Late June 1944Kampfgeschwader 1 Hindenburg with 40 he-177´s was committed to the Byelorussian campaign. In early July it was ordered by Göring to take part in low-level attacks against Soviet tansk approaching Minsk. After a quarter of the force was shot down , the bombers were allowed to resume high-altitude missions.

From "Bagration" by Zaloga

Anyone know true this is? In the net there is info they took part in bombing operations but the number of planes is much lower and also does not mention the tactics they were required to use ( like low-level attacks ).

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I don't know the tactics used to bomb tanks but it would seem low level missions in a heavy bomber would be really dumb. They also used the He-177 in Russia as a transport out of despiration. I would have thought using Fw-190's and Ju-87's would be a better choice to attack tanks at low level. I pity the poor He-177 crews, it was dangerous just to fly in the aircraft, let alone go into combat with them !

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Work Harder ! Millions on welfare are depending on you.

I was looking up information on the He-177 and found this about using a 75mm gun on Russian tanks. I wish I could build models as good as this guy does ! You have to admit that the He-177 was an attractive aircraft.

Revell He-177 A-5 'Greif'

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Work Harder ! Millions on welfare are depending on you.

Holy moly! Look at the size of that cannon. I cannot imagine flying in that thing and firing it. Aiming would have been close to impossible given rate of fire. Could Rudel have been successful with this?

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American by birth, TEXAN by the grace of GOD!

What a bloody waste of a plane that could have been a heck of a good one.

Goering had extremly good taste in art and architecture. He ought to have stuck to that and left really good men to fight the war. Although I doubt that he would have descend to such technical minutiae, he didn't have the monopoly of 'bright' ideas in the LW.

Oh, he also had a magnificent model train layout, he should have stuck to that as well. Provided he then was convinced to keep his hands away from the Reichsbahn!

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