Most Dangerous Position on a Bomber....?

[MP-Willow]

Udet, you raise a good question as to the different factors that go into trying to hunt down the German fighters as they came over the formations. Now remmber that the bobmer guns had but a few seconds of fire time. Most B-24 gunners has 500 to 1200 rounds, and that would be one reason why you saw good clean bombers letting the fighters get real close

As for tail end chairly, that was never the place to fly

 

[Udet]

MP Willow:

That is kind of the idea i was trying to land here.

I ve seen footage when the defensive fire is very visible when the German fighter was homing in for the kill; in some cases i can even say the interceptor equipped with the guncamera got hit since kind of moderate/violent shaking is detected in the camera, but it was not enough to bring the German down.

Having seen shots where the defensive fire is clearly visible gave me a pattern to go and see those shots i am herein referring to, and in fact no defensive fire is being fired.

The reasons for that? Many. I still have a hard time trying to figure out why. That is why i said the behavior of a number of gunners on the heavies was odd.

 

[MP-Willow]

That I can agree with you on. Being a gunner was not a job for the light hearted.

 

[BountyHunter15]

If I flew as escort i'd either use a P-51D Mustang or a P-47 Thunderbolt.

 

[evangilder]

Nice pic. 8)

 

[Nonskimmer]

It sure is!

 

[trackend]

Compositon is just about perfect. Thirds rule , Subject entering the frame. a very good picture indeed Bounty.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

escorting british bombers at night though you have to take a mossie........

 

[kiwimac]

Sorry Chaps,

Little late splitting this one.

Done

Kiwimac

 

[cheddar cheese]

Yesh but now the poll is gone...I dont think this thing should be done with the polls...

 

[MP-Willow]

CC, I would agree that the polls should have stayed. AS for the esscourt, the P-51D and P-47 were late arrivals in the war. But the P-51 could have come sooner, would that have made a difference in the escourt of bombers? Or just let the bombers have Little firends from the start?

Yes, we seem to have some gifted photographers here.

 

[cheddar cheese]

They did have the P-38's before the 'Stang came along 8)

 

[mosquitoman]

Not in enough numbers though, they were all fighting in the Far East

 

[MP-Willow]

CC, yes, but the numbers were set for Europe in North Africa. They were shipped to England then sent out for Operation Tourch.

 

[DAVIDICUS]

Most dangerous position on a bomber?

Inside.

 

[NightHawk]

Most dangerous position on a bomber?

Inside.

is there a position out side ?........

 

[mosquitoman]

I've read about a VC winner who went out onto the wing of a Wellington with his parachute on to stop a fire on the wing reaching the fuel tanks

 

[cheddar cheese]

I heard about that.


NH, there is if youre in a TB-3

 

[MP-Willow]

Interesting TB-3, thoughs Russian bombers were not the place to be
But then most were so slow the German fighters had problums with them. Save for the Pe-2.

 

[The Jug Rules!]

The most dangerous position is a tie between the ball turret and the tail gunner. It is very hard to get out of the turret in certain positions, and the tail end of the aircraft is usually the first place hit during an attack.