Ammo-Box AAF Type O-1, 33-rnds, .50 Cal., WWII

[Guest]

This is the U.S.A.A.F. Type O-1 .50 caliber ammo box, used on B-17B, B-17F (nose-guns) and on training aircraft; also used on the B-24:



The top is removable for loading (slides to front), and has two positions when in place, carriage (handle on center) and use (top moved forward, center-piece seems to be belt-flow regulator).

H 7.50", W 5.62", D 4.02". Handle: H from top at center, 2-7/16". Diameter: .38". Hanger: .92" W, D 3.20" to center of 'U'-clip (same plane as box face); Matl: .098 steel. Box Matl: steel, zinc-plated, about .030" thickness. Hanger has stamp, a circle .325 diameter with "AN" at top, "D 235" below, seen to right of center rivet.

Packing-box label:



This box was the direct ancestor of the Boeing 15-6999 B-17C/D & F Top Gun ammo-box of 100 rnds capacity.

Regards, John

[stona]

That is very interesting John,thanks for the piccies. I had no idea that those boxes were as complicated as that! It's definitely not a quick stamp and assemble process.

Cheers

Steve