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Turkish Bombs 1937-1939

Dreamk

Well-Known Member
After Greek bombs, Turkish bombs is a must - another poorly documented subject, every input will be more than welcome.
Turkish bombs were produced in the Interwar period by the Sakir Zumre company ("Zümre Harp Sanayi Fabrikası" "Sakir Zumre War Industry Factory") and included a surprising wide range of bombs.
Newspapers reported in 1937 that this company sold aerial bombs to Greece and it was perceived as a deliberate move from the Ataturk government to turn a new page in the relations between Turkey and Greece.
According to Turkish sources these bombs were also exported to Bulgaria, Poland (?????) and (probably after ww2) Egypt, Syria and Jordan.

One may have legitimate doubts upon the performances of the 1939 bomb series as their partly folded wing (aimed at spinning the bomb, as on early ww1 Michelin bombs and on interwar Bofors bombs) seem rather flimsy. The reinforcing circle on the 500kg bomb seems also quite "modest" for its task. Generally speaking, judging from the photos, these bombs seem of poorer quality than the previous "small bombs" series.

A.jpgA1.jpgC.jpgD.jpgE.jpgF 1937-1938.jpg

(the guy standing in the photo is Sakir Zumre, one of the earliest and closest supporter of Mustafa Kemal, and the "father" of modern Turkish ammunitions industry, as well as being the one who put Turkish economy on its rails after the end of ww1).

Any details upon weight and dimensions would be really appreciated.

Enjoy!
 
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What nationality are the men in front of the airoplane, in the last photo. Of the group of 14 only 4 look to be turkish.
 
This is a quite famous photo of Ataturk adopted daughter Sabiha Goksen, the first woman combat pilot in history (Istanbul Airport is called after her name), together with the other squadron crews during operations against the Dersim rebellion in 1937. Quite a lot of Turkish look European or Slav, it's part of Turkish history. They all wear the same uniform (look at the characteristic shape of breast pockets' flap)
 
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Some new photographs of Turkish bombs from the Sakir Zumre factory:

6HuRtgdEa85ptR6E-636644877468994649.jpgsakirzumre2 (1).jpg DM6JwwEX4AMvwIt.jpg DO2__ZtXUAInJ-e.jpg

The 1925 is the date of creation of the company not of the bombs - these cylindrical ones are from 1938-39.
This is a simple drawing I made from the (bad resolution - impossible to resize it) blueprint of the wall behind Sakir Zumre on the fourth photograph

Sakir Zumre Bomb Longitudinal drawing.gif
and these are examples from a Turkish museum

160397_52261534_30 (1).jpg 160397_104497843_IMG_20160510_121727 (1).jpg 160397_112536142_IMG_20160510_121738 (1).jpg 160397_50447232_IMG_20160510_121641 (1).jpg 160397_73148484_IMG_20160510_121631 (1).jpg

and another one under the wing of a Turkish PZL24

Turkish P24 bomb.jpg

I'd be delighted to get more information on these bombs and their fuzes.
 
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The only plane in the Turkish Air Force that could have carried such a 1000kg bomb (or even 2, as its bomb load was up to 2430kg) on an external rack was the He111F1 bought in 1938.
 
After posting that message i looked into it too and its true that it was the he 111 that could carry it and the other bombs. Im currently looking for a pic of it carrying the bombs.
 
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