Ordnance Release Control-Intervalometer, Type AN-B3, USN Mark K2

This is an authentic WWII-era Bomb Release Control as used in bomber aircraft of the US Army Air Force and US Navy. This example is a US Navy Mark K2.

The Bomb Release Control (Intervalometer) permitted a bombardier to control the number of bombs dropped per release and their impact spacing.  This would be used to set up a carpet bombing run, for example, over a large railroad marshalling yard, vs a more concentrated drop over a specific site such as a ball bearing factory.  The left dial selected the spacing interval between bombs at a given airspeed, while the right dial selected the number of bombs to be released at a time.  The bombardier could also choose to either manually drop the cache or automatically in 'train'.  Used in most US bombers during WW2.

This example has an inspection sticker dated 1955 from Naval Air Station Norfolk Virginia, likely the date of removal from the aircraft. It is in good condition for its age. The knobs turn and the toggle flips.