WORLD WAR II: USAAF NORDEN BOMBSIGHT.

A Norden MK XV bombsight. [c. 1945 but also used later in the Korean War].

A Norden MK XV bombsight. [c. 1945 but also used later in the Korean War]. A mark XV model Norden Bombsight, comprising the main bombsight with the reflex sight mounted on top as one unit, and the auto pilot assembly unit mounted on an aluminum Mallory and Co. Release Bomb Rack. The Bombsight with stencil number N8233, the relex sight, serial no 6830 and the auto pilot serial no 4950. The bombsite and reflex sight mounted as one unit on a metal base. Some light abrasions and scrapes. 8.5 x 16.5 inches; height 12 inches. Weight 35 lbs; together with additional pieces; 2 aluminum bombshackles, 2 canvas bags, 4 miscellaneous spare parts including a sun shield, and two electronic cords. The complete assemblage contained in an later (Korean War era) aluminum case.

A COMPLETE ASSEMBLAGE FOR THE NORDEN BOMBSIGHT WITH REFLEX SIGHT AND THE AUTOPILOT ASSEMBLY, likely used in 1945 in the Pacific Theater, for bombing missions over Japan, and used again in the Korean War. The Norden was one of the most accurate bomb sights produced in World War II.
The Norden bombsight was a tachometric bombsight used by the USAAF and US Navy Air force. Its accuracy in tests at high level before the war were astonishing with accuracy of under 100 feet, although in operational conditions it was not always as good. Used throughout Europe and on bombing missions to Japan, it became the standard for the air forces of the allied powers. It was considered to be a secret weapon and as such Bombardiers were instructed for each mission to bring the bombsight on board under a cloth, and to take it off the plane and have it put into a bomb vault at each airfield: they had instructions on how to shot it up and destroy it rather than let it fall into enemy hands. Unfortunately the design of the Norden had already fallen into German hands from before the war, as one Herman Lang, employed at the Norden Factory from 1938, had already passed across all its secrets, and the German planes were equipped with a similar device by Carl Zeiss. This late WW2 example with the reflex sight attached, the aluminum bomb shackles and large aluminum case indicate that it was brought out of store for the Korean War, when the fleet of Boeing B-29 Superfortresses were pressed back into service for bombing missions over North Korea. The "Bombsight Equipment Data Book" that accompanies this bombsight has a printed date of 1945, but is dated inside in hand, "1953."