Inert 3kg Practice Bomb RAF Honington

This is an inert 1980s dated RAF 3KG practice smoke and flash bomb, which was designed for use in practicing delivery techniques adopted for 454kg (1000lbs) retarded bombs and 272kg (600 lbs). The bomb would have been carried by all RAF combat aircraft of the period, including the Blackburn Buccaneer, Panavia Tornado, BAe Harrier and Sepecat Jaguar to simulate bombing missions, whereby on impact with the ground or sea, an flash or smoke charge in the rear body of the bomb would detonate, marking the posotion of the strike. This particular example is marked with an RAF Sation Inventory Code HON/T/68/85 indicating it was part of RAF Honington stores which at the time operated both the Buccanneer and the Tornado which were later deployed on Op Granby/Desert Storm during the 1st Gulf War. Latterly RAF Honington was closed as a flying Station when it was re-organised at the home of the RAF Regiment.