Most Dangerous Position on a Bomber....?

Lightning Guy · 05-11-2004, 11:59 PM

I could understand it being tried the first time. But it's all those raids that came after the first one (I'm not even sure which that would have been) but you think the Allies would have learned their lesson.

the lancaster kicks ass · 05-12-2004, 01:37 PM

but if you had a big target to hit with a big bomb, you would have to use a heavy...................

plan_D · 05-12-2004, 02:00 PM

Yes, but these big targets wouldn't always have had to been hit from low level.

Lightning Guy · 05-12-2004, 02:03 PM

And the truly big bombs (Tallboy, Grand Slam) were only effective if they were dropped from a high altitude. And the lower level means more accuracy which means a smaller bomb can be used.

the lancaster kicks ass · 05-12-2004, 02:14 PM

but if you have to hit a big target a small bomb won't do, and what if you need the range that a mossie couldn't offer but a heavy could?

plan_D · 05-12-2004, 02:15 PM

By 'big' target I assume you mean armoured, since if it's big you use more planes.
The range of a heavy would be a deciding factor, so that would be a reason.

Lightning Guy · 05-12-2004, 02:17 PM

And you probably wouldn't be trying to low-level bomb then.

the lancaster kicks ass · 05-12-2004, 02:23 PM

it depends on the target, the dams were a big target, but the only way to hit them was at low level.................

plan_D · 05-12-2004, 02:37 PM

That was a rare case though, the bomb involved was also an ingenius and rare case.

Lightning Guy · 05-12-2004, 02:40 PM

The low altitude of the dam busters raid was required by the nature of Upkeep.

MP-Willow · 05-12-2004, 05:12 PM

But the dam missions were a rare and special event. Excicuted with a new special bomb from the heavy.

B-25s flew as low as the pilot dared, or could. The solid nose Js were low fast and could sting a target but good.

Question, please do not get mad with me, but I have read that those raids were not that effective in the overall sceam of the war?

plan_D · 05-12-2004, 05:33 PM

What raids? The Dambuster raids affected the German production from the Ruhr Valley for a good few months.
The Amiens raid freed members of the French Resistance that were needed for the spying network.

The B-25 raids I do not know much about, but they were not heavies anyway. The Mosquito pilots were flying at very low level also, at Amiens they flew lower than the wall that they were going to bomb, under 20 ft.

Lightning Guy · 05-12-2004, 11:31 PM

The B-25 (in American hands at least) didn't see much action over Europe (the B-26 being preferred). Most of the solid nose Js were in the Pacific. Their low-level strikes against shipping (like Bismarck Sea) and against airfields (raids around Rabaul) were absolutely lethal.

plan_D · 05-12-2004, 11:57 PM

I have read a few things on B-25 raids but I didn't want to comment because I know little of the B-25, although I do love it as a plane.

Lightning Guy · 05-13-2004, 02:29 AM

I think it's most devestating raids were on the Japanese airfields in the South Pacific. Even before the B-25J had arrived, a guy named Pappy Gunn (appropriately) had modified basic B-25Cs to take 8 .50cals in the nose plus two in the top turret. Their bombloads were made up of 'parafrags' - nastly little 25lbs parachute bombs with a super-sensitive fuze, and a B-25 could carry roughly 100. The B-25s would come across a Jap airstrip about 6 ships across with their guns blazing and parafrags poppin out the bomb bay. There wouldn't be much left after that.