A brilliant strategy or despair?

[pampa14]

During WW2 many air forces tested the concept of motherships carrying combat aircraft. I share with you a spectacular collection of images showing some of the most important projects involving this kind of concept. Agreeing with the title of this post, what do you think? Strategy or Despair? The article and the photos can be viewed by visiting the link below:


Aviação em Floripa: Aviões Parasitas


Best Regards!

 

[Shortround6]

Well, you have at least three different things going on in the photos.
Bomber carrying it's own escort fighters ( Russian bomber with biplanes)
Bomber carrying manned attack aircraft to extend their range (Russian bomber carrying monoplanes)
Bomber carrying human guided bombs (Japanese aircraft).
German pulse jet was a concept in search of a mission.

The first two were viable strategies for their time.
The 2nd two were much more in the desperation camp although if you are using suicide bombers anyway then they are not so extreme.

Please note that the Russian combination of bomber and I-16 attack planes was used operationally with some success and the pilots were expected to make it back to friendly lines. Combo allowed for bigger bomb load on the fighter/attack planes and extended range over fighter range alone.