OPERATION OF THE NORDEN BOMBSIGHT DECLASSIFIED WWII BOMBARDIER TRAINING FILM 23241

Описание: One of a series of classified films made for training by the Army Air Forces during WWII, this film about the Norden Bombsight focuses on the operation of the device. A typical training set-up is seen, with the Norden being operated in a hangar, using a piece of equipment as a distant "target".

During the entire war the Norden was considered a top secret piece of equipment and normally when it was shown in training films, it was hidden behind a piece of canvas or otherwise "blacked out". This series of films provides a rare look at the operation of the bombsight as it was presented to bombardiers. This instructional film explains how to operate a complex bombing sight system, focusing on adjusting the rate and course controls to accurately target. It begins by introducing the sight’s various knobs, switches, and leveling mechanisms, then guides the user through controlling the horizontal crosshair with the rate motor. The video emphasizes mastering rate adjustments before moving on to course corrections, explaining the use of the Pilot Direction Indicator (PDI) to help pilots maintain proper heading. Viewers learn how to manage drift angles by combining turn and drift knobs, leveling the sight with bubble indicators, and making continuous corrections while tracking a target. The demonstration concludes with multiple bombing runs, illustrating the challenge of hitting targets accurately and the need for repeated practice to improve precision.


0:00 — Main titles. Introduction to the sight and crosshairs, emphasizing their importance.
1:10 — Explanation of the sight’s switches, knobs, and leveling system.
1:42 — Instructions to start the rate motor and observe the horizontal crosshair movement.
2:31 — Practice focusing on adjusting the rate, leaving course control for later.
3:38 — Introduction to course control using the PDI (Pilot Direction Indicator).
4:28 — Adjusting the rate knob to control the rate speed.
5:21 — Switching focus to practicing course corrections and observing the PDI behavior.
6:53 — Demonstration of drift angle adjustment and its effect on the stabilizer and trainer.
7:52 — Combining turn and drift knobs to correct heading and sightline.
8:43 — Practicing simultaneous corrections for range and course.
9:03 — Correcting for left drift using double grip turn technique.
10:11 — Leveling the sight using bubble levels to ensure vertical reference.
10:42 — Bomb release with a 12° right drift angle measured.
11:27 — Multiple attempts at bombing runs with varying times and distances.
12:09 — Highlighting the difficulty and repetition required for accuracy, not expecting hits on first tries.

The Norden Mk. XV, known as the Norden M series in Army service, was a bombsight used by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) and the United States Navy during World War II, and the United States Air Force in the Korean and the Vietnam Wars. It was the canonical tachometric design, a system that allowed it to directly measure the aircraft's ground speed and direction, which older bombsights could only measure inaccurately with lengthy in-flight procedures. The Norden further improved on older designs by using an analog computer that constantly calculated the bomb's impact point based on current flight conditions, and an autopilot that let it react quickly and accurately to changes in the wind or other effects.

This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com