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It was the same in Tunisia, the downfall of the Luftwaffe in North Africa hinged largely on bombing raids by Baltimores and B-25s. Also some B-24s used at low level.
The Mosquito was such a better plane for all bombing purposes that it is worth questioning why so many Marauders and Mitchells were built. Comparing survivability and accuracy, one can only surmise far better success had medium bomber programs been ditched entirely in favor of Mosquitoes.It seems like fighters and heavy bombers get all the attention in Western European theater. Yet there were thousands of medium bombers committed there. Are they getting a short shrift or are their contributions just not as consequential as their heavier and lighter cohorts? If you have statistics to support your position, all the better.
It seems like fighters and heavy bombers get all the attention in Western European theater. Yet there were thousands of medium bombers committed there. Are they getting a short shrift or are their contributions just not as consequential as their heavier and lighter cohorts? If you have statistics to support your position, all the better.
Apart from decisions about producing those medium bombers being made before the mosquito demonstrated what it could do (and bomber commands scepticism ensured that it entered service as reconnaissance and, if memory serves (maybe it dosn't), night fighter before it was even used as bomber. After that production priorities might have changed, but it was no simple matter just doubling or trebling the production of mosquitoes. Consult older threads for problems with labour skilled in wood work and the problems of getting enough of the right kind of wood. One reason the mosquito was even allowed to be developed was that it used a niche in both materials and workers more usually being expended in building furniture.The Mosquito was such a better plane for all bombing purposes that it is worth questioning why so many Marauders and Mitchells were built. Comparing survivability and accuracy, one can only surmise far better success had medium bomber programs been ditched entirely in favor of Mosquitoes.
When Hap Arnold presented the plans the Brits gave him after an impressive demonstration in April, 1941, five engineers discounted it immediately. Had even one considered a prototype, perhaps in the Detroit area which had access to the wooden Chriscraft Boat Works, a few prototypes could have been floated. conceivably, a couple of thousand could have then been built within a year. As it was, we borrowed theirs in 1943 for reconnaissance missions and secret projects. Elliott Roosevelt was a strong proponent of this development.Apart from decisions about producing those medium bombers being made before the mosquito demonstrated what it could do (and bomber commands scepticism ensured that it entered service as reconnaissance and, if memory serves (maybe it dosn't), night fighter before it was even used as bomber. After that production priorities might have changed, but it was no simple matter just doubling or trebling the production of mosquitoes. Consult older threads for problems with labour skilled in wood work and the problems of getting enough of the right kind of wood. One reason the mosquito was even allowed to be developed was that it used a niche in both materials and workers more usually being expended in building furniture.
When Hap Arnold presented the plans the Brits gave him after an impressive demonstration in April, 1941, five engineers discounted it immediately.
Apart from decisions about producing those medium bombers being made before the mosquito demonstrated what it could do (and bomber commands scepticism ensured that it entered service as reconnaissance and, if memory serves (maybe it dosn't), night fighter before it was even used as bomber.
From Wiki
"The RAF received nearly 900 Mitchells, using them to replace Douglas Bostons, Lockheed Venturas, and Vickers Wellington bombers. The Mitchell entered active RAF service on 22 January 1943. At first, it was used to bomb targets in occupied Europe. After the Normandy invasion, the RAF and France used Mitchells in support of the Allies in Europe. Several squadrons moved to forward airbases on the continent. The USAAF did not use the B-25 in combat in the European theater of operations. "
I think that in the strange world of nomenclature Italy is not in "Europe" but in the "Mediterranean"Is that really true - Joseph Heller and Catch 22 races through my mind?
Is that really true - Joseph Heller and Catch 22 races through my mind?