Were the B-17 asked to launch chaffs also carrying bombs ?

[Daniel BASTIEN]

Hello, For B-17 bombardment missions, "some" of the B-17s of a raid were asked, usually when approaching the target's IP, to launch aluminum chaffs do deceit enemy radars. Does anyone know if these B-17s were loaded with chaffs only or a mix of chaffs and bombs? Thank you Best, Daniel

 

[pbehn]

I believe they were to deceive ground AA radar. This was mentioned I think by Bill Runnels a former member here and WW2 B-17 bombardier but I cant search his name. Here I found it and bumped up the thread "poor judgement" by Bill Runnels.

 

[Daniel BASTIEN]

That is right, pbehn, (deceive as you say and and not deceit as I wrote) but those B-17 carrying chaffs, were they carrying chaffs only, or chaffs "and" bombs ? Best Daniel

 

[pbehn]

That is right, pbehn, (deceive as you say and and not deceit as I wrote) but those B-17 carrying chaffs, were they carrying chaffs only, or chaffs "and" bombs ? Best Daniel

From the thread I bumped up I believe they were just bombers and they also carried chaff, read the thread "poor judgement".

 

[Daniel BASTIEN]

Thank you , I will do as recommended. Best Daniel

 

[pbehn]

Thank you , I will do as recommended. Best Daniel

Chaff is very low density, a bomber hold full of it would be carrying no weight and its better for many aircraft to drop a little than a few drop a lot.

 

[Daniel BASTIEN]

Thank you , I will do as recommended. Best Daniel

I read the recommended thread, pben, and I understand, as you do, that the "chaffs" B-17s were carrying their normal load of bombs, and that the radio operator of such B-17s, when ordered to do so, would launch chaffs through a rectangular opening like the one we can see on the attached picture. Can anyone confirm that this is the way things really happened ? Best. Daniel

 

[Daniel BASTIEN]

 

[pbehn]

I read the recommended thread, pben, and I understand, as you do, that the "chaffs" B-17s were carrying their normal load of bombs, and that the radio operator of such B-17s, when ordered to do so, would launch chaffs through a rectangular opening like the one we can see on the attached picture. Can anyone confirm that this is the way things really happened ? Best. Daniel

Well you cant ask Bill, because he is no longer with us, he passed away a while ago, but that is what he posted while alive and he was a B-17 bombardier, you dont and wont get more "from the horses mouth" than that.

 

[eagledad]

Gentlemen,


According to The Mighty Eight War Manual by Roger Freeman, on pages 97 and 98, the first use of chaff by the 8th AF was 22 December 1943. The original method of dropping chaff (tossing it out of the waist windows into the slip stream) was found to be unsatisfactory. To better disperse the chaff, special chutes were designed and installed in the radio room on B-17s, and near a waist window on B-24s. By the winter of 1944/1945 all 8th AF bombers were equipped with these chutes. Each bomber that was selected as a chaff dropper normally carried between 144 and 288 bundles of chaff. These bundles were originally released at the rate of 15 per minute. As German FLAK get better, the rate the bundles were dropped increased, with dropping commencing as much as 35 miles before the target and continuing to 13 miles beyond. From October 1944, special 6 to 12 plane flights of chaff dispensing B-17s and/or B-24s chaff dispensers went ahead of the main body of bombers, as the chaff dropped only protected the aircraft behind the dropper. Later, chaff dropping Mosquitos, which were speedier and more maneuverable took the place of or supplemented these flights.

Although the book does not specifically state this, it appears to me that the chaff droppers also carried a normal bomb load. as each bundle of chaff weighed 1 lb. (Wikipedia)


Any other information or corrections are always welcomed.



Eagledad

 

[Daniel BASTIEN]

Thank you pbehn and eagledad for your precious help. Best, Daniel

 

[pbehn]

Thank you pbehn and eagledad for your precious help. Best, Daniel

Bill Runnels taught me all I know on this topic. Rest in Peace Bill.