Any Anson experts here?

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Member for

12 years 6 months

Posts: 8

I'm trying to identify an aircraft seen in the image at the top of this page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Course_Setting_Bomb_Sight

Someone suggested it might be an Anson, but I've had a very difficult time finding images of an Anson that might be set up for bomb aimer training.

I have seen some images that suggest there is a small square window under the extreme nose, but it doesn't seem to match the outline I see here.

It's entirely possible this isn't a training plane at all, and it could even be something like the ventral gun hatch on a Whitley or Wellington, but then why would one use that when those aircraft actually USED the CSBS in the "normal" location?!

ANY guesses?!

Original post

Member for

16 years 11 months

Posts: 2,004

I'm pretty sure the unfortunate fellow is a Fairey Battle bomb aimer.

Member for

13 years 5 months

Posts: 218

Anson?

Hi Maury

I'm sure from my Airfix model of an Anson made about 40 years ago (!) that the window was a very small rectangular one across under the tip of the nose, not oval like the one in the wiki picture seems to be.

Ian

Member for

12 years 6 months

Posts: 8

I'm pretty sure the unfortunate fellow is a Fairey Battle bomb aimer.

You sir, have a keen eye!

It took me a while, but I found a picture of the underside of a Battle. Sure enough, there's a sliding section of roughly teardrop shape that I'm certain is what I'm looking at.

Thanks!

Member for

13 years 3 months

Posts: 865

Battle bomb aimer, second picture is the posted question

Member for

14 years 11 months

Posts: 90

According to my copy of the AP1525, the Anson used the MkVIIB Bombsight.