Most Dangerous Position on a Bomber....?

[Lightning Guy]

The Augsburg raid on April 4, 1942 was even more extreme - 7 out of 12 shot down. I know that was a daylight raid but I think the point is well made that heavy bombers were virtual death traps in low-level missions.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

but often the only way to get the job done.......................

 

[Lightning Guy]

Maybe, but the actual damage this raids accomplished have often been highly debated.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

they had a huge effect on moral, which can only be a good thing, the only reason they weren't as successful as they could have been was becasue germany had an amazing ability to recover from attacks, look at the dams raid, within 48hours they had comething like 20,000 workers on the site......................

 

[MP-Willow]

Heavy bobers at low levels, is always bad But now a missle will to the trick. The damb raids were a show the the RAF was lookig at every angle to try ad stop the Germans. As was Gerany.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

the dams raid was almost prurey for show, we knew it wouldn't have a huge effect...............................

 

[Lightning Guy]

I've read that Wallis was hoping to end the war with that strike.

 

[MP-Willow]

So thouhts on each end?

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

yes i'd heard about wallis, but everyone else know it would do very little, even the doc. realised that in the end......................

 

[MP-Willow]

But it was done and made Germany think of moving troops or AA gus around and they had to take the time and resourse to fix the dambs.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

but that's one of the things they did very well, one of them was fixed in a matter of weeks................

 

[Lightning Guy]

The point was, Wallis (at least) was hoping to bring the war to a hault in a matter of weeks. Instead, a substantial part of the damage had been repaired in a matter of weeks. The raid did exactly what it was supposed to do, it's effects just weren't what had been hoped for.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

it gave the newspapers a field day however............................

 

[Lightning Guy]

In terms of publicity and propaganda it was a phenomenal success. It also proved thet bomber command could hit a pinpoint target at night (ironically, that precision strike still resulted in massive area damage).

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

and the best part was that the raid didn't have to be played up, it realy was as good as they said....................

 

[MP-Willow]

So why not go back and try to take out the dambs again or kep them out?
The RAF did very good Area bombing, even the US daylight raids were area bombing though that turm was not liked or used.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

i think you're the first american on the sight to openly admit that.....................

 

[GermansRGeniuses]

Not trying to be cheeky, just pointing this out.

Sight as in Eyesight, or the ability to see.

Site as in Website, or a place like a Bomb-site, or any other type of place.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

you'll get over it............................

 

[MP-Willow]

Lank thanks. I have been reading a little and some tv stuff has shown that it really was just a play on words. The US Norton was very good when it was used in the Arizona desert but it did not do as well under war conditions. Also time has passed and we can admit to some things now yes?