Hi Peter,

I’ve never associated the Monica installation with Gee.

My copy of the Gee Mk. II A.P. refers to a rod aerial, type 87 or 257, fitted vertically in the fuselage of the aircraft. These were both “whip” aerials. The Halifax III A.P. refers to an aerial type 117, which appears to be another “whip” type.

That said, Boozer and Monica are two devices I know very little about and it’s long been my intention to research them in more detail.

Regards!

682al

There’s a lot to be found on the net about the bombing of Rabaul in general, and several comments about attempts to “pursuade” the volcano to erupt onto the Japanese occupying forces (this was a method trialled pre-war to halt or alter the course of lava flows), but nothing about the use of British earthquake type bombs.

It just sounds too implausible, given the logistical difficulties of getting the bombs out there, then successfully attaching them to a U.S. bomber in such a way that they could be aimed and released. What about dropping trials, training of the crews etc, all with just two bombs?

It would have been such an elaborate and epic scheme that we would have heard about it before now, surely?

Nah, a myth. Someone has read about attempts to create an earthquake effect to provoke an eruption and has assumed that this involves the use of earthquake type bombs.

682al is that Mike Cookmans cockpit you posted the piccie of? If so it is JR505 now residing in Coventry (or was a couple of years back)

Hi TonyD,

None of those sections survived into preservation as far as I’m aware. They were in the back of a scrapyard, long since cleared and re-developed.

My pal and I found several Typhoon/Tempest control columns and throttle boxes in our favourite local scrapyard during the ’80’s. Sadly, the last remains in that yard were cleared away about fifteen years ago. Ahhh, I remember it like it were yesterday…

Low value heavy steel tubes in the cockpit area attached to a full aluminium high value monocoque rear fuselage. Engine – High aluminium content.

Typhoon cockpit sections all seem to have ended up in this state. I’ve posted this pic before but it illustrates the theme. Stockport area, circa late sixties and even barer than the ones in Mark 12’s pic….

Yes to Mike’s suggestion and just a wild guess that they might be Anson?

Hi Texantomcat,

I’ve never seen a cockpit photo of a British Mustang with a Dunlop type spade grip. They always seem to have the U.S. moulded stick type.

Also, the American stick features an electric trigger for the gun firing mechanism, whereas your description of the spade grip suggests it has a pneumatic gun button. Perhaps if someone could advise whether the guns in British Mustangs were fired pneumatically, we would have a bit of a clue?

Regards,

682al

p.s. As a result of a p.m. from David Collins, I’m beginning to doubt that the AH8272 spade grip would have been intended for the Sea Hornet, after all. I’ve checked my original notes, which came direct from Dunlops, and have noticed a “?” against Sea Hornet. Thinking about it, the Sea Hornet would surely have had the same stick-type column as the Hornet, which is not unlike that of the Mosquito. Sorry for the confusion, I will alter my spreadsheet right away!

Firefly, Firebrand or Sea Hornet, according to my notes!

Regards,

Al