Saga of the White Bomb

by Steve Mackenzie


A still from film showing CV-P ET840 taxying with the White painted 500 lb bomb as related in this article.


Excerpt from the 3 Sqn ORB for 22 July 1942 which confirms that Sgt Keith Kildey won the honour of dropping the 1000th bomb that the unit carried since they had started fighter-bomber operations.

As noted above, by July 1942 3 Sqn RAAF had gained a lot of experience in fighter-bomber operations rather than purely air to air combat. By that time Spitfire Mk.Vs were starting to be delivered to North Africa to take over the Air Superiority role so the P-40 units could be partly freed up to attack the Afrika Corps with bombs. Usually one unit would operate as escorts to another carrying bombs. On 22 July 1942 were going to drop their 1000th bomb a US produced 500 lb type. It was especially painted White with inscriptions noting that it was the 1000th.


Airmen and a pilot of 3 Sqn RAAF (which is likely Keith Kildey comparing with the later photo of him) with the 1000th Australian bomb dropped since the start of the German Gazala Offensive, July 22nd 1942.


3 Sqn RAAF Armourers celebrate the 1000th bomb dropped. LG 91, July 42. Note that this is not the actual bomb dropped as it is an RAF 500 lb bomb. Photo Ray Dunning, supplied by Doug Norrie, 450 Sqn Historian.


Group of 3 Sqn RAAF pilots with the subject bomb. Photo S.Mackenzie collection.

Keith Kildey dropped the bomb from Kittyhawk Mk.1a ET840 (which was coded CV-P) as per the following extract from the 3 Sqn RAAF ORB (1535-1625 mission). The heading image from film shows that the airframe was painted in the standard Desert scheme of Dark Earth and Midstone with most likely Azure Blue lower surfaces. The Black serial is on a Dark Green patch (as was common) and the spinner Red. The code letters are likely off White or a very Light Grey as they look slightly darker than the White portions of the roundel and fin flash. Of interest is the different style of the code letters on the three rear airframes (it was not till 1943 that such things became more standardised). For info CV-E is ET871 and CV-I AK727.


Sgt Keith Kildey with 'the' bomb. The writing says 'One Thousandth' on this side and '1000th from .R.A.A.F.' on the other.


Kittyhawk Mk.1a ET840, CV-P in the standard Desert scheme of Dark Earth and Midstone with most likely Azure Blue lower surfaces. Other colours as per above.

A couple of final images.


A Starboard image of ET840 fitted with 'the' bomb. From this angle we can see that it carries the individual letter 'P' under the nose. Photo S.Mackenzie collection.


Informal group portrait of B Flight armourers, fitters and riggers of No 3 Squadron RAAF in front of CV-P ET840 in the desert. Photo AWM P02541.013

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