Douglas A-20 Havoc
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
LESSON 3 Significant Aircraft of World War II
LESSON 3 Significant Aircraft of World War II ORREST LEE “WOODY” VOSLER of Lyndonville, Quick Write New York, was a radio operator and gunner during F World War ll. He was the second enlisted member of the Army Air Forces to receive the Medal of Honor. Staff Sergeant Vosler was assigned to a bomb group Time and time again we read about heroic acts based in England. On 20 December 1943, fl ying on his accomplished by military fourth combat mission over Bremen, Germany, Vosler’s servicemen and women B-17 was hit by anti-aircraft fi re, severely damaging it during wartime. After reading the story about and forcing it out of formation. Staff Sergeant Vosler, name Vosler was severely wounded in his legs and thighs three things he did to help his crew survive, which by a mortar shell exploding in the radio compartment. earned him the Medal With the tail end of the aircraft destroyed and the tail of Honor. gunner wounded in critical condition, Vosler stepped up and manned the guns. Without a man on the rear guns, the aircraft would have been defenseless against German fi ghters attacking from that direction. Learn About While providing cover fi re from the tail gun, Vosler was • the development of struck in the chest and face. Metal shrapnel was lodged bombers during the war into both of his eyes, impairing his vision. Able only to • the development of see indistinct shapes and blurs, Vosler never left his post fi ghters during the war and continued to fi re. -
P-38J Over Europe 1170 US WWII FIGHTER 1:48 SCALE PLASTIC KIT
P-38J over Europe 1170 US WWII FIGHTER 1:48 SCALE PLASTIC KIT intro The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement. It became famous not only for its performance in the skies of WWII, but also for its unusual appearance. The Lightning, designed by the Lockheed team led by Chief Engineer Clarence 'Kelly' Johnson, was a complete departure from conventional airframe design. Powered by two liquid cooled inline V-1710 engines, it was almost twice the size of other US fighters and was armed with four .50 cal. machine guns plus a 20 mm cannon, giving the Lightning not only the firepower to deal with enemy aircraft, but also the capability to inflict heavy damage on ships. The first XP-38 prototype, 37-457, was built under tight secrecy and made its maiden flight on January 27, 1939. The USAAF wasn´t satisfied with the big new fighter, but gave permission for a transcontinental speed dash on February 11, 1939. During this event, test pilot Kelsey crashed at Mitchell Field, NY. Kelsey survived the cash but the airplane was written off. Despite this, Lockheed received a contract for thirteen preproduction YP-38s. The first production version was the P-38D (35 airplanes only armed with 37mm cannon), followed by 210 P-38Es which reverted back to the 20 mm cannon. These planes began to arrive in October 1941 just before America entered World War II. The next versions were P-38F, P-38G, P-38H and P-38J. The last of these introduced an improved shape of the engine nacelles with redesigned air intakes and cooling system. -
Conquering the Night Army Air Forces Night Fighters at War
The U.S. Army Air Forces in World War II Conquering the Night Army Air Forces Night Fighters at War PRINTER: strip in FIGURE NUMBER A-1 Shoot at 277% bleed all sides Stephen L. McFarland A Douglas P–70 takes off for a night fighter training mission, silhouetted by the setting Florida sun. 2 The U.S. Army Air Forces in World War II Conquering the Night Army Air Forces Night Fighters at War Stephen L. McFarland AIR FORCE HISTORY AND MUSEUMS PROGRAM 1998 Conquering the Night Army Air Forces Night Fighters at War The author traces the AAF’s development of aerial night fighting, in- cluding technology, training, and tactical operations in the North African, European, Pacific, and Asian theaters of war. In this effort the United States never wanted for recruits in what was, from start to finish, an all-volunteer night fighting force. Cut short the night; use some of it for the day’s business. — Seneca For combatants, a constant in warfare through the ages has been the sanctuary of night, a refuge from the terror of the day’s armed struggle. On the other hand, darkness has offered protection for operations made too dangerous by daylight. Combat has also extended into the twilight as day has seemed to provide too little time for the destruction demanded in modern mass warfare. In World War II the United States Army Air Forces (AAF) flew night- time missions to counter enemy activities under cover of darkness. Allied air forces had established air superiority over the battlefield and behind their own lines, and so Axis air forces had to exploit the night’s protection for their attacks on Allied installations. -
P-38 Lightning
P-38 Lightning P-38 Lightning Type Heavy fighter Manufacturer Lockheed Designed by Kelly Johnson Maiden flight 27 January 1939 Introduction 1941 Retired 1949 Primary user United States Army Air Force Produced 1941–45 Number built 10,037[1] Unit cost US$134,284 when new[2] Variants Lockheed XP-49 XP-58 Chain Lightning The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms with forward-mounted engines and a single, central nacelle containing the pilot and armament. The aircraft was used in a number of different roles, including dive bombing, level bombing, ground strafing, photo reconnaissance missions,[3] and extensively as a long-range escort fighter when equipped with droppable fuel tanks under its wings. The P-38 was used most extensively and successfully in the Pacific Theater of Operations and the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations, where it was flown by the American pilots with the highest number of aerial victories to this date. The Lightning called "Marge" was flown by the ace of aces Richard Bong who earned 40 victories. Second with 38 was Thomas McGuire in his aircraft called "Pudgy". In the South West Pacific theater, it was a primary fighter of United States Army Air Forces until the appearance of large numbers of P-51D Mustangs toward the end of the war. [4][5] 1 Design and development Lockheed YP-38 (1943) Lockheed designed the P-38 in response to a 1937 United States Army Air Corps request for a high- altitude interceptor aircraft, capable of 360 miles per hour at an altitude of 20,000 feet, (580 km/h at 6100 m).[6] The Bell P-39 Airacobra and the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk were also designed to meet the same requirements. -
A Tribute to Bomber Command Cranwellians
RAF COLLEGE CRANWELL “The Cranwellian Many” A Tribute to Bomber Command Cranwellians Version 1.0 dated 9 November 2020 IBM Steward 6GE In its electronic form, this document contains underlined, hypertext links to additional material, including alternative source data and archived video/audio clips. [To open these links in a separate browser tab and thus not lose your place in this e-document, press control+click (Windows) or command+click (Apple Mac) on the underlined word or image] Bomber Command - the Cranwellian Contribution RAF Bomber Command was formed in 1936 when the RAF was restructured into four Commands, the other three being Fighter, Coastal and Training Commands. At that time, it was a commonly held view that the “bomber will always get through” and without the assistance of radar, yet to be developed, fighters would have insufficient time to assemble a counter attack against bomber raids. In certain quarters, it was postulated that strategic bombing could determine the outcome of a war. The reality was to prove different as reflected by Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris - interviewed here by Air Vice-Marshal Professor Tony Mason - at a tremendous cost to Bomber Command aircrew. Bomber Command suffered nearly 57,000 losses during World War II. Of those, our research suggests that 490 Cranwellians (75 flight cadets and 415 SFTS aircrew) were killed in action on Bomber Command ops; their squadron badges are depicted on the last page of this tribute. The totals are based on a thorough analysis of a Roll of Honour issued in the RAF College Journal of 2006, archived flight cadet and SFTS trainee records, the definitive International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) database and inputs from IBCC historian Dr Robert Owen in “Our Story, Your History”, and the data contained in WR Chorley’s “Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War, Volume 9”. -
Night Air Combat
AU/ACSC/0604G/97-03 NIGHT AIR COMBAT A UNITED STATES MILITARY-TECHNICAL REVOLUTION A Research Paper Presented To The Research Department Air Command and Staff College In Partial Fulfillment of the Graduation Requirements of ACSC By Maj. Merrick E. Krause March 1997 Disclaimer The views expressed in this academic research paper are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the official policy or position of the US government or the Department of Defense. ii Contents Page DISCLAIMER ................................................................................................................ ii LIST OF TABLES......................................................................................................... iv PREFACE....................................................................................................................... v ABSTRACT................................................................................................................... vi A UNITED STATES MILITARY-TECHNICAL REVOLUTION.................................. 1 MILITARY-TECHNICAL REVOLUTION THEORY ................................................... 5 Four Elements of an MTR........................................................................................... 9 The Revolution in Military Affairs............................................................................. 12 Revolution or Evolution? .......................................................................................... 15 Strength, Weakness, and Relevance of the MTR Concept ........................................ -
Joint Training for Night Air Warfare /By Brian W
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data McLean, Brian W. Joint training for night air warfare /by Brian W. McLean. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references. 1. Close air support-Study and teaching-United States. 2. Night fighting (Military science)--Study and teaching-United States. I. Title. UG703.M38 1992 358.4' 142'07073-dc20 92-27734 CIP DISCLAIIAER This publication was produced in the Department of Defense school environment in the interest of academic freedom and the advancement of national defense-related concepts. The views expressed in this publication are those ofthe author and donot reflecttheofficial policy or position of the Department ofDefense or the United States government. This publication has been reviewed by security and policy review authorities and is cleared for public release. For Sale by the Superintendent of Documents US GovernmentPrinting Office Washington, DC20402 ii Contents Chapter Page DISCLAIMER . ii FOREWORD . vii ABOUT THE AUTHOR . ix PREFACE . xi INTRODUCTION . xv Notes . xvii 1 HISTORY AND BACKGROUND . 1 Joint Operations . 1 Night Operations . 5 Summary . 14 Notes . 15 2 DOING IT IN THE DARKTHE CHALLENGE . 17 Operation Tae Kwon Do . 19 Mission Planning . 22 Offensive Counterair . 23 Defensive Counterair . 34 On-Call Close Air Support . 35 Mission Execution . 37 Offensive Counterair . 38 Defensive Counterair . 47 On-Call Close Air Support . 48 Mission Feasibility . 51 Summary . 52 Notes . 53 iii Chapter Page PHOTO SECTION . 55 3 CURRENT TRAINING PROGRAMS . 61 Requirements for Realistic Training . 62 Red Flag . 64 Naval Strike Warfare Center . 71 National Training Center . 72 Twehtynine Palms . 74 Cope Thunder . 75 Team Spirit . -
Air Cover on D-Day • Lithgow in Libya Jet Fighters of the Second World War Major Dixon's Diary • Trouble at Thorney
Air Cover on D-Day • Lithgow in Libya Jet Fighters of the Second World War Major Dixon’s Diary • Trouble at Thorney Tangmere Military Aviation Museum Trust Company Limited Patron: The Duke of Richmond and Gordon Hon. President: Air Marshal Sir Dusty Miller, KBE Hon. Life Vice-President: Alan Bower Hon. Life Vice-President: Duncan Simpson, OBE Council of Trustees Chairman: Group Captain David Baron, OBE David Burleigh, MBE Reginald Byron David Coxon Dudley Hooley Ken Shepherd Phil Stokes Joyce Warren Officers of the Company Hon. Treasurer: Ken Shepherd Hon. Secretary: Joyce Warren Management Team Director: Dudley Hooley Curator: David Coxon General Manager and Chief Engineer: Phil Stokes Events Manager: David Burleigh, MBE Publicity Manager: Cherry Greveson Staffing Manager: Mike Wieland Treasurer: Ken Shepherd Shop Manager: Sheila Shepherd Registered in England and Wales as a Charity Charity Commission Registration Number 299327 Registered Office: Tangmere, near Chichester, West Sussex PO20 2ES, England Telephone: 01243 790090 Fax: 01243 789490 Website: www.tangmere-museum.org.uk E-mail: [email protected] 2 . from Charles Dixon’s Diary 4 A personal record of life on the Western Front in 1917-18 David Coxon Jet Fighters of the Second World War, Part 1 7 Meteors, Me262s, Shooting Stars, and their precursors Matt Wright The Swift Souvenir Book 18 Photographs of the successful air speed record attempt in Libya, 1953 Courtesy of Les Cobbett Tangmere and Operation Neptune 24 The air cover plan for D-Day, and Tangmere’s part in it Andrew Smith Letters, Notes, and Queries 29 The Hunter that wouldn’t land, and Over the Andes Published by the Society of Friends of the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum, Tangmere, near Chichester, West Sussex PO20 2ES, England Edited by Dr Reginald Byron, who may be contacted care of the Museum at the postal address given above, or by e-mail at [email protected] Copyright © 2014 by the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum Trust Company All rights reserved. -
The Halifax and Lancaster in Canadian Service
Canadian Military History Volume 15 Issue 3 Article 2 2006 The Halifax and Lancaster in Canadian Service Stephen J. Harris Directorate of Heritage and History, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh Part of the Military History Commons Recommended Citation Harris, Stephen J. "The Halifax and Lancaster in Canadian Service." Canadian Military History 15, 3 (2006) This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Canadian Military History by an authorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Harris: The Halifax and Lancaster The Halifax and Lancaster in Canadian Service Stephen J. Harris n our early discussions on the bomber section rate aircraft. I had to know how clapped out Iof The Crucible of War, the third volume of Halifaxes were; and I had to find out whether the official history of the Royal Canadian Air the allocation of aircraft was biased along Force, Ben Greenhous and I wondered whether national lines. What I found was that Harris we should adopt a chronological or topical exaggerated somewhat; that he did not allocate organisation. I preferred the latter; Ben the aircraft on national lines; and, perhaps not former. He was the principal author; he got his surprisingly, that bomber crews who survived a way – he was right, of course, I now admit freely; tour on Halifaxes were quite happy with their and his instructions to me were “to write an aircraft. Why not? They made it through. -
Bombing the European Axis Powers a Historical Digest of the Combined Bomber Offensive 1939–1945
Inside frontcover 6/1/06 11:19 AM Page 1 Bombing the European Axis Powers A Historical Digest of the Combined Bomber Offensive 1939–1945 Air University Press Team Chief Editor Carole Arbush Copy Editor Sherry C. Terrell Cover Art and Book Design Daniel M. Armstrong Composition and Prepress Production Mary P. Ferguson Quality Review Mary J. Moore Print Preparation Joan Hickey Distribution Diane Clark NewFrontmatter 5/31/06 1:42 PM Page i Bombing the European Axis Powers A Historical Digest of the Combined Bomber Offensive 1939–1945 RICHARD G. DAVIS Air University Press Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama April 2006 NewFrontmatter 5/31/06 1:42 PM Page ii Air University Library Cataloging Data Davis, Richard G. Bombing the European Axis powers : a historical digest of the combined bomber offensive, 1939-1945 / Richard G. Davis. p. ; cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 1-58566-148-1 1. World War, 1939-1945––Aerial operations. 2. World War, 1939-1945––Aerial operations––Statistics. 3. United States. Army Air Forces––History––World War, 1939- 1945. 4. Great Britain. Royal Air Force––History––World War, 1939-1945. 5. Bombing, Aerial––Europe––History. I. Title. 940.544––dc22 Disclaimer Opinions, conclusions, and recommendations expressed or implied within are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Air University, the United States Air Force, the Department of Defense, or any other US government agency. Book and CD-ROM cleared for public release: distribution unlimited. Air University Press 131 West Shumacher Avenue Maxwell AFB AL 36112-6615 http://aupress.maxwell.af.mil ii NewFrontmatter 5/31/06 1:42 PM Page iii Contents Page DISCLAIMER . -
Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Codenames
Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Codenames AASF Advanced Air Striking Force Abigail bombing campaign against selected German towns ( autumn 1940) a/c aircraft AC Army Co-operation (squadron) ACAS Assistant Chief of the Air Staff A/C/M Air Chief Marshal ADGB Air Defence of Great Britain ADI (K) Assistant Directorate of Intelligence (Department K) AEAF Allied Expeditionary Air Forces AFC Air Force Cross AFDU Air Fighting Development Unit AFHQ RCAF Headquarters, Ottawa AFU Air Fighting Unit AGLT Automatic Gun-Laying Turret Al airborne interception radar or Air Intelligence ALO Air Liaison Officer A/M Air Marshal AMP Air Member for Personnel AOC Air Officer Commanding AO-in-c Air Officer-in-Chief AOC-in-c Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief AOP Air Observation Post APC Armament Practice Camp API air position indicator Argument concentrated attack on German aircraft production (February 1944) ASR air-sea rescue ASSU Air Support Signals Unit ASV Air to Surface Vessel (radar) A/V/M Air Vice-Marshal B-bomb buoyant bomb Barbarossa German attack on Soviet Union (June 1941) xiv Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Codenames BCATP British Commonwealth Air Training Plan BdU Befehlshaber der U-boote (U-boat Headquarters) BDU Bombing Development Unit Benito German night-fighter control system Berlin German AI radar Bernhardine data transmission system used for German night-fighter control Big Ben v-2 rocket Bodenplatte Luftwaffe attack on Allied airfields in Northwest Europe (1 January 1945) Bombphoon Hawker Typhoon modified for employment as a fighter-bomber Boozer -
Gallery of Classics
1 Air Force Magazine This is a recreation of an Air Force Magazine article. Photos February 1997 have been changed for online presentation. Some data has been updated for accuracy. GGaalllleerryy ooff CCllaassssiiccss Compiled by Jeffrey P. Rhodes Key FF First flight FFL First flight location FFM First flight model FFP First flight pilot USAF Air Force and all predecessors Models/variants Quantity production models and major variants Left: P-12 fighters FFL: Cleveland, Ohio. Bombers FFP: Unconfirmed. Models/variants: MB-2. NBS-1. MB-2/NBS-1 Powerplant: Two Packard Liberty 12A liquid-cooled V- A derivative of the first US-designed bomber, the Martin 12s of 420 hp each. MB-1, the MB-2 featured a number of improvements. Wingspan: 74 ft 2 in. Twenty MB-2s were ordered in June 1920, and the type Length: 42 ft 8 in. was rushed into production so that Brig. Gen. William L. Height: 15 ft 63/4 in. ―Billy‖ Mitchell could use the aircraft in the planned Weight: 13,695 lb gross. strategic bombing tests off the Virginia Capes. From July Armament: Five .30-cal. Lewis machine guns in nose 13–21, 1921, General Mitchell‘s 1st Provisional Air and amidships; 1,800 lb of bombs internally and up to Brigade, based at Langley Field, Va., sank three ships, 2,000 lb of bombs externally. including the captured German battleship Ostfriesland, Accommodation: Four (pilot, copilot/navigator, and demonstrated the vulnerability of naval vessels to bombardier/gunner, and rear gunner). aerial attack. The Air Service then ordered another 110 Cost: $17,490 (Curtiss).