B-26s Bombing D-Day Beaches

[vincent p. norris]

A week ago, there was a discussion of the altitudes from which B-26s
bombed the beaches on D-Day.

I talked today with a friend who flew one of those B-26s at Utah
Beach. He said they bombed from 1,100 feet. He didn't know what
altitudes were used at Omaha.

He added that he saw landing craft emerging from the smokescreen as
they made their run, and that the A-20 laying the smoke went into the
drink, probaby hit by AAA.

vince norris

[ArtKramr]

>Subject: B-26s Bombing D-Day Beaches
>From: vincent p. norris
>Date: 7/10/03 5:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time
>Message-id: >
>
>A week ago, there was a discussion of the altitudes from which B-26s
>bombed the beaches on D-Day.
>
>I talked today with a friend who flew one of those B-26s at Utah
>Beach. He said they bombed from 1,100 feet. He didn't know what
>altitudes were used at Omaha.
>
>He added that he saw landing craft emerging from the smokescreen as
>they made their run, and that the A-20 laying the smoke went into the
>drink, probaby hit by AAA.
>
>vince norris
>

I remember something closer to 2500, 3,000 feet.

Arthur Kramer
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

[The Enlightenment]

vincent p. norris > wrote in message >...
> A week ago, there was a discussion of the altitudes from which B-26s
> bombed the beaches on D-Day.
>
> I talked today with a friend who flew one of those B-26s at Utah
> Beach. He said they bombed from 1,100 feet. He didn't know what
> altitudes were used at Omaha.
>
> He added that he saw landing craft emerging from the smokescreen as
> they made their run, and that the A-20 laying the smoke went into the
> drink, probaby hit by AAA.
>
> vince norris

Omaha was attacked by 4 engined heavies at much higher altitude (for
bomber safety I suspect). For varuius reasons including cloud cover
they missed partialy becuase of this Omaha beaches casualties entered
the legend books along with Iwo Jima with stories that curdles the
blood of even Americas enemies.

I do not know the reason for the high altitude attack, surely B24 and
B17 can attack at low altitude or are they so much more vulnerable or
is this a crew training issue?

It certainly illustrates a difference in the purpose of B25/B26 and
B17/B24 and employment.

The US medium bomber approach seemingly to be to use a tight formation
at low/medium altitude.

The Germans remained attached to the extra precision of dive bombing
to the end even working on jets to do this:
http://www.luft46.com/henschel/hs132.html