Close-up Petards Mortar
A close-up view of the Petard mortar on an AVRE. It was attached to the original 6pdr mantlet of the Churchill IV and the breech opened by tilting the barrel vertically, loading being effected from the sliding front hatch in the hull. The co-driver acted as loader.
The Flying Dustbin
The &quot;Flying Dustbin&quot; projectile that was fired by the 29cm Petard Mortar. It weighed 40lb, could be fired at the rate of 2-3 rounds per minute, and had a effective range of 80yds.

Greetz,brummbar

Petard Mortar

De Havilland Mosquito fighter-bomber of No. 487 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force, photographed February 1944.  The 500lb bomb on the starboard wing (it would have been one of a balanced pair) is clearly visible.  Best regards, JR.

Mosquito.

Tiddles, Ship's Cat aboard the British aircraft carrier, HMS Victorious, occupying a preferred spot atop the after capistan (where he could play with be bell-rope), 1942.  Tiddles was something of a specialist when it came to Ship's Catting - he was born aboard HMS Argus, a British aircraft carrier of 1918 vintage which served up to 1944, and "transferred" to the "Victorious" at some point.  (Many Ship's Cats sprang from Ship's Cat families ...)  The Victorious herself took part in a number of significant actions during WW2 (including the attack on the "Bismarck"), and continued to serve into the 1960s.  Best regards, JR.