CAF Missouri Wing Annual Pumpkin Drop

This is the first time the Missouri Wing has used the TBM Avenger for the pumpkin drop. With the B-25J down for repairs we had to come up with a 'bomb' rack for dropping the pumpkins out of the bomb bay of the TBM. Here is a picture of the rack:

We pulled the ropes into the 'basement' behind the bomb bay and secured them tightly to hold the rack doors closed after loading the 'orange bombs'. Once in the air, we approached the target at 200 feet altitude and 160 knots of airspeed. The pilot opened the bomb bay doors, and at the calculated moment, we cut the wire to release the payload. The first salvo of 'bombs' on the starboard, or right, side of the rack missed because the wind resistance on the rack doors didn't allow the weight of the pumpkins to pull the cut safety wire out of the ring we had tied to the rope and Col. Dutch, the Flight Engineer, had to hit it with his hand causing a late drop. On the second run Dutch cut the wire on the port, or left, side as I held the rope tight and when given the signal, I released it and we hit the tail section of the Cessna fuselage target!

Bombs Away!

My son calls out a miss, but our ground spotters confirmed an actual hit on the tail section of the target.

If you look in the bomb bay you can see the 

'bomb rack' with the doors open.