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Probable B-17 link chute ID needed please

Mon Dec 14, 2009 7:16 pm

We had our second "Dump Dig" at the weekend, there'll be a full report on usaaf.co.uk in due course.

Amongst the bits and bobs that turned up was a spent link chute.
I'll get some photos later, but in the meantime here are the part numbers on it:

1389-LH
1357-LH
1348
ET-1059 over an L in a diamond

If anyone could identify it from those it would be greatly appreciated.

All the best,
PB
Last edited by RAMC181 on Tue Dec 15, 2009 7:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Re: Link chute ID needed please

Tue Dec 15, 2009 4:37 pm

Photos as promised:

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All the best,
PB

Re: Probable B-17 link chute ID needed please

Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:47 pm

I was wondering if the ET prefix was for Emerson.

In other news, here's a few more items that turned up in the second Dump Dig at the weekend:

Plastic container, fountain pen body and issue toothbrush:
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Closeup of the J&J toothbrush with US ARMY markings:
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H-1 bailout bottle:
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B-17 brake pad:
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Aerial insulators:
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All the best,
PB

Re: Probable B-17 link chute ID needed please

Sat Dec 26, 2009 8:29 pm

Checking my records from the Big Dig, I see we found a few of these chutes then too.

B-17 upper or ball turret maybe?

Re: Probable B-17 link chute ID needed please

Sat Dec 26, 2009 9:15 pm

Maybe ball turret chute, the more I study it, Paul. It is about the right size to fit the overboard openings in our turret at the museum, anyway.

Scott

Re: Probable B-17 link chute ID needed please

Sat Dec 26, 2009 11:28 pm

The two piece plastic container probably held an issue GILLETTE razor which completely knocked down for storage, my dad had one for years that he was issued when in the Navy during WW2, kept it with the camping/fishing gear-now long gone

Re: Probable B-17 link chute ID needed please

Sun Dec 27, 2009 8:10 pm

Ta for that, I believe there was the stem and head of a razor found nearby.

All the best,
PB

Re: Probable B-17 link chute ID needed please

Sun Dec 27, 2009 9:03 pm

Paul,
I don't believe that those chutes came off of a B-17G model, I just looked through my G model Parts Catalog and Erection and Maintenance Manual and was not able to find any of the part numbers you listed. In fact the G model parts catalog does not list any P/N's begining with 13-anything. I think that they were superstitious because the numerical index goes from 12-whatever to 14-whatever. :wink: :shock:

Maybe it was off of an earlier B-17 model or another type altogether. We'll take any of those brake pads you care to send us though! :D

Another weird thing I noticed is that the Parts catalog totally skips over the ball turret. For all of the other gun positions it gives a pretty detailed parts accounting for the ammo boxes, chutes, and so forth, except for the ball turret. I'm guessing that the armorers had a separate manual for the ball turrett, as I have found a specific manual for the chin turret, so it would make sense......I guess.... :? :roll:

I'll keep looking and let you know if I turn up anything.

Re: Probable B-17 link chute ID needed please

Mon Dec 28, 2009 2:12 am

As far as I can tell, the "ET" prefix on a turret part usually means the part was made by Emerson here in St. Louis. I've found a few of these link chutes in my parts pile and I've seen them listed and imaged in at least one of my ball turret parts books but I'm not sure about the model of the ball turret. All the ones that I have are stenciled in yellow with the words "New Type". I'll have a look at the P/N on one of mine and I'll check the ball turret manual on Monday. Emerson and Sperry had a rocky relationship with regard to production of the B-17 upper and the B-17/B-24 ball turret at the plant here in St. Louis. Emerson made a few small "changes" to the ball turret that were not authorized by Sperry. Last Tuesday I found a copy of the Emerson history book that was commissioned by the company to commemerate their 100th anniversary in 1990. The Sperry/Emerson spat is well covered.

Re: Probable B-17 link chute ID needed please

Mon Dec 28, 2009 11:03 am

The ball turret has a completely separate parts catalog.

The chute looks an awful lot like the chutes on the ball turret. We need a pair of those for Aluminum Overcast, if you happen to have two that need a home...

Re: Probable B-17 link chute ID needed please

Tue Dec 29, 2009 2:54 am

One of the A-2 manual copies that I have shows a left and a right for these link chutes. I'm not sure what is "new" or different about this ET1058 F part in comparison to one of the early link chutes. I do not see any evidence of a stamped P/N on this one. It was about 19 F in the turret parts hangar this evening so I did not hang around long enough to locate the match for the other side. I need to send the 90 degree flex cable drives for the ball turret's hand controller in Aluminum Overcast this week. They have been sitting on my desk for two weeks.

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Did you get any snow where you are PB? My mother's family said that London got hit again. That two times in two years, right? I have never been in London when there was snow on the ground. I'll bet that's an interesting sight.

Re: Probable B-17 link chute ID needed please

Tue Dec 29, 2009 11:38 am

Thanks Albert,

The only difference I can see between yours and the one in front of me is that yours has a raised strip around the side tab which isn't on mine.

As for the snow, we had a dollop in February, and then another lot just over a week ago that's only just shifted, and The Met Office say there's more on the way this week.
I'm about 70 miles north of London, so we either get lots or none at all. :wink:

Thanks again,
Paul
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