Best Bomber of WW2 -- #3

[cheddar cheese]

I dontsee why not, It, like the Halifax, was a night bomber, which could carry nearly 8,000lbs of bombs over 2,200miles, It has a better ceiling than the Halifax, is better armed, more heavily armoured...

 

[FLYBOYJ]

so are the bulk of us agreed on

1) B-29
2) Lanc



so then, 3rd?

B-17 - The documented evidence of how much battle damage it could absorb is renowned. Even die-hard B-24 drivers will admit the B-17 was a better flier. The B-24 did offer some advantages, but it was the B-17 that took the fight of the USAAF to Germany with the B-24 just a RCH behind....

3) B-17
4) B-24

i'd proberly go along with that, which leaves the halibag 5th?

and pb, you're proberly right however the manchester and lancaster archive says

Each crew member volunteered for aircrew duties. None were conscripted into their jobs.

Agree with the Halibag (Halifax) #5

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

but the halibag proved itself extensively in combat........

 

[FLYBOYJ]

but the halibag proved itself extensively in combat........

Agree - after that #6 - got to go with the B-25......

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

i thought this was for heavy bombers?

 

[cheddar cheese]

Me too, If it was all bombers then The Mosquito would have been well up in the top 5...

Heavies, number 6 is a tricky one...

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

i'd assumed we'd stop at 5 you see

what about the whitley

 

[cheddar cheese]

Just because it was considered a heavy bomber initially, doesnt mean it is one..

The Fiat BR.20 was considered a heavy bomber. Really? Heavy? With 1,400 mile range and a 3,500lb payload?

 

[FLYBOYJ]

i thought this was for heavy bombers?

It started out as best bomber, but you're right we're doing heavies....


Sorry CC - P.108?!?! I'd put the Petlyakov PE-8 in there, at least the thing dropped bombs on Berlin

The P.108 never reached its full potential and had an astounding loss rate

 

[cheddar cheese]

Well the P.108 wasnt supposed to drop bombs on Berlin

I agree though it was underdeveloped. The B-29 is everything the P.108 could have been.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

well first we'll have to see which planes iare in the running for 6th?

 

[cheddar cheese]

Stirling, P.108, Pe-8...

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

well the stirling has the longest combat record.........

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Well the P.108 wasnt supposed to drop bombs on Berlin.

I know, it it didn't drop bombs on very much!

 

[FLYBOYJ]

well the stirling has the longest combat record.........

Stirling

PE-8

P.108 (Just becuase we're running out of heavy bombers)

 

[FLYBOYJ]

I agree though it was underdeveloped. The B-29 is everything the P.108 could have been.

Maybe a big B-17, not even close to the -29!

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

yeah we really are short on heavies now

 

[FLYBOYJ]

yeah we really are short on heavies now

I know, we may have to mention the He-177

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

we could be pedantic and go into individual marks of the aircraft already discussed

 

[FLYBOYJ]

we could be pedantic and go into individual marks of the aircraft already discussed

Yep - we could compare the size of the pilot's seat between the B-17 and Lancaster!!!