"T o d d P a t t i s t" wrote in message
...
"RST Engineering" wrote:

No, the ME-109 has zero relative velocity in the B-17s flight path...he
said
CROSSING 50 yards behind the aircraft.

True, he said "crossing," but he also said he's leading the
ME-109, and I specified that he fires straight back, i.e.,
he leads the ME-109 so that he's aiming at the point where
the ME-109 crosses the B-17s flight path.

The bullet drops straight down (relative to the ground).
The ME-109 flies into it before it drops significantly.

Perhaps I wasn't clear. Maybe I can diagram it.

Aiming
point
. ----- ME-109

B-17
|
V

This means that the turret gunner would have a problem in judging trajectory
to a target which passes by either front-to-rear or vice versa. Perhaps the
slower velocity of the bomber (in real life) and the higher velocity of a
..30 cal or .50 cal bullet would minimize the correction necessary. Then too,
that's why they make tracers!

Rich "I think I see" S.