Bombers anyone?

The above moon shot, from what I've been told, is from a replica and semi-restored B-25. This plane was pieced meal put together. The later versions had this type of tail, especially the ones used in Korea in the 50's. As far as the guns in the turrent . . . all it takes is money.

 

Douglas A-26 Invader. Used very late in WWII, alot in Korea, and alittle in early Viet Nam and were supposed to be used in the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba circa 1961.

 

I almost agree with Ta on the apic, as it appears to me as an Invader but probably not.
In my opinion the Bf 110 was more suitable as a night time destroyer agasint RAF bombers as well as an US bomber killer provided not P-47/P-51 escorts were in the area. The payload for a 110 bomber was almost worthless.......

 

Modified A-26's were also used as skip bombers along with the B-25, the A-20. These bombers were modified and given something like 8 .50- cal. machine guns (six more than normal), which took up the space used by the .30-cals and the bombardier's station in the normal versions of the bombers. Used primarily in the pacific,and flying at very low altitudes, they were very effective.

 

Don't want to get off topic but did the B-25 have a belly turret ? My data on US twin engines is very limited...........

 

Erich that is a Douglas A-26 Invader just as sure as I am here typing this.

http://members.tripod.com/~a26invader/

 

PS The early B-25's had a remote viewed belly gun aimed by periscope. They took it out soon as it made people sick trying to aim the guns.

 

Trying again for that Me 110 photo.

 

Let's not forget the heavy bombers. Here is a Condor.

 

nice color pic Herr Mott of a Kondor from KG 40. It was an excellent recon/bomber type over the Atlantic till FAGr 5's Ju 290's came into play with increased range........

 

Danke Herr Erich, I think this Junker is equipped with night fighting radar, see the nose antenna. I know these arrays were also used on Me 111's in the defense against the British night bombing. I wonder how many Kondors were built before and during the war?

 

Mott it is actually a Focke Wulf design and the radar arrays are an anti-shipping one not for night fighting.....the Junkers 290 that also mentioned was also equipped with the same radar set. find a Ju 290 pic to post if you would.

E ♪

 

Martin one of my favorites ! One of several Ju 290A prototypes that went over to the stealth FAGr 5 Atlantic unit the code being changed to 9V+?? depending whether it went to 1st or 2nd staffel............

E ♪

 

Knowing nothing at all about this aircraft, I've pulled my copy of Green's 'Warplanes Of The Third Reich' down from my bookshelf....

Interesting that the 290's origins stemmed from the 'Ural-bomber' concept in 1935, developing into a transport aircraft and then finally back to long-range bombing.

The small number of aircraft operated by FAGr.5 were very popular with their crews and suffered no accidental losses. Some aircraft were later used by I/KG200's 3 Staffel for agent-dropping and 'other special operations'....

A mysterious aircraft indeed !

 

yes in fact one of the KG 200 Junkers almost went down in a "full moon" by a friend and pilot of the US 425th nfs in a P-61. He was coming up and diving down on the Junkers when quite possibly one of the top turret gunners saw the widow and the Junkers banked and dived hiding in the ground haze...........ah that full moon could be a problem for boths sides.........

 

I was looking again at the color Me-110 picture and was wondering about the verticle fins on the drop tanks. I have never noticed them on tear shaped drop tanks before and wondered if this was common or a unit modification ? (I assume they are drop tanks since they don't usually paint the bombs.) What did the fins do for the aircraft,make it more stable ? I would not think they would want a stable fighter or attack aircraft.

 

Interesting point, Ta.

The tanks in the photo are the large, 198 imp. gal. tanks as fitted to Bf110D-3s used for long-range shipping escort tasks, frequently in the Mediterranean theatre in 1941/42.

The fins were common to all these tanks and, I am assuming, were meant to promote stability.

The smaller 66-gallon tanks were teardrop-shaped and did not feature the fins.

 

Yes they do look extra large and must really cut down on the aircrafts performance. I guess the the fins on the tanks may push the tank away from the aircraft should they jettison the tanks. Just a guess.
Glad you are back again, I missed your posts even if you don't like Halibags.