Help please - Colours of underwing munitions

[Graham Boak]

I wasn't that impressed by Edgerton's book: anyone claiming that the British tanks were of much the same quality as the German ones didn't seem to have a full command of his material.  But it is still worth reading.  Not as good as Tooze, though.

 

For the RAF's equipment, you can't do better than The RAF and Aircraft Design 1923-1939, Air Staff Operational Requirements  by Colin Sinnott. (Cass, 2001, ISBN 0 7146 5158 3).

[Extra Cheese]

This is a fantastic discussion - started by the colour of a 500lb general purpose bomb!!

 

I am really enjoying learning something new from a historical perspective about the shortcomings and developments of British aircraft and their deployment. Respects and thanks to your knowledge and friendly/balanced discussion.

 

I wish I could add something factually useful  - except I read (cannot find the reference/book) a wardroom song about the Barracuda to the tune of "Any Old Iron" and it "resembled parts of the Fourth Bridge flying in close formation".

Quite a number of Barracuda "unexplained fatal crashes" when the plane was introduced - during conversion/operational training courses. In Kilbracken's book - "Bring Back My Stringbag" he unfortunately (but luck was with him) illustrated a possible cause :- the soldered/brazed joint between the pipe to the hydraulic pressure gauge and the gauge itself - low down in the cockpit - could break loose for no reason. The hydraulic fluid contained Ether (as an anti freeze). This spewed out everywhere very rapidly in a closed cockpit and thus night night and goodnight all - permanently. Fortunately for him, he was able to pull the cockpit canopy open and "float down" onto a field before succumbing to the anaesthetic gas.

He hated that plane - even though he was an instructor on it (this was 1945).

I think, as you said earlier, its reputation was more its downfall than its flying performance (which was pretty poor).

 

Wikepedia has a good account with some excellent photos of Blackburn aircraft since the first world war. My wish list would be a kit manufacturer  specialising in the most ugly/pathetic aircraft in use between the wars. Pride of place must be the "Blackburn R1 Blackburn" naval fleet spotter and the "T4 Cubaroo" torpedo bomber. 

Even the 1950's Beverly deserves a lookin?

 

Anyway - please do carry on - its a fascinating discussion.

 

Thank you all

 

Peter

[Graham Boak]

Any Old Iron was used as a tune for a song about the Fulmar  "you know what you can do with a Fulmar II - old, iron, old iron"  The song usually seen about the Barracuda is to the tune of A Bicycle Built for Two"  "..the rivets pop, along the top..."  Both of these songs are quoted in the relevant Profiles.  Most aircraft (but especially the Seafire) feature in The A-25 Song - the A-25 being an Aircraft Accident report form.  "...I come in too fast and I prang my Seafire.  The guys in the goofers all think I am green, but I get my commission from Supermarine!"

 

There was a songbook available at the FAA Museum, at least a few years ago, and folk singer Cyril Tawney published a collection of navy songs which included a few from the FAA, including The A-25 Song."

[stevehnz]

Thanks again guys. Some reading to chase up. I have the Paladins but several there I don't. Onwards & upwards.

Steve.

[Seahawk]

The FAA Songbook devotes a whole chapter (16 songs - including one adapted from 809's Fulmar song) to the Barracuda: none is complimentary.  Here's the last verse of one:

 

So we'll fly till we die

And that won't be very long

For a spot of flak or the wings fold back

And we'll be where we belong.

 

Think I recall John Godley (Lord Kilbracken) saying he had a preference that he felt weren't actively trying to kill him.