USAAF bomb fin transit crates

After years of searching I finally managed to find (most of) a wartime USAAF bomb fin transit crate last weekend.
Although in what can be politely described as "relic condition", it meant I could get some accurate measurements to replicate new ones for display.

First task was to use the data, along with that in period photos and Tech Orders, to construct a full-scale model in Sketchup. The lid was similar to the base, but with four cutouts:



Once that was done, I could extrapolate the different size crates, in this case those for the 500lb GP bomb fin that I had already modelled from the original factory drawings.
The spring clips that retain the lid are a best-guess from descriptions and line drawings, and appear to be similar to the clips used to hold paper to drawing boards:



Last thing was to add the stencilling to the fin assemblies themselves, for future reference:



With these models I can now produce accurate working drawings for manufacture in steel.

All the best,
PB

Excellent Paul, somewhat surprising that you were able to find a surviving 'crate but there are always discoveries to be made!

Thanks Peter,

It was about 15' down, in the slurry at the bottom of the excavation.

All the best,
PB

The slurry must have been as good as creosote!

Would be curious to see an actual photo of the recovered item please whatever state it appears . . .

After chipping off some of the encrustation:





Fuze tin holding clips?



All the best,
PB

Thank you for showing/sharing the photos.
Ian

No problem Ian,

I'll try to get some clearer ones tomorrow.

All the best,
PB

Oh. I see! I thought the crates were timber. Plenty of timber in the USA during WW2. Did they deliberately use steel so that we poor old Brits could recycle them for the war effort?

Photo taken at the salvage yard at Sharnbrook ordnance depot in 1943:



Apart from the huge pile of .50 cal ammo crate liners in the centre, at the top left can be seen a stack of fin crates:



Down in the bottom right are these wire-bound wooden crates, filled with fuze tins. Their construction is similar to those used to hold WWII US SAA ammunition tins during shipping:



The markings on them are effectively the same as those on the metal crates.
I'm wondering if these went around the metal fin crates for protection in transit, as they look far to flimsy to contain fins and fuzes on their own, or if the metal crate superceded them.
The early form of bomb description (Demo rather than GP) may hold a clue.

Nice photo of a "palletised load" of crated fins:



All the best,
PB