A-Bombing Germany

[Lightning Guy]

No problem. I had heard that a B-29 could carry those bombs but had never seen a picture. Now I have and am very impressed.

 

[Gemhorse]

When you say the B-29 'would've done it', it couldn't have....because it wasn't ready to drop ANY A-bombs UNTIL July 1945...if they had to do it, in the time-frame of the ETO, the closest, most adaptable aircraft was the Lancaster...One of the biggest problems the B-29 had, was achieving the 'high altitude,' for over long distances, as it's engines kept burning-out, and they didn't get that all sorted-out until the first-half of 1945, and the 'nuke versions' weren't ready until July...- I do believe that 'the worm turned' at Stalingrad....just like the Japs were first 'stopped in their tracks,' at Milne Bay...nobody realised it then, either...- But please don't mistake me on the B-29, it did became the Ultimate bomber of WWII; - I just believe the Lancaster would've dropped The Bomb, in the ETO - They were booked-in for 'Tiger Force' afterward, in the PTO as well...

 

[plan_D]

I do not believe the Lancaster would have done it, it would have also required extensive work to prepare it for the drop. Maybe also not allowing it to be ready before July 1945.

I still do not think the Wehrmacht was stopped at Stalingrad, as it made some more significant gains after that, it also was still able to fight. The battle of Kursk crippled it on the Eastern Front, and the Battle of the Bulge ended it all together.

 

[Lightning Guy]

It may be that the B-29 wasn't capable of dropping the bomb before July of '45 but that works out fine as that was just about the time the bombs were being put into a useable form. I still think that the Lanc's lower speed and lower altitude would have hindered it from dropping a nuclear weapon.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

two tall boys, that's typical americans, always showing off, well HA! we could carry them during the war, you couldn't do it till after.............

 

[brad]

lanc it would of been the b-29 it droped both the tallboy and fatboy

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

i think you mean it dropped the little boy and fat man??

 

[brad]

yhea them ones

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

the lanc could have done it too..................

 

[plan_D]

I don't think it could have.

 

[cheddar cheese]

if it could major modification would have been needed

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

the Enola Gay had to be modified too................................

 

[brad]

not as much

 

[Lightning Guy]

And if you are going to make a point of the B-29 not carrying Tallboy until after the war, I feel it is appropriate to mentioned that Lancs NEVER carried nuclear weapons and certainly not during the war.

 

[cheddar cheese]

yup, because they couldnt

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

no, it was because they didn't have to thank God...................

 

[Lightning Guy]

I'm very thankful they didn't have to too. But I still have doubts about whether or not the Lanc could be used effectively to carry a nuke. Clearly the B-29 could.

 

[cheddar cheese]

i agree 8)

 

[Huckebein]

It's me again - the annoying late person who thinks he knows everything.

Has anyone mentioned the Avro Lincoln yet? definitely able to carry an A-Bomb if required, and if Germany hadn't surrendered the Lincolns would've been operational in Europe while all the B-29s were in the Far East...

Or why not a bloody Mossie? (I just thought of this) It wouldn't have had too many problems with the weight I don't think, and is small and fast enough to get through the defences - it is the Jack-Of-All-Trades after all! 8)

 

[Huckebein]

P.S. Some piccies of Lincolns I found a while back - can't remember where :

(This one's from the RAAF Mseum's site)