ReccePhreak Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 1 hour ago, Space Ranger said: Oh, good grief. My comment was more about funny code names than politics. I'm sorry you did not see it that way. Your response is far more political than my original post. Oh really? I wasn't aware that "Orange Hair" was a US military Code Name. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberra kid Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 (edited) Sorry Selwyn, the door mod was for the Mk.7. The two perforated baffles were added after drop trials. I still have no definitive answer regarding Red Beard, but I suspect that if as you say it was smaller than the Mk.7 there would have been no need to reassess the weapon it would fit in the bomb bay with little problem. The modified doors could have been fitter to all Canberra's modified to use either weapon or LABS equipped aircraft? Were the two types of bomb used side by side or did one supercede the other? I've not spotted anything in the AP's as yet regarding diferant doors, but now I know what to look for I will re visit the B(I)6 AP Book1. As an aside, the B.57 could extend its main undercarriage legs by 3"(?) to facilitate loading of the pre loaded bomb doors. The B.57 also had a dedicated "Special weapons door" If the British Canberra had the same set up it would have made life easier! John Edited April 3, 2017 by canberra kid missing word 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Ranger Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 2 hours ago, ReccePhreak said: Oh really? I wasn't aware that "Orange Hair" was a US military Code Name. How do you know it isn't? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReccePhreak Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 3 hours ago, Space Ranger said: How do you know it isn't? Probably because of my 24 year USAF career, including a stint in COMSEC and a TS-SCI clearance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Ranger Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 41 minutes ago, ReccePhreak said: Probably because of my 24 year USAF career, including a stint in COMSEC and a TS-SCI clearance. Well, thank you for your service in any case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trenton guy Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 I haven't been able to find the article on the carriage of Red Beard but I did find the photo I had in mind on the Wikipedia page for Red Beard (nuclear weapon). I realize the perils of quoting Wikipedia by the photo caption says the whole beam, brace and baffle contraption was winched up into the Canberra's bomb bay. Looks like it could be at tight fit but I have never seen a nuclear capable mark of Canberra with a bulged bomb bay. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberra kid Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 16 hours ago, Trenton guy said: I haven't been able to find the article on the carriage of Red Beard but I did find the photo I had in mind on the Wikipedia page for Red Beard (nuclear weapon). I realize the perils of quoting Wikipedia by the photo caption says the whole beam, brace and baffle contraption was winched up into the Canberra's bomb bay. Looks like it could be at tight fit but I have never seen a nuclear capable mark of Canberra with a bulged bomb bay. I've never seen any Canberra with a bulged bomb bay door, only a few with cut aways. Other than the series of photos from which the photo I posted came, I've never seen a semi recessed weapon of any type,but there were Canberra's with no doors at all that were involved in mine laying trials, but that's a diferant story. John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie_c67 Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 On 01/04/2017 at 19:39, canberra kid said: John I know we managed impressive stuff back in the day, but levitating noses? New one to me! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aeronut Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 Quote I know we managed impressive stuff back in the day, but levitating noses? What surprises me is that it appears to be being done with just a single aircraft jack. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberra kid Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 8 hours ago, Aeronut said: What surprises me is that it appears to be being done with just a single aircraft jack. One jack appears to be the norm for the Canberra. John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julien Posted April 8, 2017 Share Posted April 8, 2017 Gents, a little bit of a sense of humor failure here and some unwelcome comments I have removed. Please play nice as the thread is informative and I for one would like it to stay open. Thanks Julien 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberra kid Posted April 8, 2017 Share Posted April 8, 2017 Thanks Julien! John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberra kid Posted April 8, 2017 Share Posted April 8, 2017 (edited) After a bit more digging in the B(I)6 AP. I've found no direct mention of a Mk.7 but in the attached scan I've found a clue, in the red box you will see "bomb doors EA3.11.2051/2" this is a diferant number to the "standard door" which has the reference number of EA9.11.2051/2 There is no indication in the section covering the bomb door fitting that indicates there is an alternative door. John Edited April 8, 2017 by canberra kid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 (edited) If you think about it, the Germany based Canberra's were supposed to carry out the same role as the Bucc's and then the Tonka's, e.g. carry a tactical nuke east and drop it on the bad guys! If you have to modify the bomb doors then you need to do that to a large number of jets on the sqn, in reality all of them! Or, you have to be able to fit the bomb in a hurry when the balloon is about to go up without having to go through some timely loading procedure which requires jacks! So did Red Beard fit the bomb bay without modification, were all of the bomb bays modified or was it carried semi-recessed? In which case why haven't we seen pictures of Canberra's with semi-recessed loads? Just a thought. Truth told, I can't see this thread title without imagining a B.6 with one of those comedy stick on beards! Edited April 9, 2017 by Wez 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberra kid Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 Reading between the lines in the AP I would venture a guess that all B(I)6's and B(I)8's would have been fitted with the modified doors EA3.11.2051/2, as you rightly say in the early days delivery of instant sunshine was the prime role of the RAFG Canberra force, Red Beard appears to have fitted an unmodified bomb bay, where as the Mk.7 required bomb doors EA3.11.2051/2, but I can't see any reason why the the modified door couldn't be used as standard so either bomb could be used. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selwyn Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 3 hours ago, canberra kid said: Reading between the lines in the AP I would venture a guess that all B(I)6's and B(I)8's would have been fitted with the modified doors EA3.11.2051/2, as you rightly say in the early days delivery of instant sunshine was the prime role of the RAFG Canberra force, Red Beard appears to have fitted an unmodified bomb bay, where as the Mk.7 required bomb doors EA3.11.2051/2, but I can't see any reason why the the modified door couldn't be used as standard so either bomb could be used. John The only bombs used by RAF Canberra in Europe were the American weapons. The RAF Red Beard weapons were kept in Cyprus and Singapore for use "East of Suez" and to support SEATO commitments in the far east. Selwyn 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberra kid Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 19 hours ago, Selwyn said: The only bombs used by RAF Canberra in Europe were the American weapons. The RAF Red Beard weapons were kept in Cyprus and Singapore for use "East of Suez" and to support SEATO commitments in the far east. Selwyn Thanks for that info Selwyn, so the RAFG Canberra's would have been fitted with the EA3.11.2051/2 as a matter of course in the Nuclear strike role. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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