Out of a bomber , sure is WW2 but what is it and what type has it come from

[kiwiwreckdiver]

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Any help would be much apprenticed guys , thanks
MISH

[big ned]

It's an auxillary power unit (APU) as used on medium to large U.S. aircraft during the war and later. They were gasoline powered and were used to charge aircraft batteries and help start the engines. The one below has been moved from below the floor and placed forward by the radio inside this C-46 Commando as they had a habit of catching fire.

It was also used in the DC-3/C-47 Dakota and probably many other American/Allied large aircraft types including bombers and flying boats. It was something like this that caused the B-29 'Kee Bird' recovery disaster back in the early 90's.

Regards, Ned.

[harryamb2]

that was sickening after all that work Ned.

[kiwiwreckdiver]

WOW Big Ned you are an endless fountain of knowledge , thanks so much for your time and effort, keep up the good work mate

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WOW Big Ned you are an endless fountain of knowledge , thanks so much for your time and effort, keep up the good work mate

[Gary J]

In Lancasters, they supposedly used a variant of a 500cc Triumph motorcycle engine with a lightweight head. (alloy).
These heads are like rocking horse sh%t, and were used by racers after the war.

Quote :
"One product was a portable electrical generator set powered by a detuned version of the 500cc Speed twin engine. The generator unit was designed to be carried by Lancaster bombers for in-flight battery charging. Its cylinder head and block were cast in aluminium alloy. Both castings featured square-sided cooling fins to mount the generator unit’s sheet metal shroud. The lightweight head and block were later used with modification on the Triumph factory’s first post-war road racer, the 500cc Grand Prix, as well as the first TR5 Trophy."

Gary J.