Most Dangerous Position on a Bomber....?

[cheddar cheese]

 

[MP-Willow]

Cheap Laybor nice to hear fro you. Being in the bomb bay at the bombs away call is more a Problum for the B-24 of B-17. But then when over he target most crewman would be at the guns or flying. But I will not be surprised to read about crewman going down with a bomb.

 

[Cheap Labour]

Yeah but did the crew really sit in the bomb bay for the whole journey?
Thought not...

The question was asked as "What is the most dangerous position on a bomber during the bomb run."

Imagine you're a B-17 (this thread is not just about Lancs you know) flight engineer, and the radio compartment is hit and catches fire. Say you're the only guy who can get there (use your imagination - every other crewman aft of that position is dead or incapacitated - these things happen in war, you know) with a fire extinguisher. You try and slip through the tiny catwalk, but whoops, something catches onto the bomb. With all the straps and laces and what-have-yous on a flightsuit this isn't really implausible. And then bombs away! Not to mention Flight Engineer away.

I wonder if you'd leave a crater.

 

[Maestro]

I wonder if you'd leave a crater.

May be if you're not wearing a parachute...

 

[cheddar cheese]

And then bombs away! Not to mention Flight Engineer away.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

i could picture that...........

yet another reason as to why the lanc is a better bomber than the B-17............

 

[cheddar cheese]

Indeed...

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

I'm stil waiting for people's argumets as to why they think the B-17 was a better bomber than the lancaster................

 

[cheddar cheese]

I dont anymore, "Bomber command" has changed my views on the subject completely.

 

[wmaxt]

I'm stil waiting for people's argumets as to why they think the B-17 was a better bomber than the lancaster................

I think for daylite bombing the B-17 had an edge (though the concept of unescorted bombers was stupid) it was a tough honest plane that did the job it needed to. Better is not really a valid comparision the Lanc did most things better and it had a lot of soul too!

 

[cheddar cheese]

I dont think the Lancaster would have half the character it does now if it wasnt for the dambuster raids.

 

[wmaxt]

I think the worst place to be in a WWII bomber was inside the plane, I know thats irreverent (my uncle was a waist gunner in a B-17 100th bomb groupe) with the loss rates so high it was incredible that these men had the courage to get into them and fly every mission. Statistics I've heard is that they had more time in combat reletive speaking and worse odds than an infantry man. My hat's off to them.

 

[Nonskimmer]

My hat's off to them.

Ditto!

 

[evangilder]

Agreed. You actually had a better chance of survival in WWII if you were a Marine than an aircrew member in Europe. Scary thought!

 

[cheddar cheese]

My hat's off to them.

Ditto!

Me too!

If only I had a hat though

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

ditto............

 

[MP-Willow]

wmaxt: the riflemen would say that the aircrews are crazy to fly right into and throu the flak and fighters to drop the bombs that through it all again to get home.

Hello all I have been away in Maine on vacation!

 

[evangilder]

Welcome back, Willow. 8)

 

[mosquitoman]

IMO day bombing was about the most dangerous role an aircraft could do, flak, Bf109s and Fw190s are a deadly mix

 

[MP-Willow]

Thanks Evenglider