Armed Recon - What it was - what it wasn't - how it changed (1 Viewer)

Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules

Conslaw

Senior Airman
627
449
Jan 22, 2009
Indianapolis, Indiana USA
It seems like American fighters (others too) flew a lot of "armed recon" missions in Europe, especially in the last year of WWII. What were the parameters of these missions? Did they have a certain area to cover? Were all the fighters usually armed with bombs and/or rockets, or did they have some "clean" escorts. Use this thread to show off what you know about Armed Recon.
 
There was a lot of unarmed reconnaissance going on by Spitfires, Mosquitos and P-38 Lightnings, where the obvious objective was reconnaissance. The unarmed aircraft were fast, and particularly in the case of the Spitfires, long ranged.

I am fascinated by the Spitfire FR.XIVEs, which had a camera shooting out the side, two 20mm Hispanos, and 2 .50" machine guns. Spitfires were supposed to be high altitude fighters, and Typhoons and Tempests, low altitude. You would think they would have modified Tempests, which were faster at low altitude, longer ranged, more rugged and heavily armed.

The Spitfire FR.XIVE is the perfect paraprazzi machine. "I am taking your $##^#%$^#$ picture. Don't like it? #$@#% you!"
 
It seems like American fighters (others too) flew a lot of "armed recon" missions in Europe, especially in the last year of WWII. What were the parameters of these missions? Did they have a certain area to cover? Were all the fighters usually armed with bombs and/or rockets, or did they have some "clean" escorts. Use this thread to show off what you know about Armed Recon.
Hi
Details of 'armed-reconnaissance' sorties could depend on the theatre the units were in and overlaps in 'terminology', as 'fighter-reconnaissance' could be undetaking similar missions. I have attached the first part of chapter 8 of 'Air Power at the Battlefront, Allied Close Air Support in Europe 1943-45' by Ian Gooderson, that relates to some extent to your question:
WW2RAFsqnest146.jpg

WW2RAFsqnest147.jpg

Also from the same book the the loss rates for aircraft on missions, note 2nd TAF fighters involved on these missions were not only Spitfires:
WW2RAFsqnest148.jpg

Part of Appendix 11 from 'AP 3235, Air Support' includes information on the situation in Burma:
WW2RAFsqnest149.jpg

I hope that is of interest.

Mike
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back