https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-67052782

Report from BBC Oxfordshire :-

An experimental catapult designed to launch World War Two bomber planes into the sky has been excavated.

The prototype Royal Aircraft Establishment Mark III Catapult was unearthed at the site of a development at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire.

It was made to enable take-offs using shorter runways and so the planes could be loaded with more fuel.

The contraption was built between 1938 and 1940 when the site was RAF Harwell.

During the darkest days of the Second World War British scientists experimented with all manner of strange weapons to defeat the never-ending Nazi onslaught. Amongst these was a mighty catapult to throw our greatest projectiles against the foe.....

Well, almost. 

The Royal Aircraft Establishment at Harwell looked seriously at getting loaded bombers up to speed using pneumatic catapults and a revolutionary turntable so the heavy bombers could roll on and be turned for flight. The idea was not used as we were able to build enough long runways instead.

The remains have just been uncovered during building works at what was RAF Harwell.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-67052782

Quote from: Nick on October 11, 2023, 01:25:21 AMDuring the darkest days of the Second World War British scientists experimented with all manner of strange weapons to defeat the never-ending Nazi onslaught. Amongst these was a mighty catapult to throw our greatest projectiles against the foe.....

Well, almost. 

The Royal Aircraft Establishment at Harwell looked seriously at getting loaded bombers up to speed using pneumatic catapults and a revolutionary turntable so the heavy bombers could roll on and be turned for flight. The idea was not used as we were able to build enough long runways instead.

The remains have just been uncovered during building works at what was RAF Harwell.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-67052782

Interesting 

Very, very cool!


But, sadly, this also has a place in the "Egregious Reporting" thread:

Quote
Excavations also uncovered a Spigot Mortar-type gun emplacement used to defend the runway

 

And they were doing so well!

We've both read the same article!  I posted it here:-  https://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php?action=profile;area=showposts;u=5028

Perhaps a moderator could amalgamate the posts?

Merged

Quote from: NARSES2 on October 11, 2023, 06:35:10 AMMerged

Thank you, Chris.

The catapult notion was very much pre-war, early Avro Type 679 concept for what became the Manchester.You cannot view this attachment.