Does anyone have information on the design and colours for the upkeep bombs both used in the test drops and on the mission.
Especially one type of each for Gibsons aircraft.
I am lead to believe that the colours differed from aircraft to aircraft. Some (test) where encased in wooden laves. Some (live) were green with stripes, others red.
I’m building a model that shows Gibsons Lanc during one of the test drops. Also interested for a later `mission` build.
Many thanks.
Ted.
By: antoni - 4th May 2013 at 19:47
There is a b&w photograph in the Haynes Owner’s workshop Manual – Dam Busters 1943 onwards (all marks and models) Dr. Iain Murray ISBN 978 85733. Accredited to BAE Systems via the National Archives. It appears to be in the process of being painted black. There is a white band around the crown with 4 ” painted in white below. I doubt there will be any colour photographs.
By: hampden98 - 4th May 2013 at 18:17
The red upkeep was the one captured by the Germans.
Are there any pictures (colour?) of the upkeep with wooden staves?
By: antoni - 4th May 2013 at 14:38
To make Upkeep spherical wooden staves were attached to the cylinder. The staves were screwed to each other and held onto the cylinder with several steel straps. These often failed on impact and the staves flew off. Increasing the number of straps and the tension had no affect on the number of failures and, as the it had been found that the cylinder could bounce on its own, on 18th April it was decided to drop the cylinder ‘bare’ and all wooden staves were removed.
In accordance with standard RAF practice inert mines were to be painted grey and HE filled mines green. However some crews painted theirs black and at least one mine was delivered so late it was still in red primer. The colours of the Upkeeps used on the operation are not recorded.
By: TwinOtter23 - 4th May 2013 at 10:59
Perhaps Newark needs to check whether ‘the concrete’s gone off!!’ 😀
By: charliehunt - 4th May 2013 at 10:54
There are used, damaged, rounds at Manston and Brenzett, I think – both of which are rusted. And “models” which are green.
This is taken from a Key thread in 2010:
“Sweetman page 85:
‘On 13 March Wallis confirmed a telephone message to Mitchell at Barrow that the Air Ministry required the exterior of all inert-filled stores to be painted grey, and those of live ones dark green.’
Hope this helps.”
By: TwinOtter23 - 4th May 2013 at 09:39
This Upkeep ‘practice round’ that is displayed at Newark Air Museum is a dark green colour.
The mine is on loan from the MOD via the Barnes Wallis Memorial Trust and was restored to MOD specifications; I’m not 100% sure about the authenticity of the colour as the work was carried out before it came to Winthorpe.
I can email you a photograph if you cannot see enough on the weblink above!
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May 4, 2013 at 9:32 am