Bomb Hang Ups in Ventura

[Dave Homewood]

If a bomb or bombs hung up during an attack by a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura, what was the method for clearing it from the bomb bay?

I don't think there was any access to the bomb bay from inside the aircraft's cabin, was there?

Was it a matter of continually hitting the bomb release "pickle button"? Or flying the aircraft in a shaky way so that it might wriggle loose of the bomb rack?

Anyone know?

And was it the same with the Hudson?

[davidd]

Dave,
I have most of the instructions for bombing in the PV-1 Ventura, but these simply run through the procedures as if they never caused any trouble. The reality was that this was far from typical in the earlier days of operations, and bomb failures were quite common. There are no special instructions as to what to do in such cases in any of the manuals I have, but what you suggest is probably about right for some of the attempts that were employed to get rid of "hangups", the great fear being that they would just "fall off" on the shock of landing. I do have some notes somewhere else about problems with bomb carriers (racks), but I will have to look further afield, maybe next week. By 1945 all (or most of) the troubles seemed to have been solved with the Venturas, mainly by more careful work in getting the electrical parts clean and the jaws of the releases being adjusted correctly (from memory).
Hudsons had their own problems, and a lot of the early night raids with Hudsons against various targets in the Solomons utilised 100 lb bombs; I think they flew night missions to evade enemy day fighters, although later the Japanese also employed night fighters (mainly "Irvings", twin engined with upward firing cannons, one of which did get one of our Hudsons, 2033 I think it was, stand to be corrected).

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks David. I'd love to see a copy of those instructions on the normal operation of bombing, if it is not too much trouble please.

They were still having hang ups in September 1944, so it is good to hear the problem was eventually solved.

The Hudsons did two different sorts of night operations. While their daytime role was primarily reconnaissance of the oceans hunting for any submarines and ships that should not be there, or protecting Allied shipping convoys, plus search and rescue work, at night No. 3 (GR) Squadron got some other roles. One was every night a Guadalcanal based crew was rostered on to do a night heckle. They flew over a Japanese airfield or base and every now and then dropped a 100lb bomb as you say, in the simple effort of disrupting the sleep of Japanese groundcrew, pilots and staff. They were doing exactly what the Japanese were doing to them, in their desynchronised "Washing Machine Charlie" twin engine bomber. A different crew got this duty each night, and it went on for many months. I think maybe No. 9 (GR) Squadron took over the role when 3GR went home too.

The other was to be navigation lead to the US Navy Avenger squadrons that were doing night bombing. The Avenger squadrons had proven themselves terrible for getting lost, especially at night, so US Command requested the Hudsons of 3GR to escort them as they had a navigator onboard and were generally far more experienced. They dropped flares every now and then as a breadcrumb trail for the Avengers to follow, and when close to the target the Hudson stood off while the Grummans made their attack. They they started the flare dropping again to take them home till they could see Guadalcanal. It was during one of these operations while standing off from the raid that the Hudson was attacked by the Gekko fighter and destroyed, sadly.

[Antonio]

Nov 2, 2024 20:09:37 GMT 12 davidd said:

I think they flew night missions to evade enemy day fighters, although later the Japanese also employed night fighters (mainly "Irvings", twin e-nined with upward firing cannons, one of which did get one of ourr Hudsons, 2033 I think it was, stand to nbe corrected).

NZ2033
To No.3 Squadron Gaudalcanal.
Disappeared 13 July 1943 on flare dropping mission off Guadalcanal.
Shot down by Japanese fighter near Shortland Beach.
Flight Lieutenant Wilfred Rutherford, Flying Officer Vivian Eady, Gergeant Lisle Smith, Sergeant William Lankshear and Sergeant John McDougall missing presumed killed.
Written off books at Guadalcanal on 23 August 1943.

[denysjones]

It appears that there is some access to the bomb bay from the cabin. Items 16, 26 and 39 on the below appear to be the same as those in Hudsons which provide access to the areas near the bomb racks especially their electrical connections but what they access in a Ventura may of course be different.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Denys.