In message , ArtKramr
writes
Subject: P-47/51 deflection shots into the belly of the German
tanks,reality
From: Guy Alcala

I'll stick with the evidence that actually exists, gathered on the
ground.

Yes by ground personell (infantry, artillery) who had an agenda in down playing
the effectiveness of air attack. I can either believe you or my own lying eyes.

I've seen what .50" does to steel plate of the thicknesses we're
discussing (with newer ammunition, under better conditions). It leaves a
scar, but doesn't penetrate. This is why it stopped being used as the US
Army's primary anti-tank weapon and they bought bigger guns for the job
- and it was failing with clean direct hits, not ricochets.

I and the test team didn't care what worked, as long as we got a good
weapon for the job.

I can believe hearsay, or trust my own eyes.


(Of course, if everyone on the ground is lying to do down airpower, the
flyboys certainly wouldn't exaggerate in self-defence... if you get into
the agendas of observers, then aircrew are _certainly_ not disinterested
either. Personally, I don't like to accuse servicemen of deliberate
lying.)


--
When you have to kill a man, it costs nothing to be polite.
W S Churchill

Paul J. Adam MainBoxatjrwlynch[dot]demon{dot}co(.)uk