33k in the air
Staff Sergeant
- 1,356
- Jan 31, 2021
Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
I'll still argue that the Mosquito was the war's best long-range bomber, only lacking in numbers. It's low casualty rate matters greatly as does it's precision. The tactic of dive-bombing increased both positive factors and practically negates the use of high-altitude flak. In combined missions with medium, the other types suffered much more. Far too much emphasis was given to defensive armament, a shibboleth Bomber Command was reluctant to back off of.
The missions by Mosquitos were completely different anyway, the whole point was to be detected and make a bang so that the population of Berlin were kept in air raid shelters, I dont know if any damage assessment was ever done, but assessments of the affects on production were.The problem is striking power. The Lancaster could carry ~10,000 lbs of bombs to Berlin, while the Halifax III could carry ~8,000 lbs. The Mosquito could carry 4,000 lbs. That means to equal the striking power one one Lancaster you'd need 2.5 Mosquitoes, and 2 Mosquitoes to equal one Halifax III.
Add to that the bomb bays of Lancaster and Halifax could hold a wide variety of bomb types on a single mission compared to the small bay of the Mosquito.
The "strafer plate" was factory standard from the -25 block on B-26Bs and Cs. Not sure if there were retrofit kits available. Tannehill mentions that 12th AF Marauder units would field modify their B-26s with armor scrounged from wrecks.Of interesting note is the armor applied to the side of the nose. It's not apparent in the shots of the taxiing B-26's. Does anyone know if this was a battlefield mod or factory produced? If it was done in the field, that's a heck of a piece(s) steel to "bend to conform".
Cheers,
Biff
The "strafer plate" was factory standard from the -25 block on B-26Bs and Cs. Not sure if there were retrofit kits available. Tannehill mentions that 12th AF Marauder units would field modify their B-26s with armor scrounged from wrecks.
Flak Bait is a B-26B-25
The taxiing Marauder is a B-26C-15
Yes you are correct. I failed to mention that. My wife was talking to me. I think both medium and light bombers get over looked.Those are all light bombers.
View attachment 625302
Mitchell Mark II, FV914 VO-A, of No. 98 Squadron RAF based at Dunsfold, Surrey, unloading its bomb load over a flying-bomb launching site in northern
France, during a 'Noball' operation. (IWM)
Shores & Thomas mention RAF medium bomber operations in their 2nd Tactical Air Force books. There must be books about Allied medium bomber operations in the ETO, however, I'm unaware of any. Any recommendations?
View attachment 625302
Mitchell Mark II, FV914 VO-A, of No. 98 Squadron RAF based at Dunsfold, Surrey, unloading its bomb load over a flying-bomb launching site in northern
France, during a 'Noball' operation. (IWM)
Shores & Thomas mention RAF medium bomber operations in their 2nd Tactical Air Force books. There must be books about Allied medium bomber operations in the ETO, however, I'm unaware of any. Any recommendations?
View attachment 625315
Three North American Mitchell Mark IIs, FV905 MQ-S "Stalingrad", FW130 MQ-A and FW128 MQ-H, of No. 226 Squadron RAF based at Hartford Bridge,
Hampshire, about to bomb railway yards in northern France on the evening of 12 May 1944. (IWM)
As I understand it, the RAF operated B-25 Mitchells with the following units in the ETO:
98 Squadron
180 Squadron
226 Squadron
305 (Polish) Squadron
320 (Dutch) Squadron
342 (French) Squadron
View attachment 625302
Mitchell Mark II, FV914 VO-A, of No. 98 Squadron RAF based at Dunsfold, Surrey, unloading its bomb load over a flying-bomb launching site in northern
France, during a 'Noball' operation. (IWM)
Shores & Thomas mention RAF medium bomber operations in their 2nd Tactical Air Force books. There must be books about Allied medium bomber operations in the ETO, however, I'm unaware of any. Any recommendations?
In response to your query I offer the following:
US Medium Bomber Units of World War 2 - Northwest Europe
By Jerry Scutts and published by Ian Allan
I've had my copy for twenty years and I don't know if it is still available
In response to your query I offer the following book:
US Medium Bomber Units of World War 2 - Northwest Europe
By Jerry Scutts and published by Ian Allan
I have had my copy for twenty years and I don't know if the book is still available.
Hugh
In response to your query about books, I offer the following information:
US Medium Bomber Units of World War 2 - Northwest Europe
By Jerry Scutts and published by Ian Allan. ISBN 0 7110 2876 1
I've had my copy for twenty years and I do not know it the book is still available.
In response to your query I offer the following book:
US Medium Bomber Units of World War 2 - Northwest Europe
By Jerry Scutts and published by Ian Allan
I have had my copy for twenty years and I don't know if the book is still available.
Hugh
I'll still argue that the Mosquito was the war's best long-range bomber, only lacking in numbers. It's low casualty rate matters greatly as does it's precision. The tactic of dive-bombing increased both positive factors and practically negates the use of high-altitude flak. In combined missions with medium, the other types suffered much more. Far too much emphasis was given to defensive armament, a shibboleth Bomber Command was reluctant to back off of.
The problem is striking power. The Lancaster could carry ~10,000 lbs of bombs to Berlin, while the Halifax III could carry ~8,000 lbs. The Mosquito could carry 4,000 lbs. That means to equal the striking power one one Lancaster you'd need 2.5 Mosquitoes, and 2 Mosquitoes to equal one Halifax III.
Add to that the bomb bays of Lancaster and Halifax could hold a wide variety of bomb types on a single mission compared to the small bay of the Mosquito.
Correctamundo!