best medium bomber - Page 2 - Aircraft of World War II

Gnomey · 03-22-2006, 08:39 AM

I've always liked the A-26 and it definitely packed a punch, so it gets my vote.

Vassili Zaitzev · 03-22-2006, 09:51 AM

I'll go with the Junker JU88 C model with the MGs and cannons in the nose. It could attack its target and ward off any frontal attack with its powerful nose armament.

the lancaster kicks ass · 03-22-2006, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Wimpy attack bomber?

when the friggin' hell did i put the wimpy forward as an attack bomber? i put it forward was the best medium strategic, the A-26 was much more a tactical medium..........

Twitch · 03-22-2006, 10:26 AM

B-25 with Ju 88 a close 2nd due to the fact that is was so versitile.

FLYBOYJ · 03-22-2006, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the lancaster kicks ass

Quote:

Wimpy attack bomber?

when the friggin' hell did i put the wimpy forward as an attack bomber? i put it forward was the best medium strategic, the A-26 was much more a tactical medium..........

you're right, my wrong

The way i read it I thought you were implying the A(B)-26 was "wimpy."

cheddar cheese · 03-22-2006, 01:46 PM

A-26 as well for me...

book1182 · 03-22-2006, 08:32 PM

American = B-26 ruggedness,bomb load, speed
German = JU-88 only German bomber I would have wanted to be in
British = Bristol Beaufort if you can call it a medium bomber
Japan = Neil/Sally???

The British and Japanese only really had heavy and light bombers. What would you consider medium bombers for these two nations? Mosquito of course in the bomber configuration. What other ones though?

loomaluftwaffe · 03-22-2006, 10:32 PM

the japs eat sushi so a heavy to them is a light bomber in the west

plan_D · 03-22-2006, 10:37 PM

The British only had heavy and light bombers? The Wellington, Whitley and Manchester were all medium bombers compared to the real heavy bombers of the war, like the Lancaster and Halifax. The only homegrown heavy bombers in the RAF were the Lancaster, Halifax and Stirling. There's probably more medium than heavy bombers, actually.

the lancaster kicks ass · 03-23-2006, 01:27 AM

and the mossie is never really counted as a medium bomber, as she was rarely used in the strategic role, when the RAF think of bombers they only think of strategic bombing, attack bombers like the mossie are considdered ground attack/light strike, not as bombers in the way the RAF thinks of them............

The RAF did have a large number of mediums as they tried out different designs, including as pD has mentioned, the wimpy, manchester, whitley, hampden (and family) plus a few others.........

and the beaufighter wasn't a medium bomber...........

loomaluftwaffe · 03-23-2006, 02:56 AM

it was kinda like a zestorer right?

v2 · 03-23-2006, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by book1182

American = B-26 ruggedness,bomb load, speed
German = JU-88 only German bomber I would have wanted to be in
British = Bristol Beaufort if you can call it a medium bomber
Japan = Neil/Sally???

The British and Japanese only really had heavy and light bombers. What would you consider medium bombers for these two nations? Mosquito of course in the bomber configuration. What other ones though?

Polish- PZL 37B "Łoś"

davparlr · 03-23-2006, 06:12 PM

No contest here. For gross weights from 20 to 40k and bomb loads of 4 to 6K, A/B-26 Invader out distances the rest. It was powerful, fast with good range and payload. The deal maker on this selection is the fact that the A/B-26 maintained effective opertional status (even in the US military) for another 20 years or so, fighting in Korea, Cuba and Vietnam. I don't think any other contestant can stand up to that record. In addition, it looked mean! Mosquito barely makes it into this list weightwise but, oh, what a plane.

Assignment of classification by user ("A" not "B") is not relevant. Note "F" in F-117.

Note on the much maligned B-26 Maruder. Another great bomber with a good survival record. With high wingload, it was ahead or its time and cause training problems. Todays military pilots would have had no problems. If I had to fly in WWII in a medium bomber, that would be my list.

syscom3 · 03-23-2006, 07:52 PM

Gen. Kenney of the FEAF had a low opinion of the A26 because of its pilot visibility problems. He felt that the B25 had a better chance of destroying the target.

The B26 had a good combat record but it had its problems. Its production was stopped early in the war and in the 12AF, B25's began to replace the B26 groups.

My vote is for the B25. Fought in the war from start to finish (for the AAF)in all theaters.

Glider · 03-23-2006, 10:02 PM

Can anyone tell me why they don't like the Do217. Compared to the B25 and B26 it went faster, further, higher with a larger bombload and served well against overwhelming air superiority until the end of the war. It also was more verstile than either of these planes carrying guided missiles and serving as a nightfighter.
Even compared to the A26 its performance was close with similar top speeds and payload plus of course it was in service about three years earlier.

03-22-2006, 08:39 AM	#16
Gnomey "World Traveller" Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Royal Deeside/St Andrews, Scotland, UK Posts: 16,540	I've always liked the A-26 and it definitely packed a punch, so it gets my vote. __________________ "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

03-22-2006, 09:51 AM	#17
Vassili Zaitzev Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Stafford Springs, Connecticut Posts: 2,483	I'll go with the Junker JU88 C model with the MGs and cannons in the nose. It could attack its target and ward off any frontal attack with its powerful nose armament. __________________ "Never was so much owed by so many to so few"- Winston Churchill.

03-22-2006, 10:26 AM	#19
Twitch Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: City of the Angels California Posts: 809	B-25 with Ju 88 a close 2nd due to the fact that is was so versitile. __________________

03-22-2006, 08:32 PM	#22
book1182 Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: United States Posts: 75	American = B-26 ruggedness,bomb load, speed German = JU-88 only German bomber I would have wanted to be in British = Bristol Beaufort if you can call it a medium bomber Japan = Neil/Sally??? The British and Japanese only really had heavy and light bombers. What would you consider medium bombers for these two nations? Mosquito of course in the bomber configuration. What other ones though? __________________ Get the greedy bastard...

03-22-2006, 10:32 PM	#23
loomaluftwaffe Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,848	the japs eat sushi so a heavy to them is a light bomber in the west __________________ "The German Luftwaffe always fought without any reserves. This is also the reason why we have pilots with extremely high numbers of victories." - General der Jagdflieger Adolf Galland"

03-22-2006, 01:46 PM	#21
cheddar cheese Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: WSM, England Posts: 20,387	A-26 as well for me...

03-22-2006, 10:37 PM	#24
plan_D Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 11,978	The British only had heavy and light bombers? The Wellington, Whitley and Manchester were all medium bombers compared to the real heavy bombers of the war, like the Lancaster and Halifax. The only homegrown heavy bombers in the RAF were the Lancaster, Halifax and Stirling. There's probably more medium than heavy bombers, actually. __________________ "When you go home tomorrow, don't expect anyone to know what you have been through. Even if they did know, most people probably wouldn't care anyway. Some of you may get the medals you deserve, many more of you will not. But remember this, all of you are now members of the front-line club, and that is the most exclusive club in the world." - Lt. Col. Matthew Maer CO 1st Battalion, the Princess of Wale's Royal Regiment. Camp Abu Naji, Oct. 2004 To those in that club.

03-23-2006, 01:27 AM	#25
the lancaster kicks ass Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 19,945	and the mossie is never really counted as a medium bomber, as she was rarely used in the strategic role, when the RAF think of bombers they only think of strategic bombing, attack bombers like the mossie are considdered ground attack/light strike, not as bombers in the way the RAF thinks of them............ The RAF did have a large number of mediums as they tried out different designs, including as pD has mentioned, the wimpy, manchester, whitley, hampden (and family) plus a few others......... and the beaufighter wasn't a medium bomber........... __________________ "Reminds me of the time I sank the Tirpitz" comments a Spitfire pilot, "One pass of course, old boy."

03-23-2006, 02:56 AM	#26
loomaluftwaffe Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,848	it was kinda like a zestorer right? __________________ "The German Luftwaffe always fought without any reserves. This is also the reason why we have pilots with extremely high numbers of victories." - General der Jagdflieger Adolf Galland"

03-23-2006, 06:12 PM	#28
davparlr Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,563	No contest here. For gross weights from 20 to 40k and bomb loads of 4 to 6K, A/B-26 Invader out distances the rest. It was powerful, fast with good range and payload. The deal maker on this selection is the fact that the A/B-26 maintained effective opertional status (even in the US military) for another 20 years or so, fighting in Korea, Cuba and Vietnam. I don't think any other contestant can stand up to that record. In addition, it looked mean! Mosquito barely makes it into this list weightwise but, oh, what a plane. Assignment of classification by user ("A" not "B") is not relevant. Note "F" in F-117. Note on the much maligned B-26 Maruder. Another great bomber with a good survival record. With high wingload, it was ahead or its time and cause training problems. Todays military pilots would have had no problems. If I had to fly in WWII in a medium bomber, that would be my list.

03-23-2006, 07:52 PM	#29
syscom3 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 10,814	Gen. Kenney of the FEAF had a low opinion of the A26 because of its pilot visibility problems. He felt that the B25 had a better chance of destroying the target. The B26 had a good combat record but it had its problems. Its production was stopped early in the war and in the 12AF, B25's began to replace the B26 groups. My vote is for the B25. Fought in the war from start to finish (for the AAF)in all theaters. __________________ "Pilot to copilot..... what are those mountain goats doing up here in the clouds?"

03-23-2006, 10:02 PM	#30
Glider Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: London Posts: 3,917	Can anyone tell me why they don't like the Do217. Compared to the B25 and B26 it went faster, further, higher with a larger bombload and served well against overwhelming air superiority until the end of the war. It also was more verstile than either of these planes carrying guided missiles and serving as a nightfighter. Even compared to the A26 its performance was close with similar top speeds and payload plus of course it was in service about three years earlier.

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