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"A 550-Pound Food Bomb" from Tactical and Technical Trends

The following description of German air-dropped food containers appeared in Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 22, April 8, 1943.

[DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from the U.S. War Department publication Tactical and Technical Trends. As with all wartime intelligence information, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the text. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]
 

A 550-POUND "FOOD BOMB"

A further development of the "food bomb" technique (see Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 20, p. 30) indicates that the Germans are now using airplane food-containers of 250 kilograms (550 pounds)--much heavier than the 30-pound containers previously noted. Me-109 fighters are apparently envisaged for use in dropping supplies to army units cut off during operations.

To feed such isolated groups, the Me-109 (E, F, and G models) when fitted with bomb carrier EPC 500,* can drop the food container. The container, when in position, clears the ground by only 38 inches. To avoid damage when taxiing on a bad field, it should be suspended in the bomb rack at the take-off only. The maximum speed at release is 215 mph, and the most favorable height from 500 to 1,000 feet. It would appear that there is a delay device for the release of the parachute.

*Bomb carrier for 500-kilogram bomb.

 
 


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