Quick Canberra question

[derek burton]

On the B(I)8 when the gun pack was fitted could the front part of the bomb bay still be used and if yes how much of what could be stuffed in there ?

Dek.

P.S. are there any decent books that deal just with the B(I)8 ?

[bexwh773]

A quick answer for you Derek, the B (i) Mk8 had a cut out around the gun pack allowing the bay to be used, as to its capacity with pack fitted Im not sure but I know a man who can

This Website HERE is by our very own LesB, there are Mk8 links there and lots of info, especially as he is an Cranberry Man and worked on the 8's. Just drop him a PM and Im sure he'll be able to help, and just tell him I set him up with yet more Canberra questions

HTH

Bex

[derek burton]

Cheers Bex if anyone could point me in the right direction it would be you.

Dek.

[LesB]

Derek

To accomodate the gunpack the B(I)8s (and the B(I)6s) had special bomb doors with cut-outs at the rear end. When fitted these snuggly fitted around the gunpack. (They were a bu66er to fit, took 10 blokes heaving and straining and swearing to hold them up one at a time while the pins were hammered in with a hide-face)

There was usable bomb-bay space in front of the gunpack which could hold two 1000lbs or a small frame rack of smaller dumb bombs. Usually though the fit was a flare pack. This because the B(I)8s were night interdictors, the flares were used to light the target while the wingman shot it up with the 20mils. This only happened on exercise though at Nordhorn range (or the Cyprus range).

More usually, in fact most common of all, there would be a pannier cage fitted. Gunpacks were fitted when the 8s were detached to Idris, Lybia (Tarhuna range). The pannier carried the crew's bags, changes of clothing, several packets of Corn Flakes, soap and washing powder, boxes of talcum powder, boxes of crisps, several packets of digestive biscuits . . . all the really necessary stuff you'd need in North Africa really. Of course on the return the pannier was useful for duty frees etc.

Sorry, there is no specialised B(I)8 book. But if you have any queries I may be able to give some assitance. There are a few galleries of B(I)8 images with potted histories here

Hope this helps.

Edited July 16, 2008 by LesB

[Paul Bradley]

So the next logical question is: when will someone release a resin set of consisting of crew's bags, changes of clothing, several packets of Corn Flakes, soap and washing powder, boxes of talcum powder, boxes of crisps, several packets of digestive biscuits . . .? How about it, TwoMikes??

[derek burton]

Thanks folks just getting ready for the Airfix 1/72 release,exellent canberra site .

Regards Dek.

[spike7451]

Derek

To accomodate the gunpack the B(I)8s (and the B(I)6s) had special bomb doors with cut-outs at the rear end. When fitted these snuggly fitted around the gunpack. (They were a bu66er to fit, took 10 blokes heaving and straining and swearing to hold them up one at a time while the pins were hammered in with a hide-face)

There was usable bomb-bay space in front of the gunpack which could hold two 1000lbs or a small frame rack of smaller dumb bombs. Usually though the fit was a flare pack. This because the B(I)8s were night interdictors, the flares were used to light the target while the wingman shot it up with the 20mils. This only happened on exercise though at Nordhorn range (or the Cyprus range).

More usually, in fact most common of all, there would be a pannier cage fitted. Gunpacks were fitted when the 8s were detached to Idris, Lybia (Tarhuna range). The pannier carried the crew's bags, changes of clothing, several packets of Corn Flakes, soap and washing powder, boxes of talcum powder, boxes of crisps, several packets of digestive biscuits . . . all the really necessary stuff you'd need in North Africa really. Of course on the return the pannier was useful for duty frees etc.

Sorry, there is no specialised B(I)8 book. But if you have any queries I may be able to give some assitance. There are a few galleries of B(I)8 images with potted histories here

Hope this helps.

Same as the Ammo tank on the Tornado......