British Ordnance Collectors Network
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
Any ideas?
- Thread starter bubble24
- Start date
It would appear to be a British Smoke Curtain Installation (SCI) 400, commonly known as a “Flying Cow”. If filled with a mustard payload, it was formally known as the “Installation. S.C. Type. S/L. 400lb.
The letter S was used if it had a mustard payload and was absent for a smoke payload. The letter L indicated that it was a low pressure type and could be substituted with the letter H if it was a high pressure type. If it was a gravity type the letter G was used!
The letter S was used if it had a mustard payload and was absent for a smoke payload. The letter L indicated that it was a low pressure type and could be substituted with the letter H if it was a high pressure type. If it was a gravity type the letter G was used!
Last edited:
A rare find. I always wondered wether is was either used operationally as a smoke laying device - most chances are that it was used only as a chemical agent vector .
There is an American report from 1943 telling that "...The obtaining of the RAF secret bomb, technically designated as SCI type S/L four hundred (400) lbs. Mk.1A, but commonly known as the "Flying Cow", for use by us as a potential Skymarker, was attempted. It was believed that a filling of our smoke munition, "FS", would produce a readily visible smoke trail at high altitudes and serve as a smoke signal for our formations.
The "Cow" filled with "FS" was satisfactory, even at thirty-one thousand (31,000) ft. and after conclusively proving that it was readily adaptable for our release, it was disapproved by the Air Ministry on the grounds that its construction, etc., was of such a secret nature that it would not be used under any circumstances other than Offensive Gas Warfare."
There is an American report from 1943 telling that "...The obtaining of the RAF secret bomb, technically designated as SCI type S/L four hundred (400) lbs. Mk.1A, but commonly known as the "Flying Cow", for use by us as a potential Skymarker, was attempted. It was believed that a filling of our smoke munition, "FS", would produce a readily visible smoke trail at high altitudes and serve as a smoke signal for our formations.
The "Cow" filled with "FS" was satisfactory, even at thirty-one thousand (31,000) ft. and after conclusively proving that it was readily adaptable for our release, it was disapproved by the Air Ministry on the grounds that its construction, etc., was of such a secret nature that it would not be used under any circumstances other than Offensive Gas Warfare."
Last edited:
That’s amazing, thankyou so much for the information, I could barely find anything on it!