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Started By
Message
1
Posted on 3/21/25 at 9:31 pm to FightinTigersDammit
quote:
A lot of guys got it at Schweinfurt
And really didn’t need to. Kenny’s P-47’s were flying those distances in New Guinea during the same timeframe. The P-51 was a great airframe, but the P-47 is highly underrated.
Greg’s YouTube channel, mentioned earlier, goes into great detail on this.
Posted on 3/21/25 at 9:59 pm to Junky
But "the bombers will always get through/the bombers can protect themselves".
bullshite. Not in 1943.
bullshite. Not in 1943.
Posted on 3/21/25 at 11:26 pm to Darth_Vader
The navy lost the most folks in WW2. But the daylight unescorted raids was the most at that time. Also getting shot was one of a few things that could kill you or f you up. Just being at altitude meant you had to be on oxygen. Loses the mask or 02 connection you were out in a minute. The temp at altitude was like -50F so any exposed skin was frost bitten with the quickness. Changing ammo, barrels, pissing, anything you had to remove the gloves for.
Posted on 3/21/25 at 11:57 pm to holmesbr
quote:
. Also getting shot was one of a few things that could kill you or f you up. Just being at altitude meant you had to be on oxygen. Loses the mask or 02 connection you were out in a minute.
Indeed, my dad who was wounded in his thigh, said when the ME-109 fired a 20mm burst though the rear of his B-17 that he was reaching down from his top turret gun position for a new bottle of oxygen. And in doing so he had to dangle his left leg in order to reach the O2 bottle.
Posted on 3/22/25 at 12:44 am to holmesbr
quote:
The navy lost the most folks in WW2.
no
Posted on 3/22/25 at 6:26 am to Darth_Vader
My Dad was a navigator on an A26.
In combat I don't think there were any desirable positions. He wouldn’t talk about his experiences much. It was a very difficult time for all the crews.
In combat I don't think there were any desirable positions. He wouldn’t talk about his experiences much. It was a very difficult time for all the crews.
Posted on 3/22/25 at 6:39 am to sabbertooth
A few years ago, we had a B-17 come to Baton Rouge and you could purchase a flight ticket. There was also I believe a B-25 that offered the same opportunity. Anyway, I took a flight on the B-17 and I remember how thin the skin on the fuselage was. Once airborne you could move through the aircraft to the different positions.
During my time in service, I was a navigator on KC-130's with about 2000 flight hours. I have always had a fascination and a great respect of these men. I don't remember the percent of lost in the 8th Air Force but it was a great number.
During my time in service, I was a navigator on KC-130's with about 2000 flight hours. I have always had a fascination and a great respect of these men. I don't remember the percent of lost in the 8th Air Force but it was a great number.
Posted on 3/22/25 at 6:54 am to JEC119
quote:
I would choose tail gunner, just seems like the most interesting one and got first crack at air attacks from behind.
You sure about that ?
quote:
Richard Franz commented:
When we made our attack, we approached from slightly above, then dived, opening fire with 13mm and 20mm guns to knock out the rear gunner and then, at about 150 metres, we tried to engage with the MK 108 30mm cannon, which was a formidable weapon. It could cut the wing off a B-17.
Posted on 3/22/25 at 1:17 pm to AUTimbo
Well if the guy in the ball underneath is willing to do it, I’d be willing too. I’d try to take out as many as I could before my demise.
Posted on 3/22/25 at 1:39 pm to Darth_Vader
Straight up shooting through holes in the plane. Wow
Posted on 3/22/25 at 1:47 pm to Darth_Vader
My late Uncle Richard was a B17 pilot in WWII. He lived quite a life. Went on and worked in flight support at NASA in the early space program. Owned a horse farm. Did all kinds of cool things in his life.
Had a brush with the law that involved flying a suspicious cargo plane in the Caribbean. Not too many details of that.
Had a brush with the law that involved flying a suspicious cargo plane in the Caribbean. Not too many details of that.
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