Gloster Gladiator....useful or Useless?

[plan_D]

They just wouldn't be laughing

 

[Lightning Guy]

Well, assuming they were when it rolled in, they certainly wouldn't be when it rolled out.

 

[plan_D]

Unless it was a nervous reaction, as they would be dead.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

yes, i was refering to the roc ...............

 

[Lightning Guy]

So try using a name that will avoid any confussion.

 

[cheddar cheese]

i knew he meant the roc, i just made joke out of it

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

surely "B-25" constitutes a name?

 

[plan_D]

We all knew he meant Roc. Saying simply B-25 is going to cause confusion, as both have the same designation, how are we supposed to know which one you mean Lanc?

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

well if i refer to the B-25 as a good aircraft, i obviously mean the bomber, if i call it crap, i mean the turret fighter, if it can be called a fighter...............

 

[GermansRGeniuses]

We'll call it a target drone for the Germans. With a turret.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

We'll call it a target drone for the Germans

of just target practise................

 

[plan_D]

It was used for live fire exercises, at least you get some form of combat experience against an enemy pilot, even if it is in one of the most awful combat planes ever to fly.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

just something that always bugs me, what was the role of a target tug??

 

[Lightning Guy]

The plane would be used to carry a practice target, basically a large sheet, on a cable that trailed out from the rear of the plane.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

a sheet??

 

[Lightning Guy]

Basically, it was usually called a sleeve but resembled a bed sheet.

 

[plan_D]

Like those banner carrying planes, with the banner trailing out the back. That'd been pretty hairy for the pilot in the tug, if the practicing pilots were just crap.

 

[cheddar cheese]

i imagine there must have been a few examples where the target tug got hit?

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

i've never even heard an account of a pilot doing target practice like that, was it common practise??