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seem very destructive , image a head on hit from HVAR which is alot bigger
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There was mention a little ways back about rockets being used on bombers.
This is a B-24M (44-50838) that was hit by a salvo of R4M rockets launched by a Me262 on 4 April 1945. Only one crewmember, Cpl. Charles Cupp, Jr., survived. This was exactly 69 years ago today.
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actually all these 3 are average , but of different kind to deal with different sort of statistic
With the higher speed of the Me262, a head-on attack was unlikely (but not unheard of), they generally attacked from behind.seem very destructive , image a head on hit from HVAR which is alot bigger
Interesting, Stona.
It makes it clear that with a frontal attack you get 1 second to fire*, which is a lot less time to fire than if approaching from the rear. Well, at least the B-17 only has about a second to fire at you also!
* With an MG151/20, that's a chance for about 11 rounds on target. For the slower firing cannon from a zero it's about 8 rounds.
The problem for the fighter pilot is actually making that shot in the minimal time available. It certainly could be done, I've seen several segments of gun camera footage that show it.
I read where it was difficult to time right and be able to pull up, as they were closing at about 600 mph, very easy to fire to early (out of range) or too late.
They will go inverted, hit their targets and dive away inverted at high speeds keeping positive Gs on the airframe at all time, I've seen LW pilots do this too, I think they would have an easier time recovering and re-engaging using elevator than aileron.There was a video link here showing Japanese fighters engaging a B17 from head on ...but they were flying inverted, I couldnt understand why, any answers?g
They will go inverted, hit their targets and dive away inverted at high speeds keeping positive Gs on the airframe at all time, I've seen LW pilots do this too, I think they would have an easier time recovering and re-engaging using elevator than aileron.
Thanks Flyboy, I was thinking maybewhen flying inverted the guns would fire up slightly giving a better chance of a hit. Obviously not
Your welcome - here's something interesting...
"When intercepting a bomber force, German fighter units initially flew a parallel course off to one side outside the range of the defensive guns. After reaching a point about 3 miles ahead, either three or four plane groups peeled off and swung 180 degrees around to attack head-on in rapid succession. It was critical for the fighters to maintain some semblance of cohesion, or at least visual contact, so after each pass they could regroup for repeated concentrated attacks. That was the theory anyway. In reality, many pilots ended the first pass with a split-S maneuver, inverting and diving down and away from the defensive fire above them.
With increased experience, German fighters began to make their head-on attacks using either in line astern or with the entire unit spread out abreast in the "company front" formation. The recommended procedure was to pull up and over the bombers and then from their position of advantage above, the German fighters were quickly able to launch another attack. It was critical for the fighters to maintain some semblance of cohesion, or at least visual contact, so after each pass they could regroup for repeated concentrated attacks. That was the theory anyway. The huge tail fin of the Fortress posed a collision risk and many German pilots preferred to break away below. Either they dipped the noses of their aircraft and passed close underneath, or rolled inverted and broke hard down with the "Abschwung" (Split-S maneuver.) This took them well below the bombers and valuable minutes were lost before they could gain sufficient height to attack again."
German Pilot Perspective
good info thanks
I'm really surprised the Germans didn't come up with a simple way of judging ranges for face shots. I would have used to inverted staples, |___| for on trigger, and |______| for off trigger. When the wingspan fills the first start shooting, and when it fills the second stop and pull / roll away. Final product would have looked like this |__|___|__| (middle two uprights for on trigger, outer two for off trigger).
Most (maybe all?) reflector gunsights had various markings for this and other purposes. However, in life-and-death combat, sometimes what little training an 18 year old receives doesn't always stick.
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