I know I should know but....

[john w.]

At the end of ww2 what was the type of American Bomber used... i.e. was it B17 or B25... I cant think

John

[Sgt Pilot Bernard Henson RAFVR]

Originally posted by john w.@Jun 24 2004, 12:52 PM
At the end of ww2 what was the type of American Bomber used... i.e. was it B17 or B25... I cant think

John

Do you mean B~29 the Superfortress?of Enola Gay Fame,
visit www.zenoswarbirdsvideos.com for original WW2 Training Film

[BlackSeptember1918]

In Europe the last heavy's were the B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator . The B-25 Mitchell was also used , but it was a medium bomber .
Ofcourse Harry Betts is quite correct about the bombers used to bomb the Japanese mainland .
Phil

[angie999]

In the 8th AF, the strategic bomber force based in the UK, two of the three divisions were mainly equipped with B17s. The other was mainly equipped with B24s. But what strikes you about their order of battle is the number of fighter squadrons which were an integral part of the bomber force and which played the crucial role in defeating the Luftwaffe's day fighters over Germany in early 1944. The P51 series of fighters, equipped with long range tanks and fitted with Merlin engines had the range, ceiling and performance to arguably be the best mass produced fighters of WWII.

The 9th AF, the tactical air force based in Britain and later to a large extent on the continent was mainly equipped with B26 Marauder medium bombers, plus many light bombers and ground attack aircraft.

I have not checked out the 15th AF and other tactical forces based in Italy, but they may have had some B25s.

The B29 was introduced late in the war. It was technologicaly the most advanced bomber in service in WWII, with excellent range and bombload, but there was no need of it in Europe at the time of its introduction, so they were all deployed to the PTO, where in addition to dropping the A bombs, they carried out increasingly devastating area bombing attacks on Japanese cities, for instance the raid which caused the Tokyo firestorm.

Links to the 8th and 9th AF OOB:

http://www.455th.ukpc.net/tomfeise/8thusaaf/8usaaf1.htm
http://www.455th.ukpc.net/tomfeise/8thusaaf/9usaaf1.htm

[STEVEN]

Of the above mentioned aircraft the B17,B25,B24 and the B26 were all used in some numbers by the RAF during the war.In the case of the B25 it was also used by the Royal Navy as well !!.The B24 interestingly saw service with BOAC.

One of the many postwar vatiants of the B29 (Washington B 1) was used by the RAF between 1950-1958.

Stephen

[Sgt Pilot Bernard Henson RAFVR]

Originally posted by BlackSeptember1918@Jun 25 2004, 07:46 AM
Of course Harry Betts is quite correct about the bombers used to bomb the Japanese mainland .

Who is this "Harry Betts" The Usurper of WW1 Forum???

[STEVEN]

Originally posted by Sgt Pilot Bernard Henson RAFVR+Jun 26 2004, 08:54 AM-->

Who is this "Harry Betts" The Usurper of WW1 Forum??? [/b]

Someone else knows your other identity !!

Stephen

[john w.]

Cheers all... the B25 will do for me for now in my quest..

John

[morse1001]

Originally posted by STEVEN@Jun 26 2004, 12:59 PM
Of the above mentioned aircraft the B17,B25,B24 and the B26 were all used in some numbers by the RAF during the war.In the case of the B25 it was also used by the Royal Navy as well !!.The B24 interestingly saw service with BOAC.

One of the many postwar vatiants of the B29 (Washington B 1) was used by the RAF between 1950-1958.

Stephen

The B17 in RAF swervice was used briefly as a bomber by 90 Sqn then they were desigated as General Reccie and used by Coastal Comand as the lancaster was a far better aircraft.

The reasons for rejecting the B17 as a bobmer were given as:

1 The Fortress cannot rely on evasion of enemy aircraft below 32000 feet.

2 Once intercepted the Fortress has little chance against modern fighters.

3 Despite reputed accuracy of the Sperry sight, precise bombing with the Fortress
above 32000 feet is extremely difficult, due to physical and mental strain
imposed in using equipment at that great height.

4 Dependence on suitable weather to carry out attack limits the frequency of
operations.

5 Condensation trails can cause a raid to be abandoned. Gives away position of
the B-17.

6 The average bomb load is uneconomical in relation to the manning and
maintenance effort.

In Coastal Command it served with 59, 86, 206, 220, 251(met), 519(met, and 521(met) sqns

Also used by 100(Electronic Counter measures) 214 and 223 sqns

The B24 Liberator was mainly used by Coastal command in ETO. However, they were used as bombers in the Middle and Far East. Also used as transports.

The BOAC versions were the civilianised ones.

the B25 was used as a medium bomber and supplied to foreign sqns attached to the RAF

The B26 saw service inthe Middle east and Italy.

The B29 designated Washington was used by the RAF as they did not have any suitable Heavy lift Nuclear Bombers.

I have a copy of the B29 Crew manual as issued to crews inthe Pacific