I am researching and hopefully producing an article on the modifications made on Malta to allow Spitfires to carry bombs, in 1942.
I wonder does anyone have any images or diagrams of the Malta modification?
The Malta modification was different to the method later adopted by the wider RAF May 1944 on wards, that used the fittings for external tanks and or bomb carriers under the wings. From what Sir Keith Park, wrote to the Air Ministry in a letter it appears that that the inboard cannon was removed and the space freed up used to attach a bomb. The mechanism was such that once the bomb was released all that was left was a small one inch stud, that meant the Spitfire could then dog fight without diminished performance. From the outside the bomb was attached to the stud and supported by four stabilizing bars that were drilled into the bomb casing.
1. I have read that a cut down universal bomb carrier was mounted in the cannon space, is this true, would it fit/work? Does it correlate with the small one inch stub that Park mentions in his letter?
2. I have also seen it written that the bombs were released by pulling a cable that pulled a split pin, that held the bomb in place. This sounds unlikely, but could this be true? I presume that the bombs would also need to be electrically armed?
3. In the RAF fitters (my grandfather) notes I have from Malta, there are numerous mentions of fitting the “Local Bomb mod” to Spitfire VCs. There is also a section of notes that could well be describe some aspects of the modification. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6jc5S3qLM_gNHZ0UGN5b0R5ak0/view?usp=sharing Scroll down to page 2 and 3.
I attempt to translate as follows:
“Sequence of operation of mod
Remove aileron SBD
Remove inner and outer flaps SBD
First lower flap and joggle retaining? slug? of return jack.
Remove 1/4 bolt and splitriser? and Hinge? r? of aileron. Remove
B ? ? flap.
Drill 5/8 3″ rear of second electrical ? f/u. Remove seat
Pass cable through f/u. through rear of Electrical cable.
Drill holes 1/2″ 9″ from f/u Rear and clear Gun heater pipes at root end of M/P
Pass cable through lightening holes. drill holes through solid ribs?
Pass cable rear lightening holes under jacks flap and affix bracket over top of control aileron cables through small lightening hole at end of flap.
Recover? out to size? Use Rubber on all holes made. use of clips to tails? of slack cable
Round to No 12 Rib. Between guns remove two panels for ease. C? Plate and Attachment plate supplied Cut out to size hole. After Bradal use of 2 Packing? Pieces?. use of wooden Block for pos of bolt Holes for Mast? Hole made in the plate cover for the position of block?.”
To me this potentially appears to describe the fitting of a mechanical firing cable, and a new modified panel. With a hole for the stud and the stabilizing bars. Am i reading this wrong?
Any info or input would be greatly appreciated.
By: GreenBean - 29th April 2017 at 10:32
Thanks Neema, very interesting. I sent you a PM.
By: NEEMA - 29th April 2017 at 09:50
My father was an ex-brat” fitter in Malta ( primarily 126Sqn) and very much involved with the “invisible bomb rack” Spitfire Mod. He did write it up later and I have his notes. The physical fit was as described by GreenBean and post release all that was visible on the aircraft was the small stud. Part of the idea was, allegedly, for Spitfires to fly in high and low groups over Sicily, the high level aircraft dropping the bombs then joining the lower levels to take on fighters and be indistinguishable from them.
By: Graham Boak - 28th April 2017 at 18:55
If you are going to carry a bomb, it has to be mounted on a strong member capable of carrying its weight, and spreading this load through the adjacent existing (or strengthened) aircraft structure. This has to act on the pick-up point or points provided on the bomb casing. A question that arises from the simple description is the lack of an side support to stop the bomb swaying, unless these were dropped with the bomb. However, these would still require some kind of rigid structure to act against. These are the function of the bomb carriers that are universally used for this purpose. If a standard bomb carrier was not used, then something fairly solid of equivalent capability was designed, made and fitted, and it possessed features not seen since. It appears more likely that a standard carrier, if buried in the wing, and that there was something more the modifiication than the published description provides.
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April 28, 2017 at 6:37 pm