R.A.F. Henlow Signals Museum Exhibits for disposal

This item has been allocated and so is no longer available

This panel was used to select the release pattern of the the bombs that were to be dropped. The rotary switch (top right) could be
set to "Safe"; "Single & Salvo"; "Distributor"; and "Container". If Distributor was selected the Distributor function would release
the bombs in a pre-set order. Next to the unit were two fusing
switches (one for the tail fuses and one for the nose fuses) which armed the bombs which were selected on the switches on this front
panel.

In the bomb carrier there was a solenoid unit for each bomb. When the bomb was armed, this would grip a wire that was attached to
the fuse on the nose of the bomb
and when the bomb fell, the wire pulled a safety pin from the bomb fuze. This pin allowed a little wind vane to rotate and activate
the fuze after a given number
of turns.

Sec/Ref: 5D/656

Switch Unit Bomb release (Photograph Number 0457)

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