Recent content by mcoffee

The 'train of boxes' was used when attacking a point target such as a bridge. You should find the 465th attack sheet in the mission folder and see what it says. When bombing by PFF, the Mickey Ship leading each attack unit sighted independently. Again, a review of the mission folders will...

Depended on the target. The previously attached formation plan has a Mickey Ship (PFF) at A-1-1 and B-1-1. In the formation plan attached here A-1-1, B-1-1, B-2-1, and C-1-1 are all PFF. The names with MN preceding are the "Mickey Navigators" . B-24 Lead ships carried 3 navigators: normal...

The A-2 and B-2 boxes (your c and d) cruised to the right but moved into trail for the attack so offset was not necessary. The 449th BG was tasked a different bridge on 23 Sep but did not bomb as both the primary and secondary targets were completely undercast. See the attached attack sheet...

I am aware of the modified D models with nose turrets - I should have been more specific - but was replying to the quote implying the J model began the nose turrets.

The nose turret was added starting with the H/G models, but no, adding the turret did not increase the crew complement to 11. Only lead aircraft flew with a radio operator at the radio full time which did make for 11 men. On all other aircraft the radio operator doubled as a gunner, typically...

RIchard Hurd - CP to Wayne Friberg aboard "Barrel House Bessie" on Operation Tidal Wave, 376th BG. Yeah, definitely "hats off". The B-24 was both better and worse than the B-17. Faster, better range, larger bomb bay. The quoted higher ceiling is a bit misleading as the B-24 flew at lower...

If the aircraft is using (pick a number) 5% of its available roll control to resist the prop torque, then only 95% is left to actually roll right. The aircraft has effectively 105% roll control to the left. If you are standing on the beach in a 30mph wind, you are at equilibrium by leaning into...

Newton's Third Law of Motion. An aircraft with a clockwise turning propeller (viewed from the cockpit) is having to resist a tendency to roll counter-clockwise. To roll clockwise, it has to resist the tendency even more; to roll counter-clockwise, resist the tendency less. It will have a...

The B-29s discovered the jet stream. Did the Lancaster have a bomb sight that could compensate for 200+mph winds aloft? What would the ground speed of a Lancaster be with a 200 mph headwind? So, which is it?

11.5 miles was slant range from the point of detonation, not horizontal distance. The bomb was released at 31,060 and exploded at 1968 ft. The bomb continued forward from the release point while the Enola Gay immediately executed a 155 deg turn which was calculated to give maximum separation...

See Post #46

Normal entry was through the nose wheel well, but there was a tunnel under the flight deck to the bomb bay

Loss rate per sortie data for 8th AF B-17's and B-24's by Bomb Group. This is the work of Sam McGowan. And a couple of photos of a "fragile" 15th AF B-24.

Attached is the request from the 2AD to remove B-24 ball turrets. The supporting data shows that the ball turrets had only 5% of the total encounters, declining in the April '44 month to 3.7%. It is interesting to note that the percentage of claims for each position closely tracks the...

Down thrust is used to help mitigate the pitch excursions that occur with changes in power settings. Likewise, side thrust is used to help mitigate the effects of asymmetrical thrust inherent in propeller driven aircraft at high angles of attack. Neither are about visibility over the nose.