wrote:
He misses the ME-109 because the recoil of firing the bullet
accelerates the B-17 just a bit, so that the bullet, travelling at a
little less than the bomber's speed actually briefly follows the bomber
as it falls.

A related question: Haven't there been cases of supersonic
fighters shooting themselves down when they caught up to the shells
they'd fired forward?

Dan

I was hoping someone would answer that. I recall seeing/hearing/reading
somewhat the same thing back when. Best I can recall it involved an
F-86 or equivalent (not supersonic) and happened by firing and then
going into a dive thus flying into the bullet stream. Are 50 cal
bullets supersonic?
If so, the plane would also have to be.

Harry K