Bomber Artifact ID Help Please

barnstorm2

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I have been cleaning out the basement of my parents house. My father passed away a few years ago and I am finally getting around to cleaning up.

My father saved some of the stuff he aquired during the war and I found this tonight.

The ID plate reads:

Control Bomb Release Type B-3A (24v DC)
Part numbers ( see picture )
Mfg by P.R. Mallory & Co.

After a few google searches I found some bomb releases and a little about the PR Mallory company but I have not been able to find out what bird this is out of or any details at all.

If anyone one here has the resources to track this down please let me know.

If anyone wants to see some photos my father took during the war they can be found here:

https://www.wwiiscrapbook.com/

Thanks!
 

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Wish I could help, but it looks like a old box with some dials is all I know! ;)
 
I believe the device is a Mallory B3A intervalometer; a device used to control the release of the bombs. The Mallory company manufactured components for the bomb release system in a number of bombers and you would find some version of this device in each.

There is a brief reference in this PDF (https://www.461st.org/PDFs/December 1992.pdf) to how the setting of the intervalometer was used to program the release based on ground speed and desired spread input.

Current setting: "Pilot to bombardier. We are at 200MPH ground speed- drop thirty-three bombs at a thirteen foot interval."

edit: got my inputs messed up! look at the box with the dials for the inputs... =)
 
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Tim,

I found that the patent for the timing circuits in this device were applied for in 1939. The patent was approved in July of 1944. Also, the ID tag says "PROPERTY, AIR FORCE, U.S. ARMY" not "PROPERTY U.S. AIR FORCE", which tells me it was used in bombers manufactured prior to the USAF existing (1947). That eliminates both the B-47 and the B-52.

Some of the primary bombers manufactured between 1939-1944 were:

B-24 Liberator
B-29 Superfortress
B-17 Flying Fortress

Hope this helps.
 
My dad was in WWII, and as I recall, it was called the "Army Air Corps," not "Force," but that's sure what it says.
 
Wow! Great info Thanks!

Could this have been used in a multi-role aircraft such as a Hellcat?


(photo-bombed airstrip France)
 

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>Could this have been used in a multi-role aircraft such as a Hellcat?

The F6F Hellcat would carry two 1000lb bombs or six rockets .. this controller would be used by a multi-member crew heavy bomber that was dropping many bombs in a line on one or more runs on bridges, runways, and other fixed targets on the ground.
 
Just for kicks, go to www.airbum.com and ask Budd Davisson. He probably has something similar in his collection of aviation odds and ends.
 
Thanks Larry, makes sense now.

Cody, Sent an email to the webmaster. I will post if I get a reply. Thanks!
 

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