Sherbrooke Fusiliers Tank BOMB

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Posted by Tony Viste in Sherbrooke Fusiliers "Bomb" over on the Missing-Lynx Allied DG:

"BOMB" in Falaise August 26 2011, 8:01 PM

This is "BOMB" as it appeared in Falaise on 17 Aug 44. It shows many of its early features that were common to original issue SherFusR tanks

- Blue squadron sign infilled with a dark color on the rear turret storage box
- Large, light colored call sign
- Formation sign but no AoS sign
- 3 pieces of tubing welded on the hull sides
- Dark colored WD number and name on the side appliqué armor
- Allied star on the turret top

The blue squadron signs were probably also carried on the turret sides.

Note that the original number was 22. In July the Troops were reorganized, the Tp Cmdr gave up his Sherman Vc and took a Sherman III. During this reorganization "BOMB" got a new call sign of 21 and was a Tp Cmdr vehicle.

As for the appliqué armor, I don't believe the British/Canadian tanks received the same upgrades as the American tanks. Covering the ammunition bins was the extent of the upgrades.

[maple_leaf_eh]

Bomb is getting a fresh coat of paint over the rust and graffiti right now. She will be rededicated last weekend of September in a new location, safe from idiot separatists. Canadians will appreciate the significance of that epithet. I plan to attend the ceremonies in Sherbrooke - preaction calibration at the messes Friday night, hungover golf on Saturday, and church service at the regiment's home church on Sunday afternoon. Pictures and commentary to follow.

The SFR veterans would be pleased and amused at the amount of attention BOMB gets in certain circles. I hope there will be a few in attendance. With the forum's permission, I'll download, enlarge and mount a few of these photos to circulate amongst the attendees.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Terry,

That's great news! There are only few WW2 tanks with a known history left; good to hear BOMB is being taken care of so well.

Sure you can use the photos, they are in the public domain anyway.

Regards,
Hanno

[Marc Montgomery]

Bomb was "restored" so-to-speak just a few years ago ! What have the extremists done to it? ...(more proof they don't know their own history.or what is sometimes variously called- the truth..or facts)

There was a story and some photos in one of the Convoy magazines on the restoration...I dont have any with me.. but maybe someone with a copy can scan and post photos?

BTW if anyone wants back issues of Convoy.I still have some.$2ea plus postage

[maple_leaf_eh]

Sherman tank Bomb has returned from the paint shop and Tender Loving Care. A 30-ton crane was hired to lift the tank about 10m up from street level to the new concrete plinth.

The paint job looks more authentic than the last several versions. The brass memorial plates are not yet installed. The rededication ceremonies will be Sun 25 Sep 11 1400hrs.

(I've probably got 30 shots that two different photographers posted on their Facebook pages.)

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Excellent!

Looking so shiny and new and somewhat dwarfed by the crane, it looks like a newly finished Matchbox kit before weathering

H.

[maple_leaf_eh]

I wanted to report back that Bomb is now located at 315 William Street, Sherbrooke, Quebec. The plinth at Champs de Mars park is empty and the plaques reinstalled with the tank.

The CO of 202 Workshops was invited to speak about the job. He introduced two Master Warrant Officers and a Corporal who actually did the work. When I asked, "Who paid?" they all laughed. Apparently so many well-meaning but too highly placed people got in on the project that they made financing the equipment time and supplies late. Although the transmission turned freely and she rolled on the tracks when loaded on the flatbed the first time, the tracks are now locked. Making sure there were no undrained hydrocarbons was a big issue for any display project to proceed. (One MWO told me they are cycling the tanks at Longue Pointe Garrison through the shops, and a Centurion was found to be fully topped up. Good, but bad.)

In four years, the Sherbrooke Hussars will be 150 years old - or claim precedant back that far.