"GLIP" BOMBING


After theoretical considerations in the light of past experience, the 341st Group Commanding Officer submitted a new technique to the squadrons. This technique had been developed by the 490th Bm Sqdn, later nicknamed the 'Burma Bridge Busters'. Hence forth, a combination glide and skip attack was to be used on all bridges, which method was subsequently labeled ‘glip’ bombing.

It consisted essentially of a double or multiple glide approach, first a steep glide followed by a shallow glide. The pilot approaches the target bridge along its longitudinal axis at an altitude of 1000-1200 feet. When approximately 2000 feet from the target, he goes into a 30-35 degree glide, building up speed of 260-280 mph. In this glide the pilot aims 50 feet in from of the target and continues to glide to an altitude of about 450 feet. At this point the glide is abruptly decreased to 15-20 degrees. While in this shallow glide the modified gun sight (N-6 or similar one) is lined up with the aiming point on the bridge. The gun sight is preset before approaching the target area. The angle set into the sight is that obtained from skip-bombing tables, with a correction for the angle of glide. Bomb release is from an altitude of about 150 feet.

http://www.341stbombgroup.org/intel/341glipbomb.htm

__________________