Subject: THE DAY THE 344TH STOPPED PATTON
From: Dave Holford
Date: 9/7/03 2:23 PM Pacific Daylight Time
Message-id:



" wrote:

(ArtKramr) wrote:


Are you saying that there was no _option_ to drop ordnance 'safe'
at all then?. Or was it _policy_ to jettison 'live' just in case
there was interesting enemy items below, is that it then?...

I know that the shackles in the bomb-bays of the Lancasters,
Neptunes and Argus all had an electrical solenoid holding the end
of the arming wire in the shackle. When a 'safe drop' was needed
then this solenoid was powered which allowed the arming wire to
be pulled out of the shackle when the bomb was released therefore
the bomb wouldn't arm itself. That wasn't the case on the B-26 I
assume?.
--

-Gord.


Nope. Safe Salvo was not an option. We didn't have a "safe" switch at all.
We
salvoed over the PO Valley through the clouds and hit Panzers engaged in
battle. We all got battle stars for the Po Valley for that one. It was the
only
"easy" battle start I ever won. I think our air generals worried about too
many
safe releases over enemy targets so they just removed that option.


Arthur Kramer

Ok...makes sense, thanks...
--

-Gord.


Sounds like a serious problem on takeoff could result in some pretty
nasty damage close to home - must have happened a few times?

Dave



Go to my website and read "Death on the Runway"


Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer