On 05/06/2011 03:27, Alan Erskine wrote:
On 5/06/2011 9:29 AM, Dingo wrote:

"Alan Erskine" wrote in message
nd.com...
On 4/06/2011 9:30 PM, Joseph Testagrose wrote:


What are those things on the wings; tanks?

Could be they were the parachutist's carrying pods as mentioned at:

http://www.hms-vengeance.co.uk/812airc.htm

http://www.rcaf.com/Aircraft/aircraf...p?BARRACUDA-71

~~
Dingo

They _could_ have been for dropping supplies to agents and paratroops,
but I doubt they would ever have carried people. However, the shape
seems a bit odd for a droppable container - the aerodynamics are all....
'off' if you know what I mean. These things look like they're meant to
remain on the wing for the entire flight.

From the Barracuda section in 'The Secret Years' by Tim Mason. about
testing at Boscombe Down:
"Perhaps the most bizarre modification tested was that involving two
'Cuda' so-called floats under the wings, each designed to carry two men
for later parachuting; the exhausts were suitably lengthened to pass
under the fuselage. Apart from much vibrating above 250 mph and erratic
operation of the doors, handling was satisfactory and take-off at 13,650
lb virtually unchanged. P9795/G was used from these trials from June
1944, and LS631/G briefly from March 1945."

HTH

--
Peter