An extraordinary discovery of archaeologists. It dates back to World War II
Archaeologists have unveiled an experimental catapult for bombers from the World War II era. Specialists from MOLA even prepared a 3D model, which allows scientists and enthusiasts to explore the construction.
8:08 AM EDT, October 22, 2023
During the expansion of Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire County in England, standard archaeological work was carried out. However, no one expected that scientists would uncover the remains of an extraordinary construction. The first designs of this experimental bomber catapult date back to 1935, and three years later, work began on implementing the plans.
As scientists explain, the device (named the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) Mark III catapult), was developed to literally catapult bomber planes into the air. The goal was to assist machines take off from a shorter runway and with a greater amount of fuel.
How was the catapult for bombers supposed to work?
The catapult consisted of a large turntable, which directed the plane towards one of the two concrete runways measuring just 269 feet long. To take off, the aircraft was attached to an underground pneumatic actuator using a towing hook. Underneath the turntable, 12 Rolls-Royce Kestrel aviation engines were situated. Compressed air at a pressure of 2000 psi (approx. 19476.5 psi) was pumped into the pneumatic actuator, which rapidly extended to the full length of the guided route, literally catapulting large bombing planes into the sky.
This catapult was part of a series of innovations and experiments that took place before and during World War II. Unfortunately, it was not very successful. The prototype catapult had several serious faults, including a design mismatch that made it incompatible with commonly used bombers. The project was quickly abandoned and in 1941 the structure was buried.
"As part of recent works, we have completely unearthed the concrete remains of the catapult - which has predominantly been buried since the 1940s. Although its existence was known from historical records, these efforts allowed us to record the structure with unbelievable detail for the first time" - emphasize the scientists. By combining hundreds of photos and thousands of data points, we were also able to create a 3D model of the entire structure, ensuring it is remembered. The project itself will also become more accessible to enthusiasts of this type of innovation.
