Quote:
Originally Posted by Flitzer
In my mind there was only one way to stop the Allied bomber offensive, both day and night. If the German effort was put into a vt proximity shell, instead of the V-2, and used them with the 88 mm radar controlled AA, it would have made it too costly for the bombers and their escorts. Of course the Allies would have developed counter measures eventually, but that time would have been used to build up the Luftwaffe fighter strength. Would the U.S. have risked a nuclear weapon at a later day knowing that the weapon may fall into German hands while being delivered?
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There is a huge lead time in building manufacturing capability to re-produce such a weapon - and yes the US would have easily risked 'losing' a nuclear weapon. The easiest way to prevent 'loss' would be to arm it upon entering German airspace. An airburst over Brunswick when the target was Belin would not be a happy event for the flak gunners.
In addition, the B-29 was capable of a higher ceiling than the B-17 and B-24 and really the only airframe capable of a.) carrying Fatman and Tallboy but also at very high altitudes. Last but not least the B-29 could have flown at very low altitudes, very fast, at night and used a delayed fuse making even proximity fuses for the 88 a very difficuly target..