Random Spitfire Question.

[wolfie138]

W/ planes like this, where the guns/cannons are enclosed in the wings, where do the used casings go? Nearest i can find on a search is a diagram for the Hispano that seems to show the used links just going into a wing cavity.

TIA

[TankBuster]

Not 100% sure about the Spitfire, but I know that the American P-51 & P-40 dispensed the empty shells out of the lower wing and they fell away below.
Maybe the Spit was the same?

TankBuster.

[TREBAX_RAVEN]

I think they came out of the bottom of the wing, just read in a article ' the spent shell cases were spat out'

[The Phantom]

In footage i've ever seen, the spent cases are falling out the bottom of the wing.

[tin can alpha]

There are spent case chutes for each gun/cannon ejecting below the wing.

[wolfie138]

much obliged :-)

[C24]

I'm a little late (again) with a reply

Based upon my cutaway jigsaw of Spitfire showing a 20mm cannon & two .303" machine guns in each wing I support the above comments of a shute exiting under the wing for each weapon.

The jigsaw is by Haynes so quite likely to be accurate in my experience of about fifteen different car books over the years.

In the wing cavity behind the weapons run the aileron control rod and cables together with a crank hinge for the flaps so shell casings wallowing about would not be a good idea.

[Hendon Chipmunk]

I've seen little slots under the wings of Spitfires just the right size for the spent case of a .303 machine gun round, but did the links of the machine gun ammunition belt go out of the same hole? Or did the belts stay intact and get reused?

[SCARECROW]

Belts were reused I believe

[Hendon Chipmunk]

Thanks, that explains that then!

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I seem to recall being told of an aircraft gun that kept the steel links but ejected the brass cases, the person telling me commented that it made no financial sense to keep the cheap steel but lose the expensive brass!

Thinking about it now, maybe it's a good idea to get rid of the heavy, hot brass cases. Also, I suppose ammo may not always come linked so perhaps armourers would need to reuse links?

Quiz question for fun: A famous aircraft type which had a fairly famous modification so that it retained the ammo links - name of aircraft type and nickname of mod?

[SCARECROW]

Starting to doubt myself as I can't find any pics of a Spitfire ammo belt but sure I've seen WW2 film of ammo being loaded into a canvas type ammo belt ?

[SCARECROW]

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=HO ... ORM=VDRVRV

Found this film and not a canvas ammo belt in sight !!!

[The Phantom]

Starting to doubt myself as I can't find any pics of a Spitfire ammo belt but sure I've seen WW2 film of ammo being loaded into a canvas type ammo belt ?

The belts in a Browning machine gun are linked. The cases and links eject out of separate compartments of the gun. But as to whether the links are ejected down a chute from the wing (as per the cases) or were retained in a box, I don't remember.

With regards to the 20mm cannon, both the cases and links are ejected down separate chutes out of the wing.

[SCARECROW]

Does anyone know a mate at Duxford or BBMF ?

[wolfie138]

since found a pic that shows a slot in the wing underside. as mentioned, the diagrams just mentioned links but i'd have though the feed path throught he weapon would mean the links and cases would come out the same place. does seem odd the brass would be dumped though.

[TankBuster]

I remember seeing Cockle Dredgers working on the Gunfleet Sands several years ago, and as the boats dredged up the Cockles they were also dredging up brass WWII shell casings! These were most likely dispensed from allied aircraft which were using the sands for strafing practice during the war!

TankBuster

[paddyboy]

Hendon Chipmunk

Okay, I will bite

Hawker Hunter and 'Sabrinas'

I'll get me coat

Paddyboy

[Hendon Chipmunk]

Spot on Paddyboy!