF!

Good Lord, so it does……..its been a long day!!

Well, we can see it’s definitely post 1947, simply because it says “US Air Force” on it.

The ball end is similar to the type used by the RAF hoists. They had a split collet which fitted the ball ( swaged end fitting ) and was held by a screw in collar to the adaptor in use for a given job. This adaptor could be a small or large clevise, a screw in lifting lug etc.

There is a pic of a similar (but I ain’t saying the same!) type of bomb hoist being used inside a Lanc in ‘Lancaster at War 5’. Havn’t got it with me at the mo and I do not want to raise you hopes…..but….

Was it on the ally sheet cees or on a casting?

Elliott,

On the sheetmetal cover only and the stamps were all over the place

Cheers

Cees

Possibly used on a Voodoo?

Very similar to Hunter gunpack – perhaps similar era US Jet?

Maybe the pix are upside down…? – Nermal

Was it on the ally sheet cees or on a casting?

Indeed, when we found the complete flapmechanism from Lancaster DV286 we found the name ALCOA stencilled on the inside of the cover.

Cheers

Cees

Not really relevant since the dataplate clearly says US but Alcoa have had UK production facilities for many years.

Indeed, when we found the complete flapmechanism from Lancaster DV286 we found the name ALCOA stencilled on the inside of the cover.

Cheers

Cees

Looks like it’s 1960s and not aircraft type specific.

I was rather hoping for B17 🙁

Moggy

Good point old git

Not really relevant since the dataplate clearly says US but Alcoa have had UK production facilities for many years.

Google it!

http://www.ordnance.org/bombhois.htm

Not really relevant since the dataplate clearly says US but Alcoa have had UK production facilities for many years.

Was just going to point out that ALCOA stands for Aluminium Corporation of America so it’s not British (unless it’s some odd lend-lease thingy).

Finally here’s the dataplate

Finally here’s the dataplate

Moggy,

It doesn’t look to be wartime but if it is, 52 is the prefix for the HP Hampden.

My first impression though was Hawker Hunter.

Just a guess

Cheers

Cees

Cast into the cable housing is “ALCOA” and a registered trade mark symbol

and “MFD BY R & C MACH CO”

The numbers “10517”

and

“52A226F4”