Which were best for antishipping?

[Glider]

Originally Posted by brickhistory

Good book on the Mosquito with the godawful big 6 pounder is:

A Most Secret Squadron by Des Curtis DFC.


Re Beaus flying with extra personnel on board; it was very common. As amrit will read, 'my' squadron, 417th, flew the flight surgeon, occassionally a crew chief, and new aircrew guys on ops. I'm very sure many of the other Beau squadrons did as well.

This ability was often used to train new pilots in nightfighter tactics.
It was also sometimes used to show night bomber pilots how easy it was for them to be attacked. Bomber crews sometimes were more afraid of flak despite the fact that the fighters were the more deadly enemy. To prove it, some bomber squadron leaders were taken up and the Beaufighter would intercept real bombers on their way home from a mission. The passengers were often worried about this, as the bomber gunners would obviously open fire without question at a twin engined aircraft approaching at night. Only on one occaision did the intercepted bomber open fire and it missed.
This activity was frowned on by Bomber Command Headquarters as it could be bad for the morale of the bomber crews if they knew how easy it was for them to be shot down.

[Wildcat]

Originally Posted by syscom3

For the PTO, taking on the small barges and coastal vessels the Japanese used extensively was also part of the "anti-shipping" mission.

Since its hard to hit a small 100 ton vessel with a bomb, the B25's dozen 50 cal's gave it a big leg up on the competition.

Plus, the .50's enabled to to "hose" down the AA on the ships.

Agree, however the Beau's were more then effective in barge sweeps in the Pacific as well. Mention must also go the the A-20.

[Lucky13]

Which would you consider to be the best torpedo plane of the war, or maybe submarine hunter?

[Lucky13]

Were there any hunter-killer groups seing combat in WWII, hunting submarines?

[B-17engineer]

I am gonna go with the Beaufighter just because its ability to get there and get out.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Originally Posted by B-17engineer

I am gonna go with the Beaufighter just because its ability to get there and get out.

So what aircraft could not get there and not get out?

[Wildcat]

Originally Posted by DerAdlerIstGelandet

So what aircraft could not get there and not get out?

On many occasions, Kamikaze's.

[Lucky13]

I've always wondered if the 88' was any successful in this business with the likes of the B-25, Beaufighter and Mosquito...and what about the He-111 and the other machines that the Luftwaffe tried out?