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.
14 forward firing 50 cal. M2 Browning machine guns - out in front of this is not a good place to be. The first aircraft gunship. Some variations had a 75mm cannon with 10 rounds.
.50 bmg brass is a bit over 3/4". Add in the links of the belt, and 9 yards of ammo should be pretty close for 20 seconds at 850 rounds/minute for the aircraft version. That's per each gun. If all 14 guns had at least that much ammo, that comes near 4000 rounds for one pass. I suspect that a normal pass at strafing/bombing speed would be a shorter burst, though. No idea how much ammo an eight gun nose would hold, let alone the cheek guns. I think the turret was supplied with more.
The B-25-C that was recovered from a lake in SC is coming along nicely. https://www.facebook.com/people/South-Carolina-Historic-Aviation-Foundation/100080471583165/
I went to the open house last year, it was great to see it up close & personal. The foundation had a good turnout.
I just wrote an article last month on the Sunday Punch, and how it got that name. https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2024/04/b-25-sunday-punch-has-quite-to-cool.html
B-25s in the Pacific outfitted like this also perfected skip bombing. Were very deadly against Japanese shipping. Machine guns took out the deck crews and the also the bridge. The bombs had delayed fuses so that when they hit the ship they sunk for about 5 seconds then detonated. Usually sinking the ship.
I read an account of a Japanese soldier who was on a troop transport that was sunk by American skip bombing. He said he was amazed, because the Americans had started the war trying to sink ships with high level bombing, but changed tactics because skip bombing proved so much more effective. He said he knew Japan was going to lose the war when he realized that Americans were willing to accept the loss of face associated with admitting they were wrong and adjusting their tactics to something better. Japanese commanders were culturally a lot less likely to do that.
My Father’s buddy Clem flew both theaters Germany and Pacific. He said flying over the islands some anti aircraft guns were straight up and white flags..they had given up
B-25J-30-NC SN 44-86698
ReplyDeleteRecommended reading.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.amazon.com/Whip-Martin-Caidin/dp/039520707X
It's a crime that everything he wrote isn't on Kindle.
Delete14 forward firing 50 cal. M2 Browning machine guns - out in front of this is not a good place to be. The first aircraft gunship. Some variations had a 75mm cannon with 10 rounds.
ReplyDeleteAs we used to say in the neighborhood, that boy looks open for business!
DeleteDan, I only count 12, are you including the top turret?
DeleteEight nose guns (two are harder to see as they are recessed), four side and two dorsal guns.
DeleteThat is a VERY intimidating face.
DeleteMade driving a Japanese landing barge a very unfun and iffy proposition.
DeleteSome WWII videos I've watched said some fighters only had enough ammo for 20 seconds of firing. Did I hear that right?
ReplyDeleteYes, that would sound about right. That's where the expression 'the whole 9 yards' came from.
ReplyDeleteLot of other explanations claim to be responsible for that adage also.
Delete.50 bmg brass is a bit over 3/4". Add in the links of the belt, and 9 yards of ammo should be pretty close for 20 seconds at 850 rounds/minute for the aircraft version. That's per each gun. If all 14 guns had at least that much ammo, that comes near 4000 rounds for one pass. I suspect that a normal pass at strafing/bombing speed would be a shorter burst, though. No idea how much ammo an eight gun nose would hold, let alone the cheek guns. I think the turret was supplied with more.
DeleteIt seems the 8 nose guns had 300 rounds each. Enough to ruin any ones day.
DeleteThe B-25-C that was recovered from a lake in SC is coming along nicely.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/people/South-Carolina-Historic-Aviation-Foundation/100080471583165/
I went to the open house last year, it was great to see it up close & personal. The foundation had a good turnout.
- WDS
I just wrote an article last month on the Sunday Punch, and how it got that name. https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2024/04/b-25-sunday-punch-has-quite-to-cool.html
ReplyDeleteB-25s in the Pacific outfitted like this also perfected skip bombing. Were very deadly against Japanese shipping. Machine guns took out the deck crews and the also the bridge. The bombs had delayed fuses so that when they hit the ship they sunk for about 5 seconds then detonated. Usually sinking the ship.
ReplyDeleteI read an account of a Japanese soldier who was on a troop transport that was sunk by American skip bombing. He said he was amazed, because the Americans had started the war trying to sink ships with high level bombing, but changed tactics because skip bombing proved so much more effective. He said he knew Japan was going to lose the war when he realized that Americans were willing to accept the loss of face associated with admitting they were wrong and adjusting their tactics to something better. Japanese commanders were culturally a lot less likely to do that.
ReplyDeleteMaintenance run….chocks are in & the hatch is open
ReplyDeleteMy Father’s buddy Clem flew both theaters Germany and Pacific. He said flying over the islands some anti aircraft guns were straight up and white flags..they had given up
ReplyDelete