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BobKat

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June 20, 2016 at 10:27 am in reply to: Wreckage Of Lancaster ED908 (60-Z) #848681

BobKat
Participant

Old item identified

The item at the top left in the picture below first appeared in post #22 as item W6C, and was thought possibly to be part of the magneto. Whilst looking for pictures on the internet recently, I came across the item at the bottom left which was described as a Merlin engine exhaust stub gasket lock washer. After a bit of searching I found the picture to the right which shows the piece in situ, but without the exhaust stubs attached.

If anyone has any close-up pictures of the exhaust stubs with the washer in place, and which they are willing to share, I should be grateful to see them. However, I imagine it will be very difficult to identify the washer, which is unlikely to be readily visible. It would seem from the piece found that the extended flanges were bent at right angles to prevent the hexagonal locking nut from rotating.

Photo-gallery:
https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=BCF75E8AD40ADF0D!164&authkey=!AJrxfdmdr6MXSdw&ithint=folder%2cjpg

Index to parts found and annotated illustrations:
https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=bcf75e8ad40adf0d!1426&authkey=!AAJOZyTYrN-x0CQ&ithint=folder%2cjpg

June 19, 2016 at 7:46 pm in reply to: Little Staughton Airfield – 2009 Thread Revived #849002

BobKat
Participant

As you say, much has been demolished, but I did manage to see what remains of the bomb stores.

I’ll look forward to hearing more when you are back in the UK.

June 19, 2016 at 6:09 pm in reply to: Little Staughton Airfield – 2009 Thread Revived #849020

BobKat
Participant

Russell T, I regret that I am unable to help you as to where the USAAF buried any equipment. I met a few of the then current occupants when I visited the airfield a year or two back, but none mentioned any cache of vehicles and/or spares.

I have aerial views of the airfield at the dates you mention, but I would interested to see any old photos you have of the base which you are willing to share.

June 15, 2016 at 6:12 pm in reply to: Wreckage Of Lancaster ED908 (60-Z) #850980

BobKat
Participant

Yes, he is Peter. But it is quite difficult with the undergrowth in the forest. His searches are therefore largely confined to the fringes and near the pathways, when he has some time available.

June 15, 2016 at 3:32 pm in reply to: Wreckage Of Lancaster ED908 (60-Z) #851101

BobKat
Participant

Many thanks Peter.

All the evidence we are gradually accumulating seems to point to the port wing shearing off at the join of the outer wing at rib 22.

June 15, 2016 at 9:53 am in reply to: Wreckage Of Lancaster ED908 (60-Z) #851410

BobKat
Participant

Item 99

I have looked again at the diagram in AP2062A and note that there is a shorting strip between two of the terminals in both the port and starboard ground power socket. Can anyone please confirm whether item 99 is a shorting strip?

If so, and it is only used in this socket, then it would appear that we have pieces of both the port and starboard ground power sockets found near the northern edge of the forest.

This would therefore mean that the port wing which separated from the aircraft was not the entire wing, but almost certainly only the outer part beyond the undercarriage.

June 14, 2016 at 11:26 am in reply to: Lancaster ED810; 73 Years On… #852174

BobKat
Participant

Good to hear this Blue_2. We had a similar experience two years ago in relation to the crew lost on Lancaster ED908, when the local community in France erected a memorial in the local churchyard and welcomed members of the families of the crew to its unveiling.

June 14, 2016 at 11:16 am in reply to: Wreckage Of Lancaster ED908 (60-Z) #852248

BobKat
Participant

Item 99

Another new find! It is an electrical piece numbered 5C/850. I have found a reference to a part number 5CZ/850 which is described as a terminal lug, which is what this appears to be. Laurent says that it is made partly of steel and partly of copper.

It is a more complete version of a piece found with item no.5 (posts #1, 10 and 14) and it would appear to be part of the ground power socket identified by WV-903 and Air Ministry. As far as I am aware in British-built aircraft there was one of these ground sockets (and relays) on both the port and starboard auxiliary starting panels. It is difficult to tell whether this new piece is from the ground socket (or relay) found earlier, or whether it was from the one in the other wheel well. As the port wing separated from the aircraft in mid-air, it seems more likely to be from the starboard wheel well. On the other hand, if all the pieces of the socket in the original find are present, then this must be from the port side, which would tell us more about how the wing broke up. However, it is also possible that this type of terminal lug was connected to more than one piece of equipment.

The pictures below show both the old and new finds (items 5 and 99), and pictures of a socket 5C/859.

If anyone has any further thoughts, I would be glad to hear.

Photo-gallery:
https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=BCF75E8AD40ADF0D!164&authkey=!AJrxfdmdr6MXSdw&ithint=folder%2cjpg

Index to parts found and annotated illustrations:
https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=bcf75e8ad40adf0d!1426&authkey=!AAJOZyTYrN-x0CQ&ithint=folder%2cjpg

June 11, 2016 at 4:50 pm in reply to: Wreckage Of Lancaster ED908 (60-Z) #854074

BobKat
Participant

Item 97

I have now obtained information available from the RAF Museum at Hendon. It seems that the suffix F3709 is used exclusively for parts related to Outer Wing Rib No.11, and that our part with the prefix 36 is not in the index.

The individual parts listed in AP2062A&C, Vol.3, Pt.1 with the reference F3709 are variously described as “Bracket, angle” and “Angle, attachment”. The piece found (item 97) is flat, not angled. There are numerous brackets listed, but most have the part reference in the format “- /SS3 – – -“.

The Lancaster Manual (AP2062A, Vol.1, Sect.7) states that the wing ribs have vertical top-hat stiffeners and an illustration of a typical cross-section shows these being fixed to the ribs by triangular brackets of the type found. Item 97 is an asymmetric triangle, indicating that the upper (or lower) edge was at an angle to the vertical, such as shown in the trailing portion of the wing in the illustration below. This may be where our item was positioned. It was found close to where other pieces identified as being part of the outer wing were located.

If anyone has any photographs of the interior of the wing showing the structure, which they are willing to share, this would be much appreciated.

June 4, 2016 at 3:40 pm in reply to: Wreckage Of Lancaster ED908 (60-Z) #858088

BobKat
Participant

Many thanks for trying, Peter. I have been having a good look too, also without success. My best guess is that it is part of the wing structure as suggested. In the absence of any comment from Air Ministry, I may try to consult the records at the RAF Museum, Hendon.

My best guess for item 98, is that it may be part of the upper wing surface. There would seem to be two overlapping fuselage plates (one missing) connected by the ‘top-hat’ stiffener, and this configuration seems to appear on the wing. Any thoughts?

May 28, 2016 at 11:06 am in reply to: Wreckage Of Lancaster ED908 (60-Z) #861828

BobKat
Participant

Item 97

Thanks, Peter.

I have found references for 3/F3709 and 6/F3709 in an extract from a parts listing. I do not have a picture or diagram of the piece itself, but it seems that 36/F3709 may be a later variation of an angle attachment for rib no.11, as shown in the attached diagram.

Air Ministry, are you able to confirm the description from the pages in your parts list, please? The references are circled on the diagram.

May 27, 2016 at 10:15 am in reply to: Wreckage Of Lancaster ED908 (60-Z) #862469

BobKat
Participant

Many thanks WV-903. Item 95 was found not too far away from some identified engine-related pieces, so what you say could well be right.

May 26, 2016 at 3:41 pm in reply to: Wreckage Of Lancaster ED908 (60-Z) #862828

BobKat
Participant

Items 96, 97 and 98

Laurent has found a few more pieces amongst the rapidly growing undergrowth. These were all near to existing locations as marked on the attached photos. The pictures have been added to the photo-gallery.

Items in 96 include another Merlin engine valve split cotter. Items in 97 include a bracket numbered 36/F3709. The suffix F3709 appears to be part of the wing, but the prefix number does not appear in my listing. Air Ministry, if you see this, do you recognise this number from your list, please? There is also an electrical piece – it could be a lamp connector, as this is close to where pieces of the outer wing were found.

Item 98 is distinctively shaped and was found near the path in the centre of the forest close to item 63. Neither piece has been identified, so if anybody can throw any light on what the latest piece might be, any comments would be much appreciated. It looks like a ‘top-hat’ stiffener attached to a piece of fuselage.

Photo-gallery:
https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=BCF75E8AD40ADF0D!164&authkey=!AJrxfdmdr6MXSdw&ithint=folder%2cjpg

Index to parts found and annotated illustrations:
https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=bcf75e8ad40adf0d!1426&authkey=!AAJOZyTYrN-x0CQ&ithint=folder%2cjpg

May 1, 2016 at 9:45 am in reply to: Lancaster NE172 6O-T 582 Sqn Part Identification #878502

BobKat
Participant

Your item 22 appears to be a piece of the serial number plate from an electrical generator.

It probably reads:

… S OF LEAD [CONNECTIONS] ??
ROTATION OF GENERATOR
CLOCKWISE ANTI CLOCKWISE
RED RED
BLUE GREEN
GREEN BLUE

Somebody with more knowledge than me may be able to confirm whether it is for the power for the radio or something else.

April 30, 2016 at 11:40 am in reply to: Lancaster NE172 6O-T 582 Sqn Part Identification #878866

BobKat
Participant

Item 13 is a sprocket from the engine controls. There are a number of these with a reference suffix 2196. You can see one in Fig.142 in the ED908 photo-gallery of part illustrations.
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