A BOMB PATTER IS LIKE A FOOTBALL

"ArtKramr" wrote in message
...
A BOMB PATTERN IS LIKE A FOOTBALL: BOMB PATTERN ANALYSIS

One thing I never see in any WW II literature is bomb pattern analysis in
tactical bombing. There is a lot to it that we had to live with, and I
thought
I would share it with those on this NG before it gets lost to history.


Every RAF Bomber Command Aircraft was fitted with a
camera and photoflah to record individual bombing accuracy.

The pilot had to continue to fly straight and level AFTER
bomb release until the camera flashed. When Radar bombing was used
the camera recorded the image on the radar scope. If there was no picture
it didnt count as a mission.

Keith

Keith

Subject: A BOMB PATTER IS LIKE A FOOTBALL
From: "Keith Willshaw"
Date: 3/1/04 11:44 PM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id:


"ArtKramr" wrote in message
...
A BOMB PATTERN IS LIKE A FOOTBALL: BOMB PATTERN ANALYSIS

One thing I never see in any WW II literature is bomb pattern analysis in
tactical bombing. There is a lot to it that we had to live with, and I
thought
I would share it with those on this NG before it gets lost to history.


Every RAF Bomber Command Aircraft was fitted with a
camera and photoflah to record individual bombing accuracy.

The pilot had to continue to fly straight and level AFTER
bomb release until the camera flashed. When Radar bombing was used
the camera recorded the image on the radar scope. If there was no picture
it didnt count as a mission.

Keith

Keith


The problem with the Brit system was that the target was still smoking when
the pictuere was taken so less information was recorded. But it saved them that
second recon flight If you check my website you will see impact shots taken
with the bombay camera recorded at the detonation moment. Now click on " Death
of a marshalling yard" to see the reults of the recon mission.


Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

"ArtKramr" wrote in message
...


The pilot had to continue to fly straight and level AFTER
bomb release until the camera flashed. When Radar bombing was used
the camera recorded the image on the radar scope. If there was no picture
it didnt count as a mission.

Keith



The problem with the Brit system was that the target was still smoking
when
the pictuere was taken so less information was recorded. But it saved them
that
second recon flight If you check my website you will see impact shots
taken
with the bombay camera recorded at the detonation moment. Now click on "
Death
of a marshalling yard" to see the reults of the recon mission.


The recon flights were still made Art. Since the RAF were flying tight
formations
comparing the in-aircraft camera pictures with the after strike recon
photos was the only way of establishing individual accuracy

Keith

"Keith Willshaw" wrote in message
...

"ArtKramr" wrote in message
...


The pilot had to continue to fly straight and level AFTER
bomb release until the camera flashed. When Radar bombing was used
the camera recorded the image on the radar scope. If there was no
picture
it didnt count as a mission.

Keith



The problem with the Brit system was that the target was still smoking
when
the pictuere was taken so less information was recorded. But it saved
them
that
second recon flight If you check my website you will see impact shots
taken
with the bombay camera recorded at the detonation moment. Now click on "
Death
of a marshalling yard" to see the reults of the recon mission.


The recon flights were still made Art. Since the RAF were flying tight
formations
comparing the in-aircraft camera pictures with the after strike recon
photos was the only way of establishing individual accuracy

What was the point? If you are flying tight formation indivual planes
can't correct for drift. Were they not dropping when the lead did and
trying measure the single dimension?

Subject: A BOMB PATTER IS LIKE A FOOTBALL
From: "John Keeney"
Date: 3/2/04 11:56 PM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id:


"Keith Willshaw" wrote in message
...

"ArtKramr" wrote in message
...


The pilot had to continue to fly straight and level AFTER
bomb release until the camera flashed. When Radar bombing was used
the camera recorded the image on the radar scope. If there was no
picture
it didnt count as a mission.

Keith



The problem with the Brit system was that the target was still smoking
when
the pictuere was taken so less information was recorded. But it saved
them
that
second recon flight If you check my website you will see impact shots
taken
with the bombay camera recorded at the detonation moment. Now click on "
Death
of a marshalling yard" to see the reults of the recon mission.


The recon flights were still made Art. Since the RAF were flying tight
formations
comparing the in-aircraft camera pictures with the after strike recon
photos was the only way of establishing individual accuracy

What was the point? If you are flying tight formation indivual planes
can't correct for drift. Were they not dropping when the lead did and
trying measure the single dimension?



"....trying measure the single dimension..." ?????
I don't understand that last phrase. Please clarify.


Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

"John Keeney" wrote in message
...



The recon flights were still made Art. Since the RAF were flying tight
formations
comparing the in-aircraft camera pictures with the after strike recon
photos was the only way of establishing individual accuracy

What was the point? If you are flying tight formation indivual planes
can't correct for drift. Were they not dropping when the lead did and
trying measure the single dimension?



Sorry I misstyped

I should have said the RAF were NOT flying tight formations

Basically the night attack formation was the bomber stream, no
attempt was made to fly in formation and each aircraft basically
navigated to the target and dropped on its own. It was rare
for one bomber to even see another much less formate on it.

Later in the war the target would be marked by Pathfinders
and aircraft would be instructed to bomb the markers laid
down by that force.

In daylight they tended to fly a looser formation than the
USAAF with aircraft flying a loose gaggle at staggered heights
and individual aircraft would drop on their own bombardiers
command.

Keith

Subject: A BOMB PATTER IS LIKE A FOOTBALL
From: "Keith Willshaw"
Date: 3/3/04 5:47 AM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id:

The recon flights were still made Art. Since the RAF were flying tight
formations
comparing the in-aircraft camera pictures with the after strike recon
photos was the only way of establishing individual accuracy

What was the point? If you are flying tight formation indivual planes
can't correct for drift. Were they not dropping when the lead did and
trying measure the single dimension?

Sorry I misstyped

I should have said the RAF were NOT flying tight formations

Yeah. I wondered about that. (grin)


Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer