Genius jet engine used in bizarre test on tanks

IT was an invention that would transform the world.

But while Frank Whittle’s jet engine revolutionised how we travel the globe, military boffins had other ideas for its use.

From snow blowing to landmine clearance, Sir Frank’s Gloster E28/39 was tested for a whole host of military applications.

Historian and former solider Brian Simpson, from Burbage, had friends based in the Royal Armoured Corps in 1946.

They were drivers in the Specialised Armoured Development Establishment (SADE) based in the south of England.

Tank crews and experts from Whittle’s factories were tasked with finding new applications for the Whittle engines which involved strapping the jets onto tanks.

Brian said: “Little is known about this, At SADE Whittle jets were used in different experiments and along with the tank crews were ‘Boffins’ from the Whittle factories to try out new ideas, one of which was for mine clearing.

“The idea was to blow away the sand and expose the mines.

“In theory this worked but in practice the flat German Teller (Plate) mines came up like Frisbees and you trusted to luck where they came down.”

While their use as mine clearance devices fell short, Brian said the tank-mounted jets did come into use in the terrible winter of 1947.

He said: ”(They) were no use for mine clearing but came into their own in the bad Winter of 1947 for snow clearing as pictured.”

The engines were also used on rail flatbed wagons to blast snow from the railway lines. Brian added: “The story deserves to be told. I have published the story in the Tank Museum’s files but it is only known to very few people. “Along with the young soldiers at the time were veterans from the ‘Buff’s awaiting their demob. They had come from a special tank regiment that had had the Churchill Flame Throwers ‘Crocodiles’ in the battle for Europe.” Brian homself served in the ‘Queen’s Bays’ 2nd Dragoon Guards and the 1st King’s Dragoon Guards in Italy and the Middle East. This year marks the 90th anniversary of Sir Frank Whittle’s invention.

Pictures sent by Brian Simpson showing Specialised Armoured Development Establishment (SADE) experiments using Frank Whittle’s Jet Engine fixed to tanks at the end of World War II. Experiments were carried out to use the jets as mine clearers but...

Sir Frank Whittle in his later years.