The following intelligence report on devices for jettisoning external bomb racks on German planes is taken from Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 11, Nov. 5, 1942. [DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from the U.S. War Department publication Tactical and Technical Trends. As with all wartime intelligence information, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the text. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]

EXPLODING DEVICE FOR JETTISONING BOMB CARRIERS ON JU-88 It has been ascertained that the external bomb carriers on certain Ju-88 aircraft are now being fitted with a jettison device. This device, which jettisons the complete carrier and fairing and also the bomb, if it is still in place, consists of electrically fired explosive charges which cut the holding bolts. The carriers are held to the wings by four studs, each of which is drilled to contain a charge, which shears the studs at a "neck" on the bolt, allowing the bomb rack to drop off. It is suggested that this device is used to: (a) Jettison unnecessary weight and reduce head resistance in the event of failure of one engine; (b) Enable bombs and carriers to be jettisoned quickly if the aircraft is intercepted; (c) Get rid of a bomb if it is hung up. Reports have been received from British pilots from time to time stating that pieces have been seen to fall from enemy aircraft during an action. It is possible that these may sometimes have been bomb carriers.

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