I am wondering if anyone knows about how bombers went about their business in WW2 once in the air.

Did they just form up, go to an IP,to a target and then bomb? I would have imagined there existed diversionary tactics including those to fool fighter intercepts etc, but what happened when they encountered fighters
Plod on with the tactic...up the guts with lots of smoke?
Did bombers try and reform defensive boxes once a couple had been shot down or dropped off?
Who and how did someone exert command and control over really large formations?

In terms of getting your forces to a given point does anyone have any opinions on bomber streams vs big formations over a target at a given time?

Somehow I've developed the impression over the years that allied bombers plodded on regardless of flak or fighters but in reading about some of the Battle of Britain raids, German bombers were turned back. Did this happen to Allied bombers?

Any info on this broad topic of bomber tactics gatefully appreciated

Cheers Matt [img]smile.gif[/img]

Matt, it depends whether you are talking about daylight ( USAAF ) or night-time ( RAF ) operations ?

As the war progressed, increasingly complicated tactics were devised and this could be an interesting discussion..... [img]graemlins/salute.gif[/img]

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Well, normally the bombers went in a triangle, very close together with fighter escorts. The bombers also had MG's, and shot a few down. They dropped their bombs then high tailed it out of there. This is just basic, and there are advanced tactics.

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The objective of war is to not die for your country, but to make the other bastard die for his! - General Patton
Older men declare war. It is the youth that must suffer. - General Patton

That would apply to USAAF daytime missions - and even then, there were high-, low- and mid-level echelons of aircraft to form a defensive .50-cal 'box'.....

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

On 13 June 1943 the Americans tried a different tactic. Still the High, Low and lead echelons, but not in boxes but all the planes in each echelon flying wingtip to wingtip. This tactic proved very costly and also cost the life of the 'inventor' of this tactic, Brig Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest III, who had just taken over the command of a Bomb Wing and was on his first mission.

After the mission the Wing converted back to the Box Formation of Gen. LeMay (then Col.)

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