WWII Practice Bombs: Training for Aerial Warfare

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During the Second World War, the air forces of the Allied nations used a variety of practice bombs to train bombardiers and ground attack pilots without the dangers inherent in using live explosives. For British Commonwealth forces, the most common type of practice bomb was the 11.5 lb Mk.I, which could be filled with either smoke composition for daylight bombing or flash powder for night bombing.
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[@michaelbevan3285]

The small practise bombs also had a ballistic flight behaviour that matched larger live bombs so that the aircrew dropped them at the same altitudes and airspeeds as standard 250 and 500 lb bombs. Later, jet aircraft used a NATO standard Small Bomb Carrier that could carry practise bombs or live small bombs such as 100 lb bombs. In WW 2, the Luftwaffe used concrete bombs in combat to break open reinforced gun positions.

[@bigbob1699]

Growing up in NYC in the 60 -70s all army surplus stores had to have a 500 Lb practice bomb out front.

[@theknifedude1881]

When I was in the USN I found a 50# practice bomb(I thought inert). Fortunately a friend who was a member of EOD noticed it was NOT inert but contained 1/2# of TNT. He disarmed it and said EOD needed it for a weight on a shot-line.

[@Inflorescensse]

Awesome. My granddad was lead bombardier for 35 missions over western Europe in a progressively holier B-17. He said by the end of the war the only guy in formation to use the Norton bomb sight was the guy in the lead. Everyone just watched for them to drop and follow suit. 35 missions he fired his 50’s just one time at a german plane. Half second burst and the elevation bottomed.

[@womble321]

I knew a guy who was just about to go back to Britain as a fighter pilot when the war ended. He never flew again.

[@avpinstarter]

Where have you been all my life excellent video

[@Mrs.Bombtastic]

Canada had a large training area in Fingal Ontario. They used these training devices there. They were dark green. The runways can still be walked as it’s now a nature reserve. Fingal Wildlife

[@maxpayne2574]

All the things needed for training that a person never thinks of interesting as always.

[@avpinstarter]

Looking forward to other videos you make hope you can find some british practice bombs to review

[@JoseFernandez-qt8hm]

Florida, Clewiston, Belle Glade...

[@schmit6576]

I didn’t even know Canada trained that many air crew. Interesting as always!