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#1
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WWII Fighter Bombers
Would a fighter plane (say a P-51 or P-40 for example) that was on mission
to drop some tactgical bombs and encountered some any fighters generally drop its bombs before engaging the enemy? or just try to run away? or fight with them still hanging on (sounds pretty dangerous to me with the extra weight and the BOMBs hanging under their wings)? |
#2
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"zxcv" wrote in message ... Would a fighter plane (say a P-51 or P-40 for example) that was on mission to drop some tactgical bombs and encountered some any fighters generally drop its bombs before engaging the enemy? or just try to run away? or fight with them still hanging on (sounds pretty dangerous to me with the extra weight and the BOMBs hanging under their wings)? First choice is not to engage the enemy fighters and continue with the mission. Second choice is to drop the bombs and engage the enemy fighters. Third choice, selected only under dire circumstances, is to drop the bombs and run for home. There really isn't a fourth choice. WWII fighters just didn't have the power to try and fight with bombs attached. |
#3
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I read a book recently about a fighter group who flew with one under wing
tank, and a bomb under the other, with P51's, the drag must have been hellish! The U.S. used the P47, and the P38's to great advantake for ground attack, the RAF used the typhoon, the tempest, the beaufort, these are the most prominent ones i can remember. The P51's mainly carried two under wing tanks, which they used first, them when the time came to dog fight, they would let them go; they had a big fuel tank in behind the pilot to fall back on. Any fighter bomber that had say small bombs would execute their primary objectives first,i.e. drop the bombs first because to dog fight with a bomb under neath could be too risky, the drag, extra weight, and the damger of the bombs being hit while still attached., they would not be required to go any great distance with the bombs; this was the medium, and heavy bombers task, if the fighters carried a bomb or two they would be used to soften a target with aswell as others straffing, and perhaps those doing the straffing would cover thos carrying the bombs. "zxcv" wrote in message ... Would a fighter plane (say a P-51 or P-40 for example) that was on mission to drop some tactgical bombs and encountered some any fighters generally drop its bombs before engaging the enemy? or just try to run away? or fight with them still hanging on (sounds pretty dangerous to me with the extra weight and the BOMBs hanging under their wings)? |
#4
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Would a fighter plane (say a P-51 or P-40 for example) that was on mission to drop some tactgical bombs and encountered some any fighters generally drop its bombs before engaging the enemy? or just try to run away? or fight with them still hanging on (sounds pretty dangerous to me with the extra weight and the BOMBs hanging under their wings)? I suppose some pilots would jettison bombs and go for it, but I suspect the preferred action would be to avoid air-to-air combat if he could, and finish the mission before reverting to the fighter role. Definitely not engage with the ordnance hanging on (or the drop-tank either all the best -- Dan Ford email: (requires authentication) see the Warbird's Forum at www.warbirdforum.com and the Piper Cub Forum at www.pipercubforum.com |
#5
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I read a book recently about a fighter group who flew with one under wing tank, and a bomb under the other, with P51's, the drag must have been hellish! Did the pilot pickle them off at the same time? all the best -- Dan Ford email: (requires authentication) see the Warbird's Forum at www.warbirdforum.com and the Piper Cub Forum at www.pipercubforum.com |
#6
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"M. H. Greaves" wrote in message ... I read a book recently about a fighter group who flew with one under wing tank, and a bomb under the other, with P51's, the drag must have been hellish! The U.S. used the P47, and the P38's to great advantake for ground attack, the RAF used the typhoon, the tempest, the beaufort, these are the most prominent ones i can remember. The Beaufort was a twin engined bomber and you missed out the P-40 which was used heavily by the RAF , RAAF ad USAAF and the Hurricane used extensively by the RAF and Soviets Keith |
#7
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he dropped the wing tank firstm then the bomb!
"Cub Driver" wrote in message ... I read a book recently about a fighter group who flew with one under wing tank, and a bomb under the other, with P51's, the drag must have been hellish! Did the pilot pickle them off at the same time? all the best -- Dan Ford email: (requires authentication) see the Warbird's Forum at www.warbirdforum.com and the Piper Cub Forum at www.pipercubforum.com |
#8
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yep i appreciate that i havent exhausted every aircraft there is; it was
just what i could remember at the time! (i know; no offence meant, and none taken!!) "Keith Willshaw" wrote in message ... "M. H. Greaves" wrote in message ... I read a book recently about a fighter group who flew with one under wing tank, and a bomb under the other, with P51's, the drag must have been hellish! The U.S. used the P47, and the P38's to great advantake for ground attack, the RAF used the typhoon, the tempest, the beaufort, these are the most prominent ones i can remember. The Beaufort was a twin engined bomber and you missed out the P-40 which was used heavily by the RAF , RAAF ad USAAF and the Hurricane used extensively by the RAF and Soviets Keith |
#9
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Cub Driver wrote in message . ..
Would a fighter plane (say a P-51 or P-40 for example) that was on mission to drop some tactgical bombs and encountered some any fighters generally drop its bombs before engaging the enemy? or just try to run away? or fight with them still hanging on (sounds pretty dangerous to me with the extra weight and the BOMBs hanging under their wings)? I suppose some pilots would jettison bombs and go for it, but I suspect the preferred action would be to avoid air-to-air combat if he could, and finish the mission before reverting to the fighter role. Definitely not engage with the ordnance hanging on (or the drop-tank either Which reminds me - I read once that combat with a drop tank still attached wasn't as hazardous a you might think (apart from the effect on performance of course). If it was hit and set alight, the flames went straight back and didn't set the plane alight. Not something I'd care to try, though... Tony Williams Military gun and ammunition website: http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk Discussion forum at: http://forums.delphiforums.com/autogun/messages/ |
#10
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The book was "an ace of the eighth" by Norman "Bud" Fortier.
i bought it last october in edinburgh Either Waterstones or Ottakars on princess st. It was about £5, which was partly why i bought it; i didnt have much wonga on me and didnt have a book to read back in the caravan. Good book! "M. H. Greaves" wrote in message ... he dropped the wing tank firstm then the bomb! "Cub Driver" wrote in message ... I read a book recently about a fighter group who flew with one under wing tank, and a bomb under the other, with P51's, the drag must have been hellish! Did the pilot pickle them off at the same time? all the best -- Dan Ford email: (requires authentication) see the Warbird's Forum at www.warbirdforum.com and the Piper Cub Forum at www.pipercubforum.com |
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