Early on in the American Solomon Islands campaign during WW2, there were several instances of American and Japanese long range patrol aircraft encountering each other over vast expanses of the Pacific ocean. The Japanese H6K flying boat proved to be inadequate against the more heavily armored and armed American B-17′s and B-24′s. During these encounters, “dogfights” would ensue between the bombers, with gun positions designed for defense firing at each other while the pilots tried to maneuver their cumbersome aircraft.
This encounter doesn't seem to be going too well for the big Japanese flying boat.
The Japanese relied very heavily on the big, long range Kawanishi flying boats - as we relied on the Catalinas, the B-24's etc. for the same mission. It wasn't that long ago, but the tech seems...ancient.
ReplyDeleteIt does seem ancient, yet how long was it from the Wright Brothers first flight to the Solomon Islands campaign, with their big flying machines? Dec.1903 to 1942, a short 39 years. That's just extremely fast progress right there.
DeleteAnd 27 years after the duel pictured, we had men on the moon!
ReplyDeleteMan, that sort of speed makes me dizzy!
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