In article , ArtKramr
writes
Subject: Fly tight for tight bomb patterns on the ground.
From: Dave Eadsforth
Date: 8/24/2004 1:38 AM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id:


SNIP


Except a two mile long train of B-17s looks like donuts rolling off the
production line to an Me-109 pilot.

Whoops - night time is not the best time for me to formulate a detailed
question!

I realise I said individual B17s (ouch!). What I meant to ask about was
a tactic I read about a while ago where Combat Wings would shake out
into individual Groups in trail at IP when a concentration of bombs was
required for a particular target. Are there any analyses of the
effectiveness of a succession of waves of Combat Wings over the target
versus a succession of formations of bombers broken down into individual
Groups?

If someone could give me a thumbnail sketch of how a series of B17
Combat Wings usually approached a target, and what specific options for
attack were possible between the IP and the RP I would be very grateful.

Many thanks in advance,

Dave



Thanks for realizing and admiting your errors Dave. B-17's flew the missions in
the same way B-24's. B-26's and A-26''s did. In tight formations as entire
squadrons within groups in defensive boxes.

Thanks - I did not know that the same approach was followed by the
heavies and the mediums.


f someone could give me a thumbnail sketch of how a series of B17
Combat Wings usually approached a target, and what specific options for
attack were possible between the IP and the RP I would be very grateful.

No options. We planned the mission and we flew the plan. We were not a bunch
of cowboys all in business for ourselves. We were well trained and disciplined
airmen.

Yes, I realise that! When I spoke of options at IP I was thinking about
officially planned ones.

You have been listening to too many non combat wannabees making up crap
When someone tells you "what it was really like up there" ask them how many
missions they flew. If the answer is "none" disregard what they say. It will
probably either be all or partly wrong. Flying good tight formations was
essential to success. And holding those formations tight against the most
vicious attacks by fighters and or flak was a matter of life and death. It's
nice to read books about war. But no one ever sitting at home reading about war
ever got shot down in flames..

I think that many people who did not experience air combat often wonder
how they would have got on. I think I would have qualified for Section
Eight at the recruitment interview...

Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer


Cheers,

Dave

--
Dave Eadsforth