Military? Beach finds ID's appreciated MORE PHOTO'S!

[RRPG]

Very nice finds. No 28 and No 30 bomb pistols are my favorite I have lots of brass and bakelite ones that I have dug myself.

Just one minor correction though, they were used on ALL types of bomb, not just those stated. Indeed, some had more than one attached, like the 4,000lb blockbuster which had, if I remember correctly, 5 in the base !

This is how they worked.....

The 'pistol' was screwed into the base of the bomb and a vane attached to the fork in the rear. When the bomb dropped from the plane, the wind would spin the vane and therefore undo the brass fork. Once totally unwound, the firing pin was then 'free floating'. As the bomb hit the ground, the firing pin would shoot forward under the speed of the impact and hit against the detonator within the bomb, thus setting the detonator off.

Hope that helps

RRPG

PS They were also used in American ordnance as well. It is quite common to find them on USAAF and RAF airbases.

[snark1-2]

Thank you for that really interesting to know how they worked, any idea of the other item in this post? i have since found another 3 pronged center piece on the same beach making me think its not a bike bell but perhaps a nosecone of some sort?

[RRPG]

The other piece has me stumped I'm afraid. It almost looks like an electrical fitting of some kind. Many of the bomb pistols had caps that covered the vanes prior to installation on a bomb, but this doesn't look like any of those.

I'll have a think and get back to you

RRPG

[russ 1]

heres a tale of ex military gear but youd need to be an underwater detector.Whe my dad was young he was in the navy based down pembroke in Wales.when they took the navy ships out on exercises they would fire the guns and then shovel all the big empty brass shell cases overboard in the same place.Years later he took his mate who did a lot of skin diving, down pembroke and they went out in a boat to try and find where the shell cases were.After getting to the rough area according to my dad (who was now a lot older) John his mate went over the side and down to the bottom .As he went along he said it was a bit murky with nothing much then he saw a valley on the bottom and it was full with thousands of these large brass shell cases.Of course they started to bring them up and were taking them onto a nearby beach.Anyway when they got back to Newport our home town the police were waiting and politely warned them not to do it again, so all that brass is still down there.Both my dad and his mate John died years ago ,so the secret went with them but I often wonder what it would be worth in todays markets.Also my dad and his mates were great blokes who wernt afraid to try anything and as a kid along for the ride it was great fun Ive had a boat myself for years and treated my kids to the same experiences.

[RRPG]

I've done a bit more digging and your other part could be the cap off a No. 33 nose pistol, but I am not too sure.

On a plus point, I have found my old book on 'British Bombs and Fuses' that lists every type used in WW2 with pictures and descriptions. I have attached the relevant pages showing the No. 28/30 and also the text listing its use.

Hope you find it useful.

Cheers

RRPG

28 & 30.jpg

28 & 30 text.jpg

[Wansdyke44]

Thanks Gents my no28 came with the 2 pronged inside piece but not attached, found this nearby could it be related? my first thought was a bike bell but seems wrong as the 3 pronged piece is threaded and not designed rotate also no way for it to attach to bottom of bell?

find2.jpg

I don't think it's a nose cone, but perhaps it is the tail cap for a bomb fitted with a parachute? Although having said that it seems very over engineered for just a cap?

[snark1-2]

Thanks thats a really comprehensive id, i was lucky to find both types on the same beach cant think what they would be doing there perhaps training went on or as i like to think the children of a member of the RAF were throwing them as mock grenades in their beach war game B-)