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Post by Luther Moore on Aug 16, 2011 16:04:14 GMT 12
Dave,
Well you learn something everyday,thanks for clearing that up now I know.
My guess is you could still use the as a bomb right?I mean it is full of fuel.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 16, 2011 16:28:42 GMT 12
By the time the aircraft got to the target it would have been empty in most cases, as I say they used that fuel first. If you did drop a half full one it would probably make a mess and do some damage, but it has nothing in it to ignite the fuel and turn it into an explosive or napalm. ;D
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Post by Luther Moore on Aug 16, 2011 17:11:52 GMT 12
Yea your right. It's quite a smart idea the extra fuel tank.As a last resort drop the tank circle and open your machine gun's to cause a spark.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 16, 2011 17:59:22 GMT 12
Edited to say: Kiwi P-40 pilots did use a droptank on the offensive.
This is from Leo White's excellent book Fighters.
"While on another mission, the pilots sighted two Jap vessels, but as their assignment did not permit them to take off and attend to them at the moment, they signalled to another flight of New Zealanders to handle them. Then followed as neat a piece of strategy in a small way as this war has seen. Led by Flight Lieutenant J. Day, one of the Warhawks braved possible flack by flying low to drop a partly filled belly tank squarely between the two ships. Incediaries were then poured into the craft and they were totally destroyed."
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Post by Luther Moore on Aug 16, 2011 18:09:42 GMT 12
A ship seems like a better target to use that method, as an air field or base would be a bit more defended and you might be shot down if you return to ignite the fuel.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 16, 2011 18:22:15 GMT 12
Ships were pretty bloody well defended in wartime, and ships shot at eberything that came near them, they never usually waited to find out if they were friendlies they were firing at.
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Post by Luther Moore on Aug 16, 2011 18:35:54 GMT 12
Oh really,Do you think a ship had more defence than say an Airfield?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 16, 2011 18:56:57 GMT 12
Two totally different things to defend but ships had a concentrated hail of fire that made it very difficult for any aircraft to attack them with, even merchant shipping carried anti-aircraft guns. Have you ever watched film of the Kamikaze attacks on ships? Not many of them got through to hit the ship.
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Post by Luther Moore on Aug 16, 2011 19:13:55 GMT 12
Yes your right, it's a smaller target and I suppose if your coming at a small target with a few A/A guns your chances are very low.Plus another advantage the ships have is a wide rang of view they could see you coming and prepare.
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Post by shorty on Aug 16, 2011 20:43:08 GMT 12
You can move a ship, bloody hard to move an airfield!
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Post by Luther Moore on Aug 17, 2011 6:44:50 GMT 12
"While on another mission, the pilots sighted two Jap vessels, but as their assignment did not permit them to take off and attend to them at the moment, they signalled to another flight of New Zealanders to handle them. Then followed as neat a piece of strategy in a small way as this war has seen. Led by Flight Lieutenant J. Day, one of the Warhawks braved possible flack by flying low to drop a partly filled belly tank squarely between the two ships. Incediaries were then poured into the craft and they were totally destroyed."
I wonder if was a procedure they were taught?
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