Redback

OK, how about Project Pluto?

In 1957, the Air Force and the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission contracted with the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory to study the feasibility of applying heat from nuclear reactors to ramjet engines. This research became known as Project Pluto. This program was to provide engines for an unmanned cruise missile, called SLAM, for Supersonic Low Altitude Missile. The program succeeded in producing two test engines, which were operated on the ground. On May 14, 1961, the world's first nuclear ramjet engine, "Tory-IIA," mounted on a railroad car, roared to life for just a few seconds. On July 1, 1964, seven years and six months after it was born, "Project Pluto" was cancelled

zippome

It wasn't cancelled, it was downgraded to a "dwarf-project"!
*disclaimer*
This is a joke referring to Pluto being downgraded to a dwarf planet. No little people were harmed while making this joke.....

JohnnyS

And that's it! Redback, you're up.

Apparently the SLAM would have been an early form of cruise missile. It would have been about the size of a locomotive, powered by a fission reactor ramjet, travelled at Mach 3 to 4+ and would have flown around multiple targets flinging h-bombs at those targets then finally crashing into the last target. What an absolutely wild idea!!

Redback

Rats, why can't I learn to keep my big mouth shut!

Now the search for a question begins!!

Terry

Redback

Getting harder and harder, however I have come up with something:

This aircraft must have been one of the slowest ever deployed against incoming bombers in WW2, and the means by which is was supposed to bring them down one of the most unusual.


Terry

JohnnyS

That could be a barrage balloon.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

JohnnyS; I don't know if you are correct, but that was my initial thought exactly. Ether that, or one of the "balloon" experiments that were supposed to explode in the middle of the enemy bomber formation. Thanks; Ernie P.

Redback

It could indeed be a barrage balloon, but it isn't

In actual fact it was not speed but its slow rate of climb that was the main handicap.


Terry

Redback

Time, I think, for another clue. Not sure how many I can milk out of this!!

- Despite some success (somewhere between 4 and 6 bombers destroyed) the experiment was abandoned and plans to replace the aircraft with a more modern one cancelled.

Terry

Top_Gunn

My Feedback: (6)

I have an idea of what the experiment may have been, but no notion of what the aircraft was and no ability to find a source.

Redback

Another clue

The aircraft itself was originally a bomber.

Terry

zippome

How about the Blackburn Roc?

Redback

No sir, not the Roc.
apart from the experiment referred to this aircraft did perform some useful WW2 as a transport and for evacuating casualties.

Terry

metaldriver

Are you thinking Westland Lysander

Redback

No, not the Lizzie!

Terry

Redback

OK another clue.

Like many of this nations bombers at the time this aircraft was named after a town in its country of origin.

Terry

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

I've been away on a mini vacation, watching the NASCAR races in Richmond. I'm thinking you may have the name thing just a bit out of kilter; but could you be talking about using the Vickers Wellington as an early AEWC aircraft to counter air launched V-1's? Thanks; Ernie P.



The Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engined, long range medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, by Vickers-Armstrongs' Chief Designer, Rex Pierson in response to specification B.9/32. Issued in the middle of 1932 this called for a twin-engined day bomber of perceptibly higher performance than any previous designs. It was widely used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, before being displaced as a bomber by the larger four-engined "heavies" such as the Avro Lancaster. The Wellington continued to serve throughout the war in other duties, particularly as an anti-submarine aircraft. It was the only British bomber to be produced for the entire duration of the war, and was still first-line equipment when the war ended. The Wellington was one of two bombers named after Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, the other being the Vickers Wellesley.

In late 1944, a radar-equipped Wellington XIV from 407 Sqn. RCAF was modified for use by the RAF's Fighter Interception Unit as what would now be described as an airborne early warning and control aircraft. It operated at an altitude of some 4,000 ft (1,219 m) over the North Sea to control a de Havilland Mosquito and a Bristol Beaufighter fighter intercepting Heinkel He 111 bombers flying from Dutch airbases, and carrying out airborne launches of the V-1 flying bomb. The FIU operator's on the Wellington would search for the He-111 aircraft climbing to launch altitude, then direct the Beaufighter to the bomber, while the Mosquito would attempt to intercept the V-1 if launched.


Transport variants
Wellington C Mark XV
Service conversions of the Wellington Mark IA into unarmed transport aircraft; able to carry up to 18 troops.
Wellington C Mark XVI
Service conversions of the Wellington Mark IC into unarmed transport aircraft; able to carry up to 18 troops.

Redback

No Ernie, not the Vickers Wellington, the aircraft I am looking for is much more obscure!!

Another WW2 bomber from this manufacturer, also named for a city, is much better known (not the Lancaster HA HA)

Terry

zippome

How about the Ventura?
By this time No. 2 Squadron RNZAF at Ohakea and No. 9 Squadron RNZAF were also using the type. The following year No. 4 Squadron RNZAF and No. 8 Squadron RNZAF also received Venturas. Some squadrons were retained on garrison duty while others followed the allied advance to Emirau and Green Island and to New Britain. RNZAF Venturas were tasked with routine patrols, anti-shipping strikes, minelaying, bombing and strafing missions, air-sea rescuepatrols, and photographic reconnaissance missions. In an apparently bizarre case of taking Lockheed's marketing slogan of The Fighter-Bomber too literally, even briefly, Venturas conducted fighter sweeps.
RNZAF machines often clashed with Japanese fighters, notably during an air-sea rescue patrol on Christmas Eve 1943. NZ4509 was attacked by nine Japanese single-engined fighters over St. George's Channel. It shot down three, later confirmed, and claimed two others as probables, although it suffered heavy damage in the action. The pilot, Flying Officer D. Ayson and navigator, Warrant Officer W. Williams, were awarded the DFC. The dorsal turret gunner Flight Sergeant G. Hannah was awarded the DFM.

metaldriver

Avro Manchester

JohnnyS

Handley Page Harrow?

Redback

And, we have a winner...................the Handley Page Harrow it is!!!!!!!!!

The Harrow also served in a novel operational role at the height of the German night Blitz against Britain in the winter of 1940-1941, with six Harrows equipping No. 420 Flight RAF (later to become No. 93 Squadron RAF[SUP][7][/SUP]) which used lone Harrows to tow Long Aerial Mines (LAM) into the path of enemy bombers. The LAM was an explosive charge on the end of a long cable. This unorthodox tactic was credited with the destruction of six German Bombers[SUP][4][/SUP] or 4-5, depending on the source[SUP][7][/SUP] The experiment was however judged of poor value and the planned deployment of Douglas Havocs in the LAM role cancelled.

Johnny you are in the seat!!!

Terry

JohnnyS

That was a hard one. Well done!

OK, here goes.

1. It was a fighter developed from a heavy bomber.
2. The "Day Fighter" version had an unusual armament.

JohnnyS

1. It was a fighter developed from a heavy bomber.
2. The "Day Fighter" version had an unusual armament.
3. The "Day Fighter" version armament was a 75mm gun.
4. Twin engines.

SimonCraig1

The Ju 88 P variants developed as ground attack and bomber destroyers?