Possible B-17 bomb bay component ... ?

[gremlin]

Just got back from a mini-dig with 381st Digger and was hoping that the usual suspects might be able to offer an identification for the chunk of B-17 pictured below ...

It looks vaguely bomb-bay related ... I haven't yet cleaned it up ... so, as yet, cannot see any part numbers ...

Thanks, in advance,
Gremlin

[Paul B]

I think it's part of the bomb pulley bracket mounting frame, which fits inside the fuselage framing between the inboard and outboard racks.

PB

[Paul B]

Yes, guessed correctly.

Both brackets, complete with decals, can be seen in this photo of Mary Alice's bay, the centre ones of the three green ribs:
http://s110605900.websitehome.co.uk/b-17/b17-bomb1.jpg

EDIT: Highlighted image from the Parts Catalog to illustrate position:


All the best,
PB

[381st digger]

Nice one Gremlin im very green

[gremlin]

Paul,
Thanks for the positive ID ... all I need to do now is clean it ... very very carefully to avoid any damage to those decals!

Given the quality of your finds, 381st digger, to make you green is quite an achievement!! Anyway, on our next visit you'll probably find the bomb bay doors ... plus yet another mess tin.

[381st digger]

Anyway, on our next visit you'll probably find the bomb bay doors .

I hope so. Im not sure if Sam will be very happy about me trying to wedge them up the stairs.

[Paul B]

Thanks to Peter AKA "Bomberflight", here's the section on position in Mary Alice, running upwards from the top of the outer bomb rack:



All the best,
PB

[gremlin]

Thanks Pete / Paul ... always nice to have a visual of a relic as it would have been in situ .... Since finding this relic a lot more has been found ... I'm just a bit slow in cleaning / photographing ....

Gremlin

[Steve T]

I hope so. Im not sure if Sam will be very happy about me trying to wedge them up the stairs.

Just leave them at the bottom of the stairs then and attach them with a couple of hinges. They can become nice stair doors PLUS you could take the opportunity to shout 'BOMBS AWAY !!!!!' everytime you came down stairs and went through them.



Steve T

[davejb]

Fit them to a pit outside the front door, every cold caller that comes around , pull the lever, bloody pains in the rear