Table of Contents
Which ww2 bomber carried the heaviest bomb load?
Avro Lancaster
The Avro Lancaster, viewed as the best WWII heavy bomber, could carry up to 14,000 pounds (6,350 kg) of bombs. A modified version could take on the heaviest bomb ever produced for Bomber Command, the 22,000-pound (10,000-kg) “Grand Slam”.
What was the best night fighter of ww2?
For overall combat efficiency and effectiveness, the DH-98 Mosquito was the outstanding Allied night fighter and for the German the Ju-88 G was the go-to machine. The US P-61 did not see enough action to be other than a footnote in aviation history.
Which ww2 bomber had the most guns?
the B-25
By the end of the war, the B-25 was the most heavily armed aircraft in the U.S. Army Air Forces’ inventory. A single 12-airplane squadron of B-25s carried more . 50-caliber machine guns than four infantry regiments.
How effective were B 17 gunners?
In the infamous “Black Thursday” raid of 14 October 1943, B-17 gunners claimed 288 German fighter aircraft kills whereas in actuality about 40 were shot down. Meantime 60 B-17’s were lost to all causes (including flak).
Which Soviet bomber destroyed more German tanks than any other aircraft?
Luftwaffe legend Hans-Ulrich Rudel claimed to have destroyed 519 Soviet tanks, most of them while piloting a cannon-armed Junkers Ju-87G Panzerknäcker, or “tankbuster.” Aleksandr Yefimov, said to have destroyed 126 German tanks while flying the Ilyushin Il-2 Sturmovik, was twice made a Hero of the Soviet Union.
What is the largest bomber ever built?
Soviet Tu-160
In 1987 the Soviet Tu-160 — the heaviest supersonic bomber/aircraft ever built — entered service; it can carry twelve long-range cruise missiles.
Why do military jets fly at night?
Defence Aircraft Noise Generally, flying at most RAAF bases is conducted during daylight hours with some training conducted after the sun sets. Military pilots and aircrew must practice night flying to ensure they are able to respond to any contingency, at any time.
Why are fighter jets flying at night?
The reason operations are conducted during evenings is to prepare pilots for all-weather capabilities and overall combat readiness, according to Air Force officials. Anyone spotting the evening drills will likely see an F-35A Lightning II soaring across the sky.
What US bomber has the largest payload?
The B-1B
The B-1B, which became operational in 1986, has the largest internal payload of any current bomber. The US Department of Defense announced plans to cut its B-1B inventory from 92 to 67 as a cost-saving measure in July 2001. The first aircraft was withdrawn from service in August 2002.
How many bombs could a b17 carry?
Technical Specifications
| First flight | July 28, 1935 (prototype) |
|---|---|
| Ceiling | 35,600 feet |
| Power | Four 1,200-horsepower Wright R-1820-97 engines |
| Accommodation | 2 pilots, bombardier, navigator, radio-operator, 5 gunners |
| Armament | 11 to 13 machine guns, 9,600-pound bomb load |
What happened to the B 17s at Pearl Harbor?
One B-17C was destroyed on landing and another damaged beyond repair, but all eight B-17Es and two B-17Cs were safely down by the time the Navy issued orders to “cease firing on B-17s attempting to land at Hickam.”
Which plane shot down the most planes in WW2?
BF 109 was the most-produced fighter of WW2, and it has quite good kill ratio during the whole war. Jadgeschwader 52 unit alone shot over 10000 enemy planes with Bf 109s, and Luftwaffe had also tens of other fighter wings using Bf 109s.
How dangerous was being a ball turret gunner in WW2?
The ball turret gunner was one of the most dangerous assignments in World War II. Ball Turret Gunners on B-17 bombers were protected only by a glass bubble jutting out from the bowels of the plane. Permanently fixed and unable to be retracted, there was no hiding from enemy attack. It was an enclosure that at any time could become an airman’s
How many guns are in a turret on a British bomber?
The FN-5 nose turret had two guns, the FN-50 mid-upper turret had two, and the FN20 tail turret had four. The FN64 mid-under turret saw only limited use in the aircraft’s early months.
How did the B-17 bomber protect its turret gunners?
Ball Turret Gunners on B-17 bombers were protected only by a glass bubble jutting out from the bowels of the plane. Permanently fixed and unable to be retracted, there was no hiding from enemy attack. It was an enclosure that at any time could become an airman’s coffin. And often did.
What guns were used in the Blenheim bomber?
The majority of Blenheim bombers were equipped with a Bristol B-1 mid-upper turret that carried twin .303 guns. Many had a Fraser-Nash FN-54 turret mounted below the nose and operated by the bomb aimer using a periscopic sight. Most Whitleys were only equipped with a single Frazer-Nash rear turret that carried two .303 machine guns.