Information about the 100lb Skymaker Bomb

[German EOD]

Hi all.
I hope someone can help me.
I looking for an picture from this Bomb fuze. Now only that it is an Bakelite etc part with an elektric blasting cap inside.
Serach so many Dokuments but find no picture from this fuze.

Thanks for help

 

[Dreamk]

"Skymarker" is a British denomination. As you speak of a 100lbs bomb I understand that your intention is one of the US bombs serving as a "skymarker".
Which one is of interest for you? the 100lbs M84A1 "target indicator" ( producing a red/orange cloud in the air to indicate to bomber formation the point where they where to drop their bombs) or the 100lbs T29/ M87 smoke streamer (producing a column of smoke along its path down to earth). the first used a regular AN-M147 tiem fuse, the second a M143

As you speak of bakelite, electric balistic cap and such, this may indicate that you are speaking of the 100lbs smoke signal based on the M47 bomb, that was used in 1944-45 and not mentioned in US documentation as it was a temporary solution . It was more a "traget indicator" than a "skymarker" as it was intended to detonate at impact.
Here's a drawing of its fuze, from Henry Belot's deminest, based on a German wartime EOD's drawing from 1944:



It could also sometimes be equioped with a AN-M100 A1 fuse, modified so as to act as a "traction" fuse, so the bomb could be activated in mid air, therefore creating a "skymarker"


These are rare finds, known mainly from German late war sources.

 

[Eggburt1969]

Some details I have locally on the British Skymaker CHB Mk. I bomb, which featured Bakelite diaphragms, which were ruptured by electric blasting caps.

Going by the details given the latter diaphragms were normally ruptured in the air so the 'Skymarker' trail could be formed, not on impact.

First from the US publication 'Advanced Fuze & Explosive Ordnance Bulletin 6 (1944)'.


Second from the US publication 'USNBD - US Bombs and Fuzes, Pyrotechnics (1945)', from the entry on the 100 lb M47 series incendiary bombs.


And finally some German diagrams.



A sectional diagram.


And finally the AN-M100 series fuze and its adapter.

 

[Fusse2004]

Here are some photos of my 100 Skymarker (discontinued collection)

 

[Dreamk]

As a matter of fact there is an old thread on this bomb here:

M-100 for Skymarker Bomb 100 lb

Hello! Want to introduce you my new access! A M-100 for smoke bomb 100 lb. Have in getting at the weekend at the meeting in Landhorst. Have a question about this: this Fuze was produced in series? Greeting Harry

www.bocn.co.uk

including this drawing of the so-called CHB Mk1 developped by the 8th Air Force, with the August 1944 modification mounting a M-100 fuze instead of the electric busters:

 

[German EOD]

Thats all Information that I need thanks All very much. That's the best forum

 

[Antoon]

The filling was titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4). When titanium tetrachloride comes into contact with moisture in the air, it reacts vigorously, producing hydrochloric acid (HCI) and a dense white cloud of titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles, that we see as white "smoke".

On the picture you can see the "smoke" trail from the sky markers that were dropped by the Lead bombardiers as a sign for the rest of there formation to drop there bombs. This because later in the air war only Lead or Deputy Lead Bombardiers performed all sighting operations, i.e., sight for both range and deflection. Flight Leaders will drop their bombs when the Leader drops and all wing Bombardiers will drop their bombs on their respective section Leader's release.

When there were not enough sky markers available, one of two bombs of the lead/deputy lead were sometimes provided with long strips of brightly colored fabric on the tail of the bomb, or the bombs were painted in bright colors.

On the other picture you can see a B-24 Liberator "Pathfinder" that just has dropped Sky Markers, Parachute Flares, and 500 lb. GP bombs on an, through clouds invisible, oil plant which showed up on the Mickey (radar) screen.