British or american?

**matilda** · 07-26-2009, 09:26 PM

A honest old man from neibherhood ,who gave me this think(dont know the wright name so I call it fuse protector),have this as a memory on air raid, he saw himself as a young boy in late 1943.

He said that there was only one plain action.Suddenly atack with only one big bomb unknow big plain failed railway bridge and immedeately desapere.Bomb was exploded in nearest forrest and he was taken this protector as a souvenir,now it is in my collection.

I think it is British but not shure.I have no idea to what kind of bomb it belong.

Maybe someone of you ,dear experts collectors ,know more abut this thinks.

Ill be gratefull for every comment.

Cheers

Alois

**Steve T** · 07-27-2009, 01:14 AM

Hi

It is the vane cap from a British nose pistol from an aerial bomb (between 250lb and 4000lb). The nose pistol is basically what sets the bomb off. The holes in the vane are for the safety pin which is normally only removed once the bomb is secured in the plane itself. As the bomb drops, the vane rotates and then, after 13 rotations, drops off the nose of the bomb, exposing the inner diaphragm and thus 'arming' the bomb.

Nice relic by the way !

Hope that helps

Steve T