Have you heard of, or seen pics of unusual modifications made to WW2 aircraft? Lets see them!
How many of you knew that the Lancaster was trialled with B-29 style, remote controlled, twin 20mm cannon barbettes?
Found this on another forum…
“In early 1942 the company received a development contract for a completely new defence system for the Avro Lancaster. It was decided to switch some Lancaster squadrons to daylight operations, and the new project was to consist of dorsal and ventral turrets controlled by a gunner in a sighting cockpit in the tail. Each turret, or barbette as they were officially called, was fitted with two 20 mm (0.78 in) Hispano guns, supplied with 200 rounds of ammunition. The control system was all-electric, the turret mechanisms being linked with a specially designed sighting system which compensated for range and deflection. It was then decided to install AGLT radar-assisted gunlaying, and this was incorporated into the gunner’s control system, giving blind tracking facility.
The prototype barbettes were completed and despatched to RAE Farnborough in early 1944, where they were fitted to Lancaster (LL780G). Some trials took place, but it was thought that hostilities would probably be ended by the time the system was ready for operational use, and the project was terminated in autumn 1944.
First pic is Lancaster (LL780G) fitted with the mid upper + lower barbettes during trials of the system 1944.”
By: SqL Scramble. - 19th February 2007 at 13:44
Beer Carrying Spitfires
A photo of a Spitfire carrying a keg under each wing can be found in Johnnie Johnsons book ‘Wing Leader’, along with an explaination as to why this particular modification was made. If memory serves me correctly these Spits were fondly referred to as ‘Dreys’.
By: DazDaMan - 18th February 2007 at 16:15
Adrian posted the link to this photo in post #4;
Sadly, the second alcohol-carrying Spit thumbnail on that page doesn’t appear to work.
There’s an airborne shot of (presumably) the same aircraft carrying the barrels in “Spitfire – The History”.
By: pogno - 17th February 2007 at 21:58
I’m still interested in any pictures of Spitfires as glider tugs, all I have is a grainy photo of the towing attchment on the tailwheel.
I have a copy of an Aerospace artical published in 1979, its the report of a lecture given by Dr K G Wilkinson titled the Development of Military Assault Gliders. It includes a picture of a Spitfire tail wheel, with a glider towing attachment fitted. Unfortunately it shows only a small amount of the bottom of the rudder and rear fuselage. Caption is as follows:-
The ‘hasty hitch’ towing attachment fitted to a Spitfire tailwheel was designed to enable a Hotspur glider to be towed. Later experiments were done with a Spitfire towing the Me 163 rocket fighter, perhaps with a more substantial attachment.
Within the text it says:- We thought it would be useful for fighter squadrons if we gave them a Hotspur and a ‘Hasty Hitch’ so they could tow their own front line maintenance support with them when they moved. I doubt if it was ever used.
The picture is credited to the RAE.
By: Smith - 17th February 2007 at 03:25
In case some of you haven’t seen the Messerspit/Schmittfire hybrid aircraft:-
Spitfire Vb, with DB605 engine, Me110 cowling (Aparantly similar firewall to spitfire), and Me109G prop… It also outperformed both the Spitfire V and the 109G!
More info can be found here:- Not a bad site either! Some other crazy Hybrids here too.
http://www.unrealaircraft.com/hybrid/spitfire.php
That Spit-schitt or whatever it is was non other than our very own EN830 !!!
By: CSheppardholedi - 16th February 2007 at 23:51
Odd Stuka Mod
one pod on either wing that holds two troopers each, can be jettisoned and parachute in for an attack! Not implemented into service…..perhaps they could not find volunteers to ride!!!
By: JDK - 16th February 2007 at 23:26
I understood the ‘XXX’ mod for beer barrels was a PR effort for the press, and the real beer was carried (in greater volume more effectively) in cleaned out long range drop-tanks.
By: adrian_gray - 16th February 2007 at 16:40
Henty & Constable-
Thank you! Maybe I wouldn’t have got that without you… 😮
Adrian
By: megalith - 16th February 2007 at 16:10
Hi,
This is the one I was thinking of……
http://www.spitfireale.co.uk/spitfire_ale.htm
Steve
By: Mr Creosote - 16th February 2007 at 15:53
Twas another south coast brewery – perhaps in Hampshire? I believe they are one of the few regionals still with us, and are very fond of their Spitfire connection.
And can I remember who they are? Can I hell! 😡
Adrian
Henty & Constable-
By: QldSpitty - 16th February 2007 at 13:35
Another Spit Special
Can,t forget the Spitfire wing bag….To carry spies/corpses around with…And yes I know I have to search for the pic…
By: adrian_gray - 16th February 2007 at 12:38
Do you reckon the Spit’s beer barrel was full of Shepard Neame’s beer – Spitfire Ale?
Steve.
Twas another south coast brewery – perhaps in Hampshire? I believe they are one of the few regionals still with us, and are very fond of their Spitfire connection.
And can I remember who they are? Can I hell! 😡
Adrian
By: megalith - 16th February 2007 at 12:27
Do you reckon the Spit’s beer barrel was full of Shepard Neame’s beer – Spitfire Ale?
Steve.
By: Malcolm McKay - 16th February 2007 at 12:12
Wasn’t that a contender for the first non-stop trans-Atlantic flight?
Indeed http://www.limericksoviet.com/CHAPTER_EIGHT.doc
Modified Short Shirl.
By: PaulR - 16th February 2007 at 12:10
I’ve also seen pictures of a Spitfire modified to carry a beer barrel!
Adrian posted the link to this photo in post #4;
Sadly, the second alcohol-carrying Spit thumbnail on that page doesn’t appear to work.
By: JDK - 16th February 2007 at 12:00
The lights on this Whitley were designed to make the aircraft invisible when attacking a U-boat, the idea was not taken up
Thanks Peter. It was also trialled on B-24s and Avengers, all successfully in cutting down the range the aircraft could be seen at significantly, allowing a stalk into ‘kill’ range. Problem was, IIRC, you could either carry the batteries/gear, or the munitions to kill the sub – not both…
By: JDK - 16th February 2007 at 11:57
More seriously though, I’ve had this pic in my possession for a while and would love to know the full story. I’m pretty sure its a mod, let’s face it no-one would have designed it that way to start with!!
Wasn’t that a contender for the first non-stop trans-Atlantic flight?
By: DazDaMan - 16th February 2007 at 11:44
2. I’ve also seen pictures of a Spitfire modified to carry a beer barrel!
Steve.
Can’t find a decent photo of it online, but you can do it in model form, too! 😉
By: Linrey - 16th February 2007 at 11:38
And this one:-
A B-24, err.. B-17… uh…..
By: Linrey - 16th February 2007 at 11:36
In case some of you haven’t seen the Messerspit/Schmittfire hybrid aircraft:-
Spitfire Vb, with DB605 engine, Me110 cowling (Aparantly similar firewall to spitfire), and Me109G prop… It also outperformed both the Spitfire V and the 109G!
More info can be found here:- Not a bad site either! Some other crazy Hybrids here too.
http://www.unrealaircraft.com/hybrid/spitfire.php
By: Aeronut - 16th February 2007 at 10:09
How about the Beverley with an arrestor hook?
Hook fitted to cargo hold sill and on contact with the arrestor cable it broke away thus extracting the load it was attached to. Idea evolved into the Ultra Low Level Airdrop (ULLA) when extarction parachutes replaced the hook.
I’m still interested in any pictures of Spitfires as glider tugs, all I have is a grainy photo of the towing attchment on the tailwheel.
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February 15, 2007 at 1:01 pm