My grandpa was a engineer in the army in ww2 he mostly built airfields but he also loaded bombers knowing he may have watched this in training is awesome. He also told me that his training sergeant told his group that they would only drop one bomb and they wouldn’t do it again. He dropped one but it didn’t go off thankfully
Interesting film. As a weapons loading crew member from 1963-67 in the USAF, the procedure was streamlined considerably in the field when loading conventional weapons. The aircraft and their systems were different which allowed certain shortcuts (with safety in mind) from what was shown here. Interestingly, we were loading some old, "iron" bombs with stenciled dates back to WWII in 1965-66 in Vietnam on our B-57 bombers. We used a MJ-1 bomb lift truck to lift the bomb up to the installed bomb rack. Fuses were installed afterwards. We could load nine 500 lb. general purpose bombs on the B-57's bomb door and four tanks of napalm on four wing stations in about 30 minutes. Loading nuclear weapons (B-58's) was completely different with a very high level of control and security. Nukes were actually safer to load because of their many built-in safety features. Their handling and loading procedures were very strict and under constant scrutiny that permitted no deviation from approved procedures.
Thanks for taking the time to leave your memories and knowledge of everything. It's very interesting. I was really surprised at the procedure in the video of arming and fuzing before loading (and even before transport!). It seems like a completely unnecessary risk to do that back at the depot considering everything that could go wrong and all the accidents that could happen driving to the plane and hoisting and attaching them, so I'm not surprised at all they switched to arming after. And as far as nuclear weapons, it sounds like you got there right around the time they really got serious about security. Congress only began hearings on those strict controls in 1961 and it wasn't until June of 1962 that JFK finally signed the executive order which required all nuclear weapons have PAL's (permissive action links, ie the boxes that prevent arming without the go code from the president). The stockpile was finished being retrofitted and the controls instituted in September 1963. Interesting history.
Incredible insight to the way things were done back then. As a USAF ammo troop, alot of the things we do nowadays are very similar even if the aircraft and bombs have changed significantly. IYAAYAS
Seeing them load the nose fuse reminded me of off loading 155MM and 8in projectiles from barges to trucks to be sent to ammo storage for later use. The lifting rings were fitted into the hole in the nose of the projo lifting harness attached and the projo were on their way to the truck. Of course we never fitted a fuse to them that would be done when the projo's were being prepped for firing.
Back in high school I had a science teacher a ww2 veteran told of an accident a unauthorized person got in a bomber while being loaded and accidentally released live bombs killing those loading them this we told back in 1969 and he said the unauthorized person would of then still in prison to that day,I forgot the prison
Of course - when loading bombs - don't let those bombs drop as you load them, especially with the safety pins removed. They are designed (most bombs) to detonate upon impact, and if you mess with these bombs (violate loading protocol), the bombs could explode, and can lead to very serious injury or even death.
ere's the issue: Tens of thousands of films similar to this one have been lost forever -- destroyed -- and many others are at risk. Our company preserves these precious bits of history one film at a time. How do we afford to do that? By selling them as stock footage to documentary filmmakers and broadcasters. If we did not have a counter, we could not afford to post films like these online, and no films would be preserved. It's that simple. So we ask you to bear with the watermark and timecodes. In the past we tried many different systems including placing our timer at the bottom corner of our videos. What happened? Unscrupulous TH-cam users downloaded our vids, blew them up so the timer was not visible, and re-posted them as their own content! We had to use content control to have the videos removed and shut down these channels. It's hard enough work preserving these films and posting them, without having to spend precious time dealing with policing thievery -- and not what we devoted ourselves to do. Love our channel and want to support what we do? You can help us save and post more orphaned films! Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/PeriscopeFilm Even a really tiny contribution can make a difference.
I doubt they were ever so meticulous. Tell me if I'm wrong though. I mean I've seen the video of prepping a B-29, that looks like it would take them all day.
Forgot to add the traditional part: "Write any messages to the enemy on the bomb in chalk eg: "Merry Christmas Fritz. Have a blast with this gift!"
Useful information if I ever find myself loading an American bomber.
My grandpa was a engineer in the army in ww2 he mostly built airfields but he also loaded bombers knowing he may have watched this in training is awesome. He also told me that his training sergeant told his group that they would only drop one bomb and they wouldn’t do it again. He dropped one but it didn’t go off thankfully
My father was in ordinance during WWII loading bombs on B17s in Italy, and I thought the same thing.
Marty I know it’s just awesome knowing we could’ve watched something they did
Interesting film. As a weapons loading crew member from 1963-67 in the USAF, the procedure was streamlined considerably in the field when loading conventional weapons. The aircraft and their systems were different which allowed certain shortcuts (with safety in mind) from what was shown here. Interestingly, we were loading some old, "iron" bombs with stenciled dates back to WWII in 1965-66 in Vietnam on our B-57 bombers. We used a MJ-1 bomb lift truck to lift the bomb up to the installed bomb rack. Fuses were installed afterwards. We could load nine 500 lb. general purpose bombs on the B-57's bomb door and four tanks of napalm on four wing stations in about 30 minutes.
Loading nuclear weapons (B-58's) was completely different with a very high level of control and security. Nukes were actually safer to load because of their many built-in safety features. Their handling and loading procedures were very strict and under constant scrutiny that permitted no deviation from approved procedures.
I remember reading mentions about 'The Great Bomb Shortage' during the Vietnam War.
Thanks for taking the time to leave your memories and knowledge of everything. It's very interesting. I was really surprised at the procedure in the video of arming and fuzing before loading (and even before transport!). It seems like a completely unnecessary risk to do that back at the depot considering everything that could go wrong and all the accidents that could happen driving to the plane and hoisting and attaching them, so I'm not surprised at all they switched to arming after.
And as far as nuclear weapons, it sounds like you got there right around the time they really got serious about security. Congress only began hearings on those strict controls in 1961 and it wasn't until June of 1962 that JFK finally signed the executive order which required all nuclear weapons have PAL's (permissive action links, ie the boxes that prevent arming without the go code from the president). The stockpile was finished being retrofitted and the controls instituted in September 1963. Interesting history.
@@GlutenEruption Procedures may have varied. I remember one account that stated that the bombardier did this job as part of the preflight.
Incredible insight to the way things were done back then. As a USAF ammo troop, alot of the things we do nowadays are very similar even if the aircraft and bombs have changed significantly. IYAAYAS
For 500 lb and smaller bombs the B52 uses the same bomb shackles you see here that they used in WW2.
Excellent film.
Interesting. The fuse arming wire procedure is almost same as for today;s MK-82/83/84 bombs .
Grazie, mi mancava!
Saw some B-10 Bolo's in that film.
Seeing them load the nose fuse reminded me of off loading 155MM and 8in projectiles from barges to trucks to be sent to ammo storage for later use. The lifting rings were fitted into the hole in the nose of the projo lifting harness attached and the projo were on their way to the truck. Of course we never fitted a fuse to them that would be done when the projo's were being prepped for firing.
spectacular. lot details !!!
Wow. Any rookie bombardier caught absent-mindedly toying with the bomb release lever should have been sent to the Eastern front.
Back in high school I had a science teacher a ww2 veteran told of an accident a unauthorized person got in a bomber while being loaded and accidentally released live bombs killing those loading them this we told back in 1969 and he said the unauthorized person would of then still in prison to that day,I forgot the prison
I like to think my father watched this, as he was in ordinance in Italy, for B-17’s.
Also, they did do some funny /scary stuff. For the big bombs . They would pull the fuses, and then drop the bomb onto the deck.
Of course - when loading bombs - don't let those bombs drop as you load them, especially with the safety pins removed. They are designed (most bombs) to detonate upon impact, and if you mess with these bombs (violate loading protocol), the bombs could explode, and can lead to very serious injury or even death.
Loading bombs is a real pain in the ass. Dropping them looks fun though.
My dad was an armorer and spent most of WW2 loading bombs in B26s
I wish that Periscope Films would lower their video counter so that the dates and copyright of the films were visible.
ere's the issue: Tens of thousands of films similar to this one have been lost forever -- destroyed -- and many others are at risk. Our company preserves these precious bits of history one film at a time. How do we afford to do that? By selling them as stock footage to documentary filmmakers and broadcasters. If we did not have a counter, we could not afford to post films like these online, and no films would be preserved. It's that simple. So we ask you to bear with the watermark and timecodes.
In the past we tried many different systems including placing our timer at the bottom corner of our videos. What happened? Unscrupulous TH-cam users downloaded our vids, blew them up so the timer was not visible, and re-posted them as their own content! We had to use content control to have the videos removed and shut down these channels. It's hard enough work preserving these films and posting them, without having to spend precious time dealing with policing thievery -- and not what we devoted ourselves to do.
Love our channel and want to support what we do? You can help us save and post more orphaned films! Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/PeriscopeFilm Even a really tiny contribution can make a difference.
Good video
What did you do during the war?
I was the guy that wiggled the bombs!! I was a bomb wiggler..
What type of aerial bomb?
Damn this made me realize WT repair cost not high enough
Loaded bombs for the USAF / ANG for almost 33 (1987 - 2020) years also of stuff carried down from WW II to the present day.
How do you sleep at night?
@1:22 I'll go out on a limb and say these may not be 1000lb bombs.
Either that or those country boys a lot stronger back then😀
They're not even 500 pounders, those were loaded with a winch.
The U.S. Army did not adopt the 24 hour clock until July 1 1942.
I doubt they were ever so meticulous. Tell me if I'm wrong though. I mean I've seen the video of prepping a B-29, that looks like it would take them all day.
T: In my experience, you may work quickly with ordnance but we always did it by the book. Doing otherwise results in death.
For the record I never got to wear a newsboy hat while loading...
did anyone else get this video when they googled "how to make a bomb and put it on a plane"
Were they allowed to wear wedding rings while arming ? Thought the metal in the ring might have created a inadvertent electrical spark ?
I'll take 3, 500lb'ers