And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Saturday, November 26, 2022
B-17G w/ six .50 cal guns. Imagine your Focke Wulf getting tagged with that stream of hot lead!
Those nose guns are the difference between a G and an F model B-17. The Germans figured out the best way to attack a B-17F was from directly in front of it, as none of the existing guns could fire directly forward until the remotely operated nose guns were installed. If I remember right, they were fired by the bombardier.
Indeed. As the Allies became masters of the air and the Luftwaffe less of a threat, The Germans were being ever pushed back into a smaller area of control. They took their flak batteries with them, and they became ever more concentrated.
My dad was a B-17 pilot. He flew 35 combat missions from January 1945 until the end of the war, with this group--
More pics and background info: https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/478703-boeing-b-17g-west-end-sn-42-31435-you-want-to-head-on-me-bring-it-on-bro/
The famous -G model had two remotely fired 50-cal guns in a movable turret. The photo is of an experimental 6-gun arrangement with a fixed firing position.
I built the 17 g model, in detail. It was a mighty plane and I used to cheer up those that still listened to me in th PG telling them that our minesweeper has exactly the armament of a second world war bomber. Weren’t we awed when we got the M19 grenade launcher. Oooh, aaaah? I suspect those in the 8th AF probAbly got similar mementos from HQ Back in the states.
Those nose guns are the difference between a G and an F model B-17. The Germans figured out the best way to attack a B-17F was from directly in front of it, as none of the existing guns could fire directly forward until the remotely operated nose guns were installed. If I remember right, they were fired by the bombardier.
ReplyDeleteElmo, you remember right. You said all of what I was going to say about the distinction of the G model.
DeleteSadly all the .50s in the armement couldn't save 'em from the 88 flak.
ReplyDelete"Flak until in June, July and August 1944, flak accounted for about two-thirds of the 700 bombers lost and 98 per cent of the 13,000 bombers damaged"
LOOK:
https://theaviationgeekclub.com/allied-heavies-vs-german-flak-why-allied-bombers-never-defeated-nazis-flakwaffe/
Indeed. As the Allies became masters of the air and the Luftwaffe less of a threat, The Germans were being ever pushed back into a smaller area of control. They took their flak batteries with them, and they became ever more concentrated.
DeleteMy dad was a B-17 pilot. He flew 35 combat missions from January 1945 until the end of the war, with this group--
http://www.447bg.com/
"The principal tactics to reduce flak risks are:
Delete1. Avoid flying over flak defenses en route to and from the target"
RHT 447
DeleteYour dad is an honored member of the BAMF club.
Also weight limits created trade off between bomb loadout, fuel and defensive ammo.
ReplyDeleteMore than a few B17's came home with empty 50 cals still getting swarmed by fighters.
More pics and background info:
ReplyDeletehttps://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/478703-boeing-b-17g-west-end-sn-42-31435-you-want-to-head-on-me-bring-it-on-bro/
The famous -G model had two remotely fired 50-cal guns in a movable turret. The photo is of an experimental 6-gun arrangement with a fixed firing position.
ReplyDeletehttps://aviationhumor.net/b17g-with-six-50cal-machine-guns-in-front-turret/
This was the B-17 prototype version of the B-25H. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_B-25_Mitchell#/media/File:B-25H.jpg
DeleteThe Wulf would be all Focked up for sure.
ReplyDeleteI had a friend who flew G from September '44 to March '45/
ReplyDeleteI love u Sarah
ReplyDeleteI do recall the Wulf had twin 20mm cannons.
ReplyDeleteThey didn't make a bunch of small holes, they would tear entire chunks of the plane away.
I built the 17 g model, in detail. It was a mighty plane and I used to cheer up those that still listened to me in th PG telling them that our minesweeper has exactly the armament of a second world war bomber. Weren’t we awed when we got the M19 grenade launcher. Oooh, aaaah? I suspect those in the 8th AF probAbly got similar mementos from HQ Back in the states.
ReplyDelete