Dropping wing tanks on ground targets
 

Dear all,

are you familiar with any mission of the 8th Air Force's fighters when wing tanks were dropped on ground targets to set them on fire? I am with one - the 20th FG attacked rail traffic this way in the Nürenberg area on February 20, 1945.
Source: HESS, William N. 'Down to Earth : Strafing Aces of the Eighth Air Force, p. 49

Thanks! Regards, Filip

Re: Dropping wing tanks on ground targets
 

Filip - AFAIK all the 8th AF FC dropped 'napalm' which was simply a 75 gallon drop tank armed with a fuse/igniter.

I know the 355th flew at least three missions in area fighter bomber patrols.

Re: Dropping wing tanks on ground targets
 

Hi there,

Thought you might want to see these photo's, both came from Footnote. They show standard P-51 and P-38 drop tanks that have been filled with napalm, both show the fuses about to be fitted. Although the info. on the P-38 photo states it is a M-14 igniter, it may be a M-15.

You can google 'TM3-400' to find the tech manual showing diagrams of these, although it's the 1957 version.

Regards,
Michael



http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/v...25June1945.jpg




http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/v...-14igniter.jpg