syscom3
Pacific Historian
Why admit to be wrong when you know youre right?
Versatile Heavy Bombers
- Thread starter the lancaster kicks ass
- Start date
Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
LOL
Keep telling yourself what helps you sleep at night!
Keep telling yourself what helps you sleep at night!
Still it would be interesting to hear what everyone thinks was the most modifiable bomber ofthe war. And I am not just talking about cutting out the bomb bay to make space for a bigger bomb either. Out of all these heavies or mediums or lights, which one was the most modifiable. If go with the 24. But I'll post my reasons later, gotta go have a pow wow with the boss.
:{)
:{)
Twitch
Staff Sergeant
Since we can have a fantasy flight 60+ years later knowing what we know now and play "let's pretend," we may choose which plane we'd rather fly on a mission.
B-24 crew members have told me and have stated elsewahere, I'm sure, that "when you lose an engine on the Lib you start sweating 'cause unlike the B-17 she doesn't fly on 2!!"
I don't care how many were built or how much they carried, THAT is the deciding factor for me choosing to sortie in a Lancaster.
B-24 crew members have told me and have stated elsewahere, I'm sure, that "when you lose an engine on the Lib you start sweating 'cause unlike the B-17 she doesn't fly on 2!!"
I don't care how many were built or how much they carried, THAT is the deciding factor for me choosing to sortie in a Lancaster.
syscom3
Pacific Historian
Id rather have a dozen .50's and four radial engines.
Glider
Captain
ANYONE GOING TO DISAGREE WITH THE mOSSIE?CurzonDax said:
Or the JU-88...Glider said:
mosquitoman
Master Sergeant
I'd go for Mossie, Lanc or the Hally as most versatile
syscom3
Pacific Historian
Ummm, the Mossie could not function in the role of a heavy bomber, and perhaps in the medium bomber role.
If there were also very important roles that the Lanc and B24 performed, it was maritime patrol and transport.
If there were also very important roles that the Lanc and B24 performed, it was maritime patrol and transport.
mosquitoman
Master Sergeant
syscom3 said:
Good point my fault
Jabberwocky
Staff Sergeant
For my money, the Mosquito is actually a light bomber 
Just two crew and the orignal unarmed bomber variants weighed just under 13,000 lbs empty. It gets my vote for the most versatile light bomber.
Most versatile medium bomber would obviously be the Ju-88 family. The only real other competitiors in my mind are the Pe-2 and the B-25, altough the excellent and reliable A-20 deserves a mention as does the Japanese G4M, which had 30 examples converted as a heavy escort fighter, as well as recon, transport, paratroop, ELINT, VIP and other roles.
In terms of versatility for 4 engined heavies its the Lancaster 1st by a small margin, the B-24 and Halifax tied for second and closely followed by the immortal B-17. Honourable mentions to the P-108 and the Stirling.
Just two crew and the orignal unarmed bomber variants weighed just under 13,000 lbs empty. It gets my vote for the most versatile light bomber.Most versatile medium bomber would obviously be the Ju-88 family. The only real other competitiors in my mind are the Pe-2 and the B-25, altough the excellent and reliable A-20 deserves a mention as does the Japanese G4M, which had 30 examples converted as a heavy escort fighter, as well as recon, transport, paratroop, ELINT, VIP and other roles.
In terms of versatility for 4 engined heavies its the Lancaster 1st by a small margin, the B-24 and Halifax tied for second and closely followed by the immortal B-17. Honourable mentions to the P-108 and the Stirling.
- Thread starter
- #113
the lancaster kicks ass
Major General
- 19,937
- Dec 20, 2003
i'll go along with mossie for most versatile light bomber (although it's hard to class the mossie like that)........
Ju-88 for most versatile medium.........
lanc for most versatile heavy, halibag second..............
and you've said the B-24's so versatile, you haven't really given any examples, how many different loads/bombs could she carry? what special missions was she modified for? what different roles?
Ju-88 for most versatile medium.........
lanc for most versatile heavy, halibag second..............
and you've said the B-24's so versatile, you haven't really given any examples, how many different loads/bombs could she carry? what special missions was she modified for? what different roles?
I'd go along with that. Mossie for light bomber, Ju-88 for medium and Lancaster for heavy bomber.
FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
Both Lancaster and B-24 did ASW, SAR, transport and ELINT. The B-24 was used as a "tanker" cargo aircraft, delivering fuel over the Hump, the Lancaster was used as an aerial tanker (don't know if it was an operational situation) as early as 1949....
syscom3
Pacific Historian
I believe some B24's also did nighttime maritime strikes in the SW Pacific.
FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
CurzonDax said:
They probably did!
evangilder
"Shooter"
I am pretty sure that both the B-17 and B-24 dropped supplies for POWs. They were also doing supply drops for European civilians during operations Chowhound and Manna. The RAF were the first to drop food for civilians:
