fubar57
General
279 Sqn ASR.III releasing a lifeboat...
Geo
Geo
Picture of the day. (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter syscom3
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GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
That simply does not look like it will end well...
Glider
Captain
Don't knock them, those lifeboats saved a lot of lives and were the most sophisticated approach at the time. They had two engines, food, supplies, radios, sails, waterproof clothing, flares and were self righting.
Lucky13
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GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
I know there were alot of sea/rescue units that were the salvation of countless souls, but in looking at the photo and understanding physics to a certain degree, I can't help but wonder how many prototypes and practice sessions it took before they were able to deliver a boat in that fashion without it:
1) tumbling from the aircraft and breaking up on impact
2) catching air and nosing up into the aircraft, damaging both boat and aircraft
3) hitting the water at speed and over-shooting the rescue area or worse, skimming into the survivors
Glider
Captain
No doubt a lot of trial and error came into it. Looking at the picture it looks as if they were forced away from the aircraft with the nose being forced out first. There seems to be a left over blast of gas in the nose and the rear has just been released. The came down on parachutes which would deal with the landing speed. My guess is the biggest problem was probably the distance they may have drifted away from the survivors before the boat hits the water.
Thinking the same thing....
Shortround6
Major General
vikingBerserker
Lieutenant General
There is an excellent book about this Shot Down and In The Drink: RAF and Commonwealth Aircrews Saved From the Sea, 1939-1945 . When the boat lands ropes are shot out away in various directions from the boat to help the survivors reach it. Believe it or most drops were good with only a few not working well.
Lucky13
Forum Mascot
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
Now that would be a horrible sight if you had just turned down the alley during the street fighting...
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Immediately reminded me of 'Kelly's Heroes'. I'm still looking for the paint splashes .... woof, woof !
vikingBerserker
Lieutenant General
I thought and typed the same thing until I saw your post!
fastmongrel
1st Sergeant
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Great pic. In the now wooded area behind the beach at Harlech, there's the remains of one of these tracks, all overgrown, but virtually complete.
vikingBerserker
Lieutenant General
That would be so much fun!
N4521U
Colonel
What? Shooting at wood airplanes?
vikingBerserker
Lieutenant General
Firing a Quad turret!.
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
Dunno...for me, the thrill would be nailing that target with either a Mk108 or a GAU-8.
The downside to that, would be a very very short thrill as the target is transformed into matchsticks in about half a second...
The downside to that, would be a very very short thrill as the target is transformed into matchsticks in about half a second...
