Albert Pardini Book |
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This book published in 1999 may interest you. An excerpt from their flyer says: "This book is the first detailed volume to cover the famous Norden Bombsight (NBS), which was one of the most secret weapons used before and during World War II by the United States. The NBS was again called to duty in 1967-68 in the Vietnam War, before it was phased out. This is its complete history." Over 70 b/w photographs, line art Available at Amazon.com and eBay. Also available at the Wilton, CT Library. You should be able to get it by Inter Library Loan. |
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The author, Albert Pardini, was in charge of a bombsight repair and modification facility all through the war and continued his interest by collecting various models and accssories. He spent the last nine years reading all the material in the several archives in the U.S. and then weaving the bits and pieces to produce this history of the Norden sight. He starts with a laymen's look at the bombing problem, various approaches to solving it and follows the history of the sight from 1922 through 1945. Although frustrated by large gaps in the available material, he was able to put together an array of details no where else to be found. It is not a literary masterpiece but does present without the usual hype a great amount of detail. Here's a presenation of the various controls and features as taken from the "Bombadier's Information File" courtesy of Mr. Pardini. |
1. Leveling Knobs 2. Caging Knob 3. Eyepiece 4. Index Window 5. Trail Arm and Trail PLate 6. Extended Vision Knob 7. Rate Motor Switch 8. Disc Speed Gear Shift 9.Rate and Displacement Knobs 10. Mirror Drive Clutch 11. Search Knob 12. Disc Speed Drum 13. Turn and Drift Knobs 14. Tachometer Adapter 15. Release Lever 16. Crosshair Rheostat 17. Drift Scale 18. PDI Brush and Coil 19. Autopilot Clutch Engaging Knob 20. Autopilot Clutch 21.Bombsight Clutch and Engaging Lever 22. Bombsight Clutch 23. Bombsight Connecting Rod 24. Autopilot Connecting Rod |
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