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  • AndyY

Mystery Label

Does this little ‘Shorting Plug’ label ring any bells with anyone? It’s been posted on a Lancaster-related Facebook Group, asking if anyone can identify it. 10A/10969 is a little two-pin connector, as shown.
I can’t find any reference to it in any Lancaster radio-related documention I have, and I don’t recall seeing it on any equipment.

What aircraft, where was it, and what was its purpose, please!

Andy

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By: AndyY - 18th June 2018 at 21:07

I couldn’t rule it out, but armament circuits tended to use their own range of connectors, with Stores References in Section 5D, whereas this one has been given a 10A number, for Radio equipment. Also the wire joining the two pins could only carry a limited current, not really beefy enough for an armament circuit. And armament plugs tend to have some method of positively locking in place which this plug doesn’t have.
But anything is possible without further evidence!

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By: cabbage - 18th June 2018 at 20:33

Could it possibly be some form of armament safety break ?

it would be insertwd in the release circuit prior to take-off, and removed and stowed after landing to prevent inadvertant weapon release / firing.

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By: AndyY - 17th June 2018 at 21:46

I’m going to correct what I just said above!

Whilst the 2-pin plug is a generic type (I need to identify its Reference Number), I now think that with Ref. Number 10A/10969 it is specifically a Shorting Plug. I have an example, and on inspection it has a wire soldered internally between the two pins. Furthermore it came with a ‘Terry Clip’ style of stowage holder which I now think properly belongs with it.

Does anyone have a copy of Section 10A which includes 10A/10969?

Andy

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By: AndyY - 17th June 2018 at 19:51

10A is ‘Miscellaneous Radio Equipment’. I agree that this plug is a generic item, used in various places. It isn’t specifically a shorting plug, so in this application must have had a wire linking the two pins together.
But what was the application which warranted a special label?

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By: Sabrejet - 17th June 2018 at 19:08

10A sounds like generic electrical; it looks like a 40’s/50’s generic shorting plug too.

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