Development of Radar Bombing - Appendix I

APPENDIX I

 

CONTROL TEST of the SYNCHRONIZED BOMB CIRCLE AND THE TARGET LINE

 

1. Purpose of Tests.

The following described tests will be conducted to determine the correctness of the basic principles, the proper application of these principles and the accuracy with which the applications may be used.

2. Equipment Test Schedule.
   1. Ten teams, one Mickey operator and one bombardier each, have been selected to conduct these tests (see Par 6).
   2. Ground Instruction and Briefing.
      1. 1. Each team will be given instructions on the principles of the equipment, the function of the equipment, the purpose of the equipment and the use of the equipment.
         2. Each Mickey operator will be given preliminary instruction on bombsight (Norden N-Series). operation.  The bombardier of each team will be responsible for the further instruction of the Mickey operator of his team.
         3. Each bombardier will be given preliminary instruction on PPI interpretation.  The Mickey operator of each team will be responsible for the further instruction of the bombardier of his team.
3. Aerial Tests.
   1. The nine targets selected have been chosen for their applicability to Mickey testing.  One run will consist of practice bombing each target in the sequence listed.  During each bomb run, visual vertical photographs and radar recording photographs will be simultaneously taken.  Each team will make four types of runs:
      1. 1. Synchronous Pathfinder run as now done in the Air Force.  The bombsight optics will be covered.
         2. Bombardier remote run in which the bombardier will observe the remote scope in the bombardier’s position.  The synchronized Bomb Circle and Target Line controls will be used by the bombardier and only scope interpretation information will be supplied to him by the Mickey operator.  The optical part of the bombsight will be covered.
         3. Mickey remote run in which the Mickey operator will operate the Synchronized Bomb Circle and Target Line controls from the bombardier’s position.  Another Mickey operator will be supplied to operate the Mickey equipment as desired by the Mickey operator in the nose of the aircraft.  Again, the optics in the bombsight will be covered.

1. Bombardier remote-synchronous run which will, as nearly as possible, simulate normal combat runs.  This run will be similar to run 2 except the bombsight optics will be uncovered and the bombardier and Mickey operator will coordinate all possible methods to accomplish accurate bombing runs.  Five targets have been chosen, as shown in Par 5, for this run.  An attempt will be made to make these runs on days when cloud conditions range from 5 to 10/10th coverage.  If the cloud coverage is less than 5/10th, the run will not be recorded.
   2. All teams will be thoroughly briefed upon the equipment and the tests and will be given opportunity to become familiar with their operation before a run is commenced.  After each team has completed its four runs, it will submit a memorandum relating its observations.  They will be interrogated and any discussion desired will be had.
4. Results of Tests.
   1. The radar recording and the visual photographs will be analyzed to show the aircraft ground track and the point of bomb release.  From the visual photographs, accuracy of bombing will be known.  The radar recording photographs will show the operation of the equipment and give a determination of the accuracy of plotting radar recording photographs.
   2. Run 1 will give an evaluation of the accuracy of the men and the equipment as they are now used.  No controlled tests have yet been made in this Air Force to determine the accuracy of our methods.  Comparison of runs 1 and 3 will evaluate the Synchronized Bomb Circle and Target Line principles.  Comparison of runs 2 and 3 will evaluate the application of these principles.  Run 4 will show the practicability of a bombardier doing coordinated synchronous bombing; i.e., it will indicate whether or not a man can use both the remote scope and the optics for coordinated bombing.  From the navigation logs and the above comparisons, the accuracy of Pathfinder under varying wind conditions may be determined.
5. Targets, Initial Points and Number of Pictures.

Photographs (simultaneous Radar Recording and Visual) will be taken at 30 second intervals from the initial point of each target to the target itself.  The following table gives the target number, the target, the initial point for that target, the miles of bomb run between the initial point and the target, approximately the number of minutes required for the bomb run and the number of photographs to be taken during the run.  All runs will be made at 20,000 feet true altitude.  The following times and numbers are based on 160 mph IAS, 20,000 feet true altitude, -30^o C true temperature (giving 215 mph TAS).

 

TARGET                                                IP                                            RUN-MI.              MIN.                      PICS.

 

1  Pianosa                            L.Varno                                 22.5                        6.2                          13

2  Foggia                               Pt. Vieste                            43                           11.8                        24

3  Termoli                             S. Severo                             30                           8.3                          17

4  Pianosa                            Termoli                                 41                           11.3                        23

5  Manfredona                  L. Lesina                               26                           7.2                          15

6  Barletta                            Manfredona                      29                           8                              16

7  Bari                                    Barletta                                                33                           9.1                          18

8  Lecce                                                Francavilla                           33                           9.1                          18

9  Gioia                                 Grottaglia A/D                   31                           8.6                          17

                                                                                                                                                                161

 

1  Rome                                Ferentino                            40                           11.2                        23

2  Terni                                  L. Bracciano                        34                           9.5                          19

3  Arezzo                              Radicofani                           39                           10.9                        22

4  Florence                          Siena                                     33                           9.2                          19

5  Perugia                            Sansepolcro                       34                           9.5                          19

                                                                                                                                                                102

 

6. Teams.

Teams will consist of an experienced bombardier and an experienced Mickey operator.  Five teams will be made up of men from each Wing and will preferably be composed of the Wing Bombardier and the Wing Mickey Operator.  Other teams will consist of Headquarters Fifteenth Air Force Mickey operators and bombardiers, and of other selected men who have had both Mickey and bombardiering training.  A total of ten teams has been selected.

 

Headquarters Fifteenth Air Force

Major JOHN R. BROWN                                 Lt M. L. GROBAN

Major VANE T. WILSON                                 Capt H. McPHERSON

 

5th Wing

Major EVERETT DAVIS                                    Capt STANLEY BEERLI

Capt ENOCH BROYLES                                    Lt R. E. JOHNSON

 

47th Wing

Major PAUL R. NUGENT                                                Capt PETE SJOBERG

Capt NORMAN L. KOHNESHER                    Capt GLENN E. ROGERS

49th Wing

Lt ROBERT F. PHALEN                                      Lt RICHARD M. GUSTAFAN

55th Wing

Lt Col DWIGHT E. BONIN                               Capt R. F. BLACKER

Major J. B. CRAIN                                             Capt E. L. DROW

304th Wing

Major A. K. TROBAUGH                                 Capt G. A. R. HOYER

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