OK Big Brains-What Is This???

[Kyleb]

Is the box a radar altimeter to cut the fish loose at a specified altitude? Last time I checked, WWII torps had a pretty restrictive height/speed launch profile.

[Jack Cook]

Is the box a radar altimeter

No, think minesweeper

[Mgawa]

So this is not glide bomb?

[Punisher05]

In the "stab in the dark" category...

Is the box an early form of MAD detector, used to separate the torpedo from the wings and send it on its merry way?

[Jack Cook]

So this is not glide bomb?

I never said that

Is the box an early form of MAD detector

Here's your hint.......
It's a paravane

[Mgawa]

It is glide bomb and it is used over Germany from late 1943. This is one of four type of similar weapons. Apart from that was Bat.

Cheers and have a nice game

[Jack Cook]

It is glide bomb and it is used over Germany from late 1943

no pony for you

[KoenL]

It is glide bomb and it is used over Germany from late 1943. This is one of four type of similar weapons. Apart from that was Bat.

Cheers and have a nice game

So is it a test aircraft? Didn't think the USAAF used B-25's on bombingmissions over Germany?

[Jack Cook]

used in combat in the PTO

[PinecastleAAF]

It is a radio controlled pack mule incinerator.

[Curtis Block]

Tow it low over the water to magnetically detonate naval mines?

[Tim Landers]

A GT-1?
The GT-1 trailed a small kite assembly and released the torpedo when the assembly hit the water. The GT-1 was actually used in the Pacific Theater late in the war, being delivered by North American B-25 Mitchell bombers.

Tim

[Jack Cook]

Correct Tim,
It's a Aeronca BT-1 which was a MK-13 homing torpedo (which ran in a straight, circular or zip zag pattern until it acquired it's target or it's motor quit) slung from a glider. It basically flew a straight gradual desent and had a range of about 12 miles if dropped at around 9,000 feet. It was used in combat twice by B-25Js the 41st BG 7th AF in July & Aug 1945 with no know results because they dropped them so far away they couldn't see what happened. In the box at the tail is a paravane which flew about 20' under the weapon. When the paravane touched the water explosive bolts were fired which blew the glider away from the torpedo. These shots are prior to the first mission flown against shipping in Sasabo, Japan on July 31st.
So endeth the lesson.

[Tim Landers]

Just re-read this thread and saw that mgawa guessed it in the very last sentence on the bottom of first page so send the pony to him Cool pics, and that would be a neat model to scratchbuild Thanks for the history lesson!

[Jack Cook]

All I saw was Germany, Bat and some mule giving me the stink eye