Bandit to starboard! - Page 3 - Aircraft of World War II

Sweb · 06-15-2009, 12:14 AM

Illusion. The other plane is further away and his tail stinger is trained at a different angle. Guessing, he's probably shooting at another plane that has made its pass. Or, judging from it's course deviation, it's been hit and leaving formation. The trail of smoke could be from damage.

Von Frag · 06-15-2009, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweb

Illusion. The other plane is further away and his tail stinger is trained at a different angle. Guessing, he's probably shooting at another plane that has made its pass. Or, judging from it's course deviation, it's been hit and leaving formation. The trail of smoke could be from damage.

The rear bombay door on the 29 in the foreground is open. Could be they just finished their bomb run and were making their egress turn.

GrauGeist · 06-15-2009, 10:49 PM

Look at the angle of the B-29 on the left, and then look closely at the B-29 center...it looks as though the B-29 at center is going to pass right under the B-29 at the left...which also look to be slightly banked to port (left).

Something's really going wrong there.

Von Frag · 06-16-2009, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrauGeist

Look at the angle of the B-29 on the left, and then look closely at the B-29 center...it looks as though the B-29 at center is going to pass right under the B-29 at the left...which also look to be slightly banked to port (left).

Something's really going wrong there.

Absolutely agree with you there. Nothing seems to be coordinated due to the fighter attack and or damage. Was just wondering if the open bombay is a clue to where they were on the run. The second Superfort is all buttoned up. I know they tried to stay coordinated even on egress and wonder if the fighter attack is in the process of busting up the formation.

GrauGeist · 06-16-2009, 07:56 PM

The bomber pilots were usually good at keeping the aircraft squared up, even when being attacked from all sides (with or without flak)...they just gritted thier teeth and drove on through...

Only reason they'd break formation would be extreme circumstances, like flak or fighter damage. In a head-on attack by an enemy fighter, they fought the instinct to evade because there's other bombers in thier direct vicinity.

It would be interesting to know the story behind this photo.

vikingBerserker · 06-16-2009, 09:17 PM

Could have been texting...

Von Frag · 06-16-2009, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vikingBerserker

Could have been texting...

Matt308 · 06-16-2009, 11:04 PM

The japanese fighter has just made a high side run on the B-29 formation with ramming not out of the ordinary (typical of jap fighter tactics over the homeland during 1945). The upper B-29 has been damaged and is leaving the formation. Note the turrets aimed extremely high (upper) and those pointing low (lower).

I have this same pic in a book of mine.

wheelsup_cavu · 06-17-2009, 12:23 PM

Thanks for the clarification Matt.

Wheelsup

GrauGeist · 06-17-2009, 07:47 PM

Ok, so there was something definately wrong then...thanks for the info, Matt.

VALENGO · 06-26-2009, 03:00 PM

I was checking old papers and founded it!

GrauGeist · 06-26-2009, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VALENGO

I was checking old papers and founded it!

Awesome, thanks for posting it!

Njaco · 06-28-2009, 04:27 PM

Also found this, looks like the original photo. Check out all the other pics! awesome!

Dorm Updike and the 388th in WWII

Gnomey · 06-28-2009, 05:55 PM

Thanks for sharing that Valengo. Good find Chris!

snafud1 · 06-28-2009, 08:53 PM

Love the link Njaco.

06-15-2009, 10:49 PM	#33
GrauGeist Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Redding, California Posts: 3,991	Look at the angle of the B-29 on the left, and then look closely at the B-29 center...it looks as though the B-29 at center is going to pass right under the B-29 at the left...which also look to be slightly banked to port (left). Something's really going wrong there. __________________ "Look back over the past, with its changing empires that rose and fell, and you can foresee the future." - Marcus Aurelius, Emperor of Rome > I Support Doug Gillis <

06-16-2009, 07:56 PM	#35
GrauGeist Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Redding, California Posts: 3,991	The bomber pilots were usually good at keeping the aircraft squared up, even when being attacked from all sides (with or without flak)...they just gritted thier teeth and drove on through... Only reason they'd break formation would be extreme circumstances, like flak or fighter damage. In a head-on attack by an enemy fighter, they fought the instinct to evade because there's other bombers in thier direct vicinity. It would be interesting to know the story behind this photo. __________________ "Look back over the past, with its changing empires that rose and fell, and you can foresee the future." - Marcus Aurelius, Emperor of Rome > I Support Doug Gillis <

06-16-2009, 09:17 PM	#36
vikingBerserker Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 6,210	Could have been texting... __________________ Take arrows in your forehead, but never in your back. - Samurai maxim

06-16-2009, 11:04 PM	#38
Matt308 aka Dickcheese Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Washington State Posts: 14,011	The japanese fighter has just made a high side run on the B-29 formation with ramming not out of the ordinary (typical of jap fighter tactics over the homeland during 1945). The upper B-29 has been damaged and is leaving the formation. Note the turrets aimed extremely high (upper) and those pointing low (lower). I have this same pic in a book of mine. __________________ "Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the [U.S.] Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan Master of Duplicate Posts

06-17-2009, 12:23 PM	#39
wheelsup_cavu Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Corona, California Posts: 2,506	Thanks for the clarification Matt. Wheelsup __________________ Cheers Wheelsup_cavu Wheels's Photos - Time lapse build of an F/A-18 Super Hornet - Lock N' Load

06-15-2009, 12:14 AM	#31
Sweb Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 308	Illusion. The other plane is further away and his tail stinger is trained at a different angle. Guessing, he's probably shooting at another plane that has made its pass. Or, judging from it's course deviation, it's been hit and leaving formation. The trail of smoke could be from damage.

06-17-2009, 07:47 PM	#40
GrauGeist Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Redding, California Posts: 3,991	Ok, so there was something definately wrong then...thanks for the info, Matt. __________________ "Look back over the past, with its changing empires that rose and fell, and you can foresee the future." - Marcus Aurelius, Emperor of Rome > I Support Doug Gillis <

06-28-2009, 05:55 PM	#44
Gnomey "World Traveller" Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Royal Deeside/St Andrews, Scotland, UK Posts: 16,540	Thanks for sharing that Valengo. Good find Chris! __________________ "Success is not Final, Failure is not Fatal, it is the Courage to Continue that Counts" Sir Winston Churchill "To him the People of the World Largely owe the Freedom and Liberties they Enjoy Today" Enscription on Hugh Dowding's (AOC Fighter Command 1936-40) statue in London WW2 Talk: A WW2 Discussion Forum My Photo Collections on Flickr

06-28-2009, 08:53 PM	#45
snafud1 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mattoon, IL Posts: 604	Love the link Njaco. __________________

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