Americans didn't drop the bomb...
Discussion
They WERE involved.
However, their involvement more or less ceased when the design of the bomb changed.
The Lancaster was not really suitable due to range and altitude deficit. Trials were carried out in an attempt to increase the Lancaster's range - particularly the fitting of a saddle tank.
However, their involvement more or less ceased when the design of the bomb changed.
The Lancaster was not really suitable due to range and altitude deficit. Trials were carried out in an attempt to increase the Lancaster's range - particularly the fitting of a saddle tank.
Eric Mc said:
They WERE involved.
However, their involvement more or less ceased when the design of the bomb changed.
The Lancaster was not really suitable due to range and altitude deficit. Trials were carried out in an attempt to increase the Lancaster's range - particularly the fitting of a saddle tank.
apologies Eric - I was meaning involved with actually dropping the damnable thingHowever, their involvement more or less ceased when the design of the bomb changed.
The Lancaster was not really suitable due to range and altitude deficit. Trials were carried out in an attempt to increase the Lancaster's range - particularly the fitting of a saddle tank.
Eric Mc said:
It was basically an all American show. although Group Captain Leonard Cheshire flew on the Hiroshima mission as an RAF observer in another B-29.
Yep, its interesting if you look into the UKs post war nuclear weapon program, and the dodgy things we did in order to end up buying nuclear weapons from the USFourWheelDrift said:
The RAF were involved - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XX9ptCNpik
Eggs and bacon. The chicken was “involved”, the pig was committed...."Code-named "Silverplate," the aircraft were modified by deleting all gun turrets except for the tail position, removing armor plate, installing electric propellers and configuring the bomb bay to accommodate the device."
This caught my attention and I read through the whole post to see what comments were made on it but found none at all !
surely not electric propellers - hardly a minor modification and why would you ?
This caught my attention and I read through the whole post to see what comments were made on it but found none at all !
surely not electric propellers - hardly a minor modification and why would you ?
There's a reference to the modifications here, though isn't specific about the propeller mods.
https://www.atomicheritage.org/history/project-sil...
Interesting Lancaster reference as well.
https://www.atomicheritage.org/history/project-sil...
Interesting Lancaster reference as well.
‘Top Secet’ was the appropriately named B29 assigned as back-up strike aircraft in the event of Enola Gay not being able to complete the mission. On the day Enola Gay was fine so Top Secret landed at Iwo Jima and took no further part.
Did Top Secret carry a second Little Boy (I thought that there were no others) or was there a plan to move the bomb from Enola Gay to Top Secret at an intermediate base?
Did Top Secret carry a second Little Boy (I thought that there were no others) or was there a plan to move the bomb from Enola Gay to Top Secret at an intermediate base?
Didn't we have this convo just the other day? My exciting contribution was the discovery that we were quite central to the actual dropping of the the bomb, in that the bomb shackles (is that he right term?) used in Enola Gay etc were those designed for Tallboy / Grand Slam, the US not having suitable devices on the shelf.
FourWheelDrift said:
The RAF were involved - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XX9ptCNpik
I rather enjoyed that.Yertis said:
Didn't we have this convo just the other day? My exciting contribution was the discovery that we were quite central to the actual dropping of the the bomb, in that the bomb shackles (is that he right term?) used in Enola Gay etc were those designed for Tallboy / Grand Slam, the US not having suitable devices on the shelf.
The US originally used modified glider tow-rope release mechanisms. They were replaced when all four failed on a dummy 'Thin Man' bomb.It's odd, because the US were making their own versions of Tallboy (and latterly, Grand Slam), so you think they would have been at least aware of the UK mechanisms.
Foliage said:
Eric Mc said:
It was basically an all American show. although Group Captain Leonard Cheshire flew on the Hiroshima mission as an RAF observer in another B-29.
Yep, its interesting if you look into the UKs post war nuclear weapon program, and the dodgy things we did in order to end up buying nuclear weapons from the USEdited by Wozy68 on Wednesday 12th August 17:17
Wozy68 said:
Foliage said:
Eric Mc said:
It was basically an all American show. although Group Captain Leonard Cheshire flew on the Hiroshima mission as an RAF observer in another B-29.
Yep, its interesting if you look into the UKs post war nuclear weapon program, and the dodgy things we did in order to end up buying nuclear weapons from the US"Trinity: The Treachery and Pursuit of the Most Dangerous Spy in History" by Frank Close
for a very thorough and interesting expose on the Uk's immediate post war Atomic bomb program
Max_Torque said:
Wozy68 said:
Foliage said:
Eric Mc said:
It was basically an all American show. although Group Captain Leonard Cheshire flew on the Hiroshima mission as an RAF observer in another B-29.
Yep, its interesting if you look into the UKs post war nuclear weapon program, and the dodgy things we did in order to end up buying nuclear weapons from the US"Trinity: The Treachery and Pursuit of the Most Dangerous Spy in History" by Frank Close
for a very thorough and interesting expose on the Uk's immediate post war Atomic bomb program
Thanks, I've just ordered it.
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