American bomber formations request

[Milosh]

Does anyone have diagrams of the various bomber formations used by the Americans, especially in Europe? As I understand it, the formations changed as the war in Europe progressed.

Thanks

 

[drgondog]

Does anyone have diagrams of the various bomber formations used by the Americans, especially in Europe? As I understand it, the formations changed as the war in Europe progressed.

Thanks

Milosh - The Mighty Eighth War Manual by Freeman has a complete descrition of the various formations and their evolutions.. both squadron and wing..

 

[timshatz]

Think the initial attempts were in a V of Vs, pretty common to bomber formations everywhere. Then, a guy name LeMay, worked out the combat box formation where there were high, medium and low squadrons in a group, each offset from the other squadrons in a step down fashion. It was a fairly novel idea and allowed more of the sky to be covered by each bomber's defensive fire.

The effectiveness of the "Combat Box" (also known as the Bomber Box) varied between units. Some units flew a very tight one, others more loose. Correspondingly, tight groups tended to be left alone by the Luftwaffe while loose groups were attacked more often. But tight group might have a higher percentage of collisions and fratricide.

It was a double edged sword.

 

[drgondog]

Think the initial attempts were in a V of Vs, pretty common to bomber formations everywhere. Then, a guy name LeMay, worked out the combat box formation where there were high, medium and low squadrons in a group, each offset from the other squadrons in a step down fashion. It was a fairly novel idea and allowed more of the sky to be covered by each bomber's defensive fire.

The effectiveness of the "Combat Box" (also known as the Bomber Box) varied between units. Some units flew a very tight one, others more loose. Correspondingly, tight groups tended to be left alone by the Luftwaffe while loose groups were attacked more often. But tight group might have a higher percentage of collisions and fratricide.

It was a double edged sword.

Tim - even the V of V's were modified early (late 1942 in the aforemented LeMay Combat Box) when the groups started flying maximum efforts with 4 twelve ship squadrons and the V started looking like diamonds in the plan view.

 

[Milosh]

Milosh - The Mighty Eighth War Manual by Freeman has a complete descrition of the various formations and their evolutions.. both squadron and wing..

Thanks drgondog but I don't have access to that book.