Inside The Norden Bombsight

A look at the inner workings of the amazingly complex Norden Bombsight head. The Whirring in the background is the big gyro in the base. It will spin for a good 20 minutes after I power it down.

[@aurelnegrea7617]

Extremely sophisticated machine for those times. Was a secsret at the time.

[@machdw650]

Amazing machine! Thanks for letting us see the inner workings. Every mechanical engineer's envy ;)

[@timothypaul1964]

The Norden Bombsight was used is US medium and heavy bomber aircraft during WWII to determine the exact point in space from which to release bombs to hit a particular target. It was also used during the Korean war. It is an amazing analog computer that solves many complex calculations while making its operation simple for the bombardier.

[@David-lb4te]

Several studies revealed that as few as 5 percent of 8th Air Force bombs fell within 1,000 feet of the target and the average error for 500 pound bombs dropped in Europe was a whopping 1,673 feet.

[@philiptopcik7124]

Just bought one, my father assembled and calibrated the Victor machine in the Enola Gay.

[@timothypaul1964]

+Philip Topcik Wow that's awesome! Is your dad still around? Did you get the stabilizer also?

[@nathanroberson]

New Departure made the bearing for this machine. They also made bicycle hubs for Schwinn. " It will spin for a good 20 minutes after I power it down." is because of New Departure bearings.

[@timothypaul1964]

Nathan Roberson Thanks! I didn't know that!

[@davegergick8659]

Great videos. I picked one of these up last week and need info on the wiring connector. I figured out pins 1 & 2 are for power but what about the others? Are they good for anything since I don't have the stabilizer? Also, the only power supply I have is a 24v, 2A. Will this hurt anything? Is 2A enough amperage?

[@sillyone52062]

Each Norden costs $9k in 1940's money. Winds rendered its calculations useless on most bomb runs.

[@AlfaShedar]

Thanks :) .. this is grate device

[@bornyesterday21]

"General, this man is describing a vacuum cleaner!"

[@AlfaShedar]

what this device exactly is for ?

[@billbright1755]

Had to build them somewhere. They must have be in development in early thirty’s at least. And then to build many thousands of units. They didn’t just poof into being. And literally useless other than on a bomber aircraft. That variable drive is as a snapper lawn mower drive system.

[@jwingo7257]

Built in Brooklyn, NYC!

[@skidmark7119]

Thats way they sent 250 planes one will hit target we had more bombs then brains !

[@mikecastellon3022]

A mechanical computer. Unfortunately totally innefective except at very low altitude . Unbelievably complex.