WV-903, many thanks for your continuing interest – much appreciated. I have seen these fasteners on a parachute pack, so they obviously had a much wider use than I had thought.

Peter, thanks for your comments. I am not sure what you mean by the “guides” as shown in your picture. Sorry to be a bit slow, but I can’t work out where I should be looking!

Peter, once again many thanks. I can see that photographs would be difficult to find with the wing-nut in position!! Was your picture from FM159?

Closer views

In post #36 WV-903 said that he hoped others in the forum would be carrying out some research and that their comments might be expected in due course. The trestle-table objects have not drawn much response as yet, possibly because there is insufficient detail and there were too many of them! I am therefore attaching a few more enlarged photographs of a small number of specific items in the hope that this might focus any research on these in particular, although, of course, comments on anything else will be welcome.

The left-hand photographs in each image are as originally appearing (but larger): the others are taken from different angles with varying degrees of clarity, but nevertheless will hopefully provide a better three-dimensional perspective.

T1-6.
Item 6 is of hollow rectangular shape with what seem to be bolted cylindrical bars between the two sides. Perhaps part of a sprocket box or something similar? Some of the other items (3, 4 and 5) which are close by can also be seen, but the definition of the new picture, which is an enlargement from a long-shot photo, is not as good as desirable.

T3-16.
The picture speaks for itself.

T4-17.
The reverse side image of the hollow box-like item 17 (in the centre) shows what seems to be three bolt projections.

T4-24.
This shows items 24, 26 and 27 in greater detail. Next to item 26 in the third image there appears to be one of the pieces of what has now been identified as an oxygen bottle basket supporting bracket with the key-like attachment. It has been suggested elsewhere that item 24 could be from the pitot tube arm as it has those sort of attachments protruding at one end – are they pressure pipes?

Pic W5 , those parts look like a broken rack off a “rack and pinion” set-up. They could be something that moves big radio/radar equipment in situ, (For Tuning or “aligning” components,etc ).

Bill T.

W5A.
WV-903 had some ideas on this, but a radio expert, or someone familiar with the AM codes (10B/169) might be able to help further. The items appear all to have broken at the central weak point where there seems to be a small slot into which something fitted. This can best be seen on the right-hand image. I have reversed the middle image to place the two objects into the position in which they might have formed a sort of cradle – does this trigger any recognition?

Visit to “Just Jane”

A quiet weekend with no further comments. Going back to an earlier posting, I wholly agree that the cleaning of objects would be of considerable assistance in identifying some of the items found. However, seeing the wreckage in the state in which it was found does perhaps have more historical significance than a piece from which the rust of nearly 70 years has been removed. So I am glad that we have pictured the wreckage in its current condition. Let us hope it will be possible, in due course, to compare some of the pieces in a cleaned state.

Here are a couple more items (the photographs of these in situ were taken with the consent of Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre):

W8.
Strap fasteners of varying sizes were used to secure all sorts of equipment such as the fuel tanks, emergency air bottles, etc. The item found is pictured from both sides and can be compared with a similar fitting on the hydraulic reservoir on NX611. Another fastener is pictured at the bottom of T4.

14.
This has been described to me as a bomb hoist point. The photo underneath is from the bomb bay of NX611. I assume that what has been found is the upper and lower parts of a fitting in the floor above the bomb bay. It looks as if the central part of the ‘ring’ is removable, leaving a space to fit the hoist, or what the Lancaster Manual calls a “lifting hole”. Have I understood this correctly – is someone able to confirm please?

WV-903, glad we agree on the oxygen economiser attachment.

T3.
I had thought that the cable with the clevis was part of the flying controls – good to have it confirmed, thank you. I attach a few diagrams. The top item seems to illustrate that particular item. The next three all seem to have the break-point you describe for item 15 – have I got that right?

T4.
With regard to the hoop, could it be part of an aerial?

Round 4

Having given those who have been helping me a short pause to draw breath, I am attaching the fourth batch of pictures. Taking Air Ministry’s point these are now attached in slightly larger size, but it may be that greater detail would still be helpful for specific items. If so, please let me know.

This will probably be the last posting for identification purposes for a little while as the search for more pieces has now been suspended until the spring of next year, and with the wreckage scattered over a wide area in the forest, this is now a bit like looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack. However there may be occasional postings of identified items of potential interest. This is also the largest posting to date as it includes all the items on the trestle table with which we were greeted earlier this year. Those items about which more information is sought are listed below and numbered in red on the photographs. Items which have been identified are marked with a green “/”.

All identifications, corrections and alternative suggestions will be welcomed!

T.
This shows the table-top to give an overall impression of what was in front of us. It also provides pictures of the objects from a different angle than those which follow. These work down the table from the far end.

T1.
1. An unidentified instrument gauge;
2. A right-angled object of two different metals;
3. Looks a bit like a Sutton quick-release mechanism, but not sure;
4. A key-shaped item – from the flying controls locking gear?;
5. A “U” shaped bracket supporting a central rod(?);
6. A hollow rectangular ‘box’ with distinctive attachments;
7. An “E” shaped item – electrical?;
8. Strut with attachment;
9. A large compressed block of metal – the embedded knob impressions suggest it could be the radio.

Identified items are: two Sutton harness buckles; serial number plate from radio power unit; flare strap buckle with part of strap; and, above it, miscellaneous electrical parts. Items 6, 7 and 8 are also shown on T2.

T2.
10. Electrical parts?;
11. Possibly electrical?;
12. Item with a row of screwed metal attachments;
13. Electrical spacer?;
14. Wood from main canopy?

Identified items are: flare strap buckle (as T1); base of pentode valve; bomb aimer’s computer knob; oxygen economiser connection; electrical connector; and magneto casing sprung strap. Item 14 and two of the identified items also appear on T3.

T3.
15. Two fixing holes with rusted bolts on either side;
16. A bit like item 3 but with a protrusion at one end.

Identified items are: engine mounting block, and an exhaust stub.

T4.
17. Hollow box-like item open at one end;
18. Bearing race? (from supercharger?);
19. Cube with rod attached;
20. Spark plug?;
21. A broken bracket similar to that pictured in item 1 of the first batch of photos;
22. Metal with what looks like a bolt attached;
23. Strip of “wafer”-like items – there are several of these scattered on the table;
24. Strip of metal with two connectors protruding (related to pitot?);
25. Curved segment with key attached (again like item 1 in batch 1);
26. Another piece like item 3;
27. Corner of metal plate with circular attachment.

Identified items are: bomb release connector flap, and strap fastener.

With many thanks to all those who have helped so far. I am not expecting a high percentage return on this batch! But hopefully there will be one or two items which are capable of identification, including perhaps some others pictured which I have not numbered. I can provide photos from different angles but these are of poorer quality, so may not help much. But please ask if you think you may be able to help and if a better resolution picture could assist.

Many thanks Air Ministry – it looks right.

Points taken about the quality of pictures and the condition of the objects, but it is not something I can readily influence. Added to which the photos are transmitted in jpg format and reduced size, which loses resolution, and then there is the question of members’ file space available on the Forum …. ! As this thread progresses I can see quite a lot of my allocation being used up!

Bomb Crutches

I assume that the lull in activity yesterday means that the second batch of photos have run their course. Before, as requested, I post a third batch, I have a few questions on bomb crutches.

Peter kindly identified one of the items in “Round 2” as a bomb crutch. I have had a look in The Lancaster Manual and can see that non-standard fittings were carried on the aircraft next to the carrier housing (as shown in the picture posted on 26 November). This is, therefore, why we have found a 4,000lb cookie turnbuckle and the newly identified crutch despite the fact that the bomb load on the day was 14 x GP (General Purpose) bombs plus 2 x GF. What are GF bombs – I can’t find a reference to these? The Manual states that a ‘normal’ load was for 14 bombs, so presumably some adaptation was made as the war progressed to increase this to 16.

Does anyone have any diagrams or photos which show the newly identified crutch in situ? And/or does anyone know what load it was designed to support? It doesn’t appear, as far as I can see, on the crutching diagram for a 4,000lb bomb load in the Manual, or anywhere else, so perhaps this was for a 1,000lb bomb?

If anyone can add a few comments, this would be much appreciated.