Help identifying guided bomb

USCapturephotos · **Joined:** Tue Mar 15, 2011 9:59 pm **Posts:** 1160

Just got this photo yesterday in a large group taken by a chaplain with a US armored division that also was in Buchenwald. At first I thought it was one of the German guided air to ship bomb variants like the ones used in Italy and at Normandy.....but looking around it seems to be one of the experimental US variants mainly the VB-1. I don't know anything about them other than they were used in Europe a few times during the war. I don't understand why there would be a pile of them left in France in early 45 like the photo shows? Were they being used by the US 9th Af that had bases in Europe? Any ideas either as to what the bomb is and if it is an American one and not German?
Even the GI who took the picture thought it was German...
Paul

Ian · **Posted:** Sun Dec 04, 2011 7:12 pm

this looks like a radio controlled air to ground bomb tested by the german luftwaffe 1943 to 1945.
Very rare and wonderful technical photo Paul.
I cant wait to get my hands on your CAPTURED BOOK !
Ian

MrPeanut05 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 04, 2011 7:26 pm

OH MY GOD.

Paul - you bought the positives from my giant collection of 9th Armored Division photos!!!!!!!! What are the chances?!!!!

Ian · **Posted:** Sun Dec 04, 2011 7:30 pm

oh my god the world of pixpast is getting smaller and smaller ! :shock:

Ian

MrPeanut05 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 04, 2011 7:48 pm

Another view of the same scene

USCapturephotos · **Joined:** Tue Mar 15, 2011 9:59 pm **Posts:** 1160

First Brennan. Now me :lol:

On the back it identifies the photo with the little German kids as "August 21, 1945 Konnersreuth, Bavaria Father Bergeron and Admirers".
Paul

MrPeanut05 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 04, 2011 8:01 pm

Hah! I wonder if that boy still lives in the town? It's all coming together now...... here's a shot of the town sign.

USCapturephotos · **Joined:** Tue Mar 15, 2011 9:59 pm **Posts:** 1160

Also wondering if those bombs could be unfinished versions of the German anti ship glide bombs called "Fritz X"? Thoughts?
Paul

Ian · **Posted:** Sun Dec 04, 2011 8:07 pm

USCapturephotos wrote:

Also wondering if those bombs could be unfinished versions of the German anti ship glide bombs called "Fritz X"? Thoughts?
Paul

bingo !! that was exactly what was floating around in my head.
Ian

Ian · **Posted:** Sun Dec 04, 2011 8:08 pm

here is a great youtube video that might help.
Ian

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyHZw92TbNU

MrPeanut05 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 04, 2011 8:12 pm

Or maybe cable cutting device? I can imagine a hook and line attaching to the small hole, and being guided to the clamp area where it would slice the wire.

Ian · **Posted:** Sun Dec 04, 2011 8:16 pm

or is that a release from being towed mid air ?
like a glider plane ?

Ian

Rinus · **Joined:** Sat Jan 07, 2012 8:37 am **Posts:** 1

It's a Naval device.
It's a Paravane, a cutting device used to cut the anchoring cable of a naval mine.
Then the mine comes to the surface and can be destroyed by gunfire.

USCapturephotos · **Joined:** Tue Mar 15, 2011 9:59 pm **Posts:** 1160

Thanks Rinus for the tip. Are you sure? Weren't they a British invention? Wonder what they would be doing piled up in France. Thanks again.
Paul

MrPeanut05 · **Posted:** Sat Jan 07, 2012 3:24 pm

Good call. Here's a good shot of one I found online.

Source: http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hHZ7yxXGb0o/SBi_cC9GMlI/AAAAAAAACvo/LUd4PTr48y0/Paravane.JPG

Ian · **Posted:** Mon Jan 09, 2012 9:04 pm

Rinus wrote:

It's a Naval device.
It's a Paravane, a cutting device used to cut the anchoring cable of a naval mine.
Then the mine comes to the surface and can be destroyed by gunfire.

well spotted Rinus !

thanks !
Ian

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