Bombenzielanlage Explained

The Bombenzielanlage ("Bomb Target System"), sometimes referred to as the Bomb Ziel Automat (BZA), was a German World War II bombsight analog computer designed to calculate the precise release of bombs during dive-bombing. It was fitted to a number of aircraft types, including the Junkers Ju 88^[1] and the Arado Ar 234.^[2] The unit controlled an aiming mark on sight in front of the pilot. The computer assessed the angle of dive, aircraft track, and altitude. The operator set other variables, such as barometric pressure, target altitude, airspeed and wind speed. During operation, the bomb(s) were released when an aiming mark coincided with the target.

Further reading

• Photographs of BZA equipment: Images 18 to 23 in image gallery^[3] in Hollway, Don, 'The Battle of Graveney Marsh'. History Magazine. Feb/March 2019. http://www.donhollway.com/graveneymarsh/index.html Accessed 2020-04-20.

Notes and References

1. "WIRKUNGSWEISE DER BZA 1 (A) [Main Title]". [web page]. Imperial War Museums, 2020. https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060004498 Accessed 2020-05-06
2. Dwyer, Larry. "Arado Ar 234 Blitz". [Web page]. The Aviation History Online Museum, 2013, June 25. http://www.aviation-history.com/arado/234.html Accessed 2020-05-06.
3. Images of BZA equipment are viewable in images 19-23 in the image gallery on the website. Gallery viewable by clicking on any image.