- Thread starter
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- #721
Snautzer01
Honourably banned
- 42,180
- Mar 26, 2007
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Thought, although i have no prove, you were better then that.
I did not know the VVS flew B-17s.
That answer brings up more questions. Captured B-17s and B-24s? Were they ex-beute machines?
Very interesting. I had read about Operation Frantic. I assumed that flyable planes went back home after the attack and the rest were scrap.Good question. there isn't a whole lot that has been published in English about this.
This from wikipedia:
"Late in World War II, RAF and USAAF bombers that had been damaged in raids over the Reich would put down in Soviet-controlled territory rather than try to make it back to Western bases, and in April 1945 the Soviet Air Forces (VVS) issued a directive to its units in the field to report the location of any aircraft of its Western Allies that were in Soviet hands; among the aircraft salvaged were a total of 73 B-17s. The Fortresses that were in the best condition were returned to the USAAF, but a number were retained as interim heavy bombers. Although Russian aircrews and maintenance crews had no experience with such aircraft, the Soviets proved ingenious at keeping them flying, and in fact were delighted with the B-17's handling, comparing it to a "swallow" and the nimble Polikarpov Po-2 biplane trainer. Soviet officials tended to order the "filthy pictures" applied to the aircraft removed or painted out. The B-17s remained in service until 1948, when the Tupolev Tu-4 began to arrive at operational squadrons."
And this from a Russian source, which is interesting...
I'm not sure of the source, it may be in one of the books on lend lease, but every aircraft request list Stalin sent included the B-29 which was refused each time.
Same as in post #721It's not deliberately meant to be aggressive and don't take it personally, snautzer; it's certainly not designed to deliberately upset you. I am pretty direct in person, too and I generally will defend my corner when need be. Don't think of it as an attack on you, I just don't mince words. Conversely, I won't hold back in complementing you in person, too.
Here is your evidence.
"Pilots in this regiment [890th Guards Long Range Bomber Regiment] had accumulated much experience in flying the American Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bombers, which enabled them to be first service pilots to convert to the Tu-4. The B-24s were widely used for mastering the technique of piloting heavy aircraft with tricycle undercarriage. The regiment catered for training Tu-4 crews until 1955 when the jet-powered Tu-16 began to reach service units."
From Tupolev Tu-4 Soviet Superfortress (Midland, 2002) by Yefim Gordon and Vladimir Rigmant.
Same as in post #721
You think so ?