Norden Bombsight

The words

1. Accuracy

   Accuracy depended on stable flight conditions. Last-second changes in altitude during combat could move bombs away from their intended aiming point.

   Quoted operating account, optimal conditions and altitude changes · NPS: Norden operation and secure storage (opens a new tab)

2. Autopilot

   The Honeywell C-1 autopilot helped hold the bomber steady. Linked with the Norden, it let the bombardier make course corrections during the final approach.

   Autopilot operation and pilot/bombardier control · USAF Museum: the C-1 autopilot (opens a new tab)

3. Bomb Aimer

   In the RAF’s bombing campaign, the bomb aimer guided the pilot on the final approach and released the bombs.

   Crew roles, the bomb aimer · War Memorial: the bomb aimer’s role (opens a new tab)

4. Bombardier

   The American bombardier operated the sight and directed the bombing run. His work depended on cooperation with the pilot to maintain the required flight conditions.

   Bombardier responsibilities and pilot teamwork · B-17 manual: bombardier and navigator (opens a new tab)

5. Bombing Run

   The bombing run was the final approach to release. A straight, level course gave the bombardier a steady platform for aiming through the sight.

   Quoted operating account, steady bombing platform · NPS: Norden operation and secure storage (opens a new tab)

6. Bombsight

   The Norden combined a telescopic sight with an analog computer. Wind, airspeed and altitude data helped it calculate an aiming point for the falling bombs.

   Bombsight system and analog computation · USAF Museum: the Norden’s working parts (opens a new tab)

7. Gyroscopic

   An internal gyroscope stabilized the Norden’s telescopic sight. This helped the bombardier keep a usable view of the target while the aircraft was in flight.

   Internal gyroscope and telescopic sight · USAF Museum: the Norden’s working parts (opens a new tab)

8. Navigation

   Navigation brought the bomber to its objective and home again. The navigator tracked position using maps, instruments, radio aids and observations of the ground.

   Navigator responsibilities and methods · B-17 manual: bombardier and navigator (opens a new tab)

9. Norden

   Carl L. Norden developed the bombsight for the U.S. Navy. Testing at the Naval Proving Ground at Dahlgren helped refine the instrument before its wartime use.

   Did you know?

   McCook Army Air Base in Nebraska stored its bombsights in concrete vaults while crews trained at the airfield.

   Navy historian: Norden’s naval origins (opens a new tab) · NPS: Norden operation and secure storage (opens a new tab)

10. Optical

    An optical bombsight used a telescope with crosshairs to view the target. It needed stabilization because aircraft turbulence could disrupt the view.

    Telescope, crosshairs and aircraft movement · USAF Museum: the technical problems (opens a new tab)

11. Pickle Barrel

    Claims that the Norden could drop a bomb into a pickle barrel exaggerated its accuracy. In practice, aiming at large factory complexes was more realistic.

    Norden accuracy claim and factory-complex targets · USAF Museum: accuracy and its limits (opens a new tab)

12. Precision

    Precision meant trying to hit selected targets. During Big Week, bombs aimed at aircraft production killed workers sheltering at Heiterblick.

    Ch. 2, pp. 30 and 33–34, precision targets and worker deaths · AAF history: factory targets and victims (opens a new tab)

13. Sperry

    Sperry’s S-1 was another American bombsight. It equipped some Army Air Forces bombers early in the war, but its production contracts were canceled in late 1943.

    S-1 service and late-1943 contract cancellation · USAF Museum: the competing Sperry sight (opens a new tab)

14. Target

    The target was the intended aiming point. The bombardier entered flight data so the Norden could account for wind drift and calculate the correct aim.

    Target approach, input data and wind drift · USAF Museum: the Norden’s working parts (opens a new tab)

15. USAAF

    USAAF stood for United States Army Air Forces. It integrated the Norden into bomber flight controls for the daylight campaign, including on B-17s and B-24s.

    USAAF doctrine and bomber flight-control integration · USAF Museum: the technical problems (opens a new tab)