FRE 6925

IMAGE

By downloading this image, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions

A Norden bombsight. Caption on reverse of photograph: 'NYP 47180'[ written annotation].'11/27/44. SIGHT THAT SENDS U.S. BOMBS TO THEIR MARK. The famed Norden bombsight , one of the most closely guarded secrets of the war, is the almost human device that enables U.S. bombers to hit their targets with uncanny accuracy. The lower half, containing a horizontal gyroscope to maintain azimuth control, is usually permanently installed in the plane. The vertical gyroscope, which stabilizes the telescope sight, is in the detachable upper half. The bombardier sights his target through the eyepiece(top) which is lined with rubber to prevent injury to its operator when the going is rough, and manipulates the two knobs(right), which aim the bombs and fly the plane while making the bombing run. He makes only two computations --- direction and altitude --- which are "fed" into the machine and are automatically compensated for along with drift, wind resistance and other features.The target can be sighted and the bombs release within 15 to 20 seconds. Although some of thge bombsights have been captured intact by the enemy, it would takes years to reproduce the intricate mechanism, which contains 2,000 parts. SERVICED BY NEW YORK TO LIST A 35726-PPA. NOT FOR USE IN BRITISH ISLES, NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA, HAWAII, SOUTH AFRICA OR WESTERN HEMISPHERE. APPROVED BY APPROPRIATE U.S. AUTHORITY.'

Revisions

Date:
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
Sources

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection