Short Stirling & RAF Bomber Command Forum

Hi all. When the Tallboy bomb was carried by Lancasters what were the bomb doors like(apart from being buldged) . I had heard some time ago that the doors operated on springs and that the weight of the bomb going through opened the doors.I would think that if this is true it would have made the aircraft difficult to bomb up on the ground.

Hi W4783, As far as I can ascertain, the bomb doors were opened in the same way as standard bomb doors - two hydraulic struts on both the front and rear bulkheads of the bomb bay. Of course, the B1(Specials) that carried more Tallboys than Grand Slams, dispensed with the bomb doors altogether. Hope this helps.....

Yes thanks for that...I should have done more research on the net. You are quit correct...normally operated bomb doors.