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Post by mgk1951 on Nov 7, 2009 15:16:42 GMT 8
Hi To start off the series of images of the Paracrate loads for a 75mm Howitzer M1A1 and Carriage M8, let's look at the Pararack fittings first. There were two types of Pararack fitted to the underside of a C-47 aircraft for attaching and releasing the Paracrate loads. They were the Standard and Modified Parachute Pararacks. The standard model had a cover at the front end in which the parachute was carried. Standard Parachute Pararack The other model was the standard Pararack without the front cover. Modified Parachute Pararack Regards mgk
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Post by mgk1951 on Nov 7, 2009 15:31:59 GMT 8
Hi Images below of wooden Paracrate loads M1A1 to M9 of a 75mm Howitzer M1 on Carriage M8. Loads M1 to M5 and M9 were in a particular pattern based on weight and each had its own harness for attachment to the underneath of the C-47. Paracrate Load M1 Paracrate Load M2 Paracrate Load M3 Paracrate Load M4 Paracrate Load M5 Paracrate Load M6 Paracrate Load M7 Paracrate Load M8 - Parachest M8 Paracrate Load M9 - Paracaisson M9 Paracrate Load M6 - M8 (door load assembled) The door load Paracrate M6 - M8 was arranged in a certain profile. When the green "Go" light came on, the door load was pushed from the door by the artillerymen. The Jumpmaster then repeatedly slapped a toggle button to release the Paracrates from under the aircraft. There would be a short delay between the release of loads. The Paracrates were never released as a salvo. An images of the Paracrate Loads M1 - M5 and M9 ready to attach to the C-47; and an image of the assemble M9 Paracaisson were posted above on 25th October. The wooden Paracrate and load were wrapped in sheet canvas to exclude mud and dirt. Next the steel and aluminum Paracrates. Regards mgk
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Post by mgk1951 on Nov 8, 2009 7:38:05 GMT 8
Hi Here are images of the Paracrate release switches inside the C-47. C-47 Packrack release without Intervalometer C-47 Packrack release with Intervalometer Both arrangements of switches released the paracates in a sequence. Regards mgk
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Post by mgk1951 on Nov 8, 2009 11:14:33 GMT 8
Hi The steel and aluminum Paracrate bundles are illustrated below. The steel designation is give first folowed by the aluminum designation. Paracrate load M1 - same arrangement as for wooden Parachate Paracrate load M2 - same arrangement as for wooden Parachate Paracrate load M3A2 or M13 Paracrate load M4A2 or M14 Paracrate load M5A2 or M15 Paracrate load M6A1 or M16 Paracrate load M7A1 Paracrate load M8A1 - Parachest M8A1 or M17 Paracrate load M9A2 - Paracaisson M9A2 or M18 Paracrate load M1, M2 and M7A1 assembled as the door load As to which Paracrates were used on Corregidor in 1945, all that I can add is wooden Paracrate were used during the Normandy Parachute Landings in 1944. Steel and/or aluminum Paracrate were used in Germany in 1945. The production of aluminum Paracrate was underway by 2nd February 1945 when complete Paracrate were photographed with the designers. Regards mgk
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Post by The Phantom on Nov 9, 2009 8:01:20 GMT 8
Amazing research folks............
The two pictures of the troops moving the 75's onto the Parade Ground are very interesting.
I agree the pictures were taken from the top floor of the Mile Long Barracks. (Argument fodder--- so named because if you ran the building end to end 3 times, it was a mile run)
At any rate you can see the old steel frame from the roofing on the barracks in the picture. The 75's appear to be crossing the trolley track west of the Topside Trolley station, which is near the road in front of the theater.
Note that there are still rails present in the concrete of the Trolley Station Platform, though at the end they appears to be bent and crooked, maybe a bomb hit.
The rails still exist in front of most Batteries due to the fact they are embedded in the concrete.
Those rails easily pulled up were sent to Japan for scrap. The wooden timbers are still visible in many places throughout the island, in the open as along the road to Battery Way or deep in the jungle. Some with severely rusted railroad spikes still in place.
Some of the ties were used for the building of bunkers throughout the island. Which the 75's would shot at from the Parade Grounds..........
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Post by batteryboy on Nov 11, 2009 13:17:33 GMT 8
Now mapmaster is the man!!!
Thanks and this means I will be doing a lot of scratchbuilding in my end!
Cheers, B-Boy
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Post by mgk1951 on Nov 11, 2009 18:13:06 GMT 8
Hi batterboy
My pleasure on finding enough information for you. I suppose it all depends on what scale you intend to do the scratch build. The bigger the scale the more detail.
When I started the research on the 75mm Howitzer, I never thought there would be much of a story on the subject of Paracrate. However, now there we have enough images and detail to do an article for the Corregidor.org website.
Regards
mgk
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Post by batteryboy on Nov 12, 2009 8:04:07 GMT 8
So far as of now, the only large scale kit that I can find (and available locally) here is 1/48 but that will do for the meantime. My project call for two aircraft. The first one I have already started and it will be the standard C-47 that dropped the paras. The 2nd will be the one transporting the 75mm pack howitzers. Its a long term project but its great to get information as early as this and for sure a little more details will pop-out sooner or later.
Thanks again.
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Post by mgk1951 on Nov 13, 2009 17:35:11 GMT 8
Hi I have a few other little pieces of information. The first is the numbering of the attachment points under the C-47. For wooden Paracrate: Point 1 attached Paracrate M4 Point 2 attached Paracrate M5 Point 3 attached Paracrate M1 Point 4 attached Paracrate M3 Point 5 attached Paracrate M2 Point 6 attached Paracrate M9 (Paracaisson M9) For both steel and aluminum Paracrate (steel followed by aluminum): Point 1 attached Paracrate M5A2 or M15 Point 2 attached Paracrate ? Point 3 attached Paracrate ? Point 4 attached Paracrate M3A2 or M13 Point 5 attached Paracrate ? Point 6 attached Paracrate M9A1 or M18 (Paracaisson M9A1 or M18) Unfortunately, in the wartime manuals, not all the steel and aluminum Paracrate are referenced against an attachment point. Perhaps the last three could be fitted to any of the unallocated attachment points. Regards mgk
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Post by batteryboy on Nov 13, 2009 23:10:46 GMT 8
Thanks for the additional information as this will definitely help alot.
Out of topic but the Japanese equivalent of the C-47, the Showa L2D "Tabby" had attachment points to carry spare propellers and engine part stowage inside the fuselage. They were used to ferry supplies quickly to outpost airfields and installations. Will post the pics later just for info.
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