German bomb release device

[F0031]

Acquired this interesting object at Detling. Looks like it is specially made for releasing 50kg bombs. 8 screw holes are presumably for fixing to the underside of aircraft wing. Except for a picture on page 28 of Fleischer's book, German Air-dropped Weapons, I can find no information. Tried searching Google without success.

Tony

 

[spotter]

Thats cleaned up well

 

[Bellifortis]

I'm no specialist on this type of gear and have seen no literature on it. The german edition of Fleischer's book seems to have a different pagination and also he shows a few different "Schloesser", the only picture that has some similarity is of a 50 kg bomb with the attached "Schloss" on page 38 of the german edition. There are 3 devices for holding, releasing and charging a german bomb. The "Traegerlafette" with an attached "Schloss"and the charging gear. There are many different types of "Schloss" (like:500/XI or EHVC 500/VIII or CTC 500 or 50/X or ETC 50/VIIId or ETC 50/VIII See or ESAC Tandem) and charging gear depending on the type of aircraft and the type of bomb. Your device may be a "Schloss 50/X", but I'm not shure at all. Attached is rare drawing of one type of charging gear for the electrical fuze.
Regards,
Bellifortis.

Acquired this interesting object at Detling. Looks like it is specially made for releasing 50kg bombs. 8 screw holes are presumably for fixing to the underside of aircraft wing. Except for a picture on page 28 of Fleischer's book, German Air-dropped Weapons, I can find no information. Tried searching Google without success.

Tony

 

[butterfly]

here is an old thread, I believe this shows the type 50/X release unit. http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/threads/76166-50kg-bomb-release-and-charging-unit

I am suprised that there has been no reference material made on these, there seem to be quite a number of variations. The most obvious is the size of bomb carried, then there is also variations depending on the type of aircraft they were fitted to.

nice item Tony, and its bits like this that intrigue me, often finding out what exactly they are is a greater part of the fun of owning them.

regards Kev

 

[F0031]

Thats cleaned up well

Yes, the small clip at the front and the alloy cap for the socket now move freely. I still have to work on freeing up the big alloy grips.

 

[F0031]

It's definitely a variant of ETC 50/VIII. Possibly 50/VIIIb. See

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?p=99341

but I had to register with 12 O'clock High to see the pictures.