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Luftwaffe and Axis Air Forces Please use this forum to discuss the German Luftwaffe and the Air Forces of its Allies. |
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#41
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Re: A 'what if' question RE: LW vs 8th AF
A 'What If' that I have is if Steinbock had not been launched and the bomber force been built up on operations in the south or east , would then a rapid redeployment west have had a very serious effect on the Invasion. Another is that why did not the Luftwaffe attack US escorts at a much earlier stage of a raid when the P-51's were heavily loaded with fuel and ammo. loss of drop tanks would have affected long range potential. In such a case the Me110/410's SturmGroups etc. might have had more kills over Germany,
Brian Bines |
#42
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Re: A 'what if' question RE: LW vs 8th AF
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The notion is to fly the headings, search if need be for several minutes - no joy - take a heading back and use RDF to find your base - Why not sacrifice (potentially) agents to place a radio transmitter at a key target for homing purposes - designing one to a.) transmit intermittantly to make locating it difficult, and b.) enable an agent to plant one with less risk, might be another approach. As for diving - no. In fact that is the primary hazard for the lucky night fighter that locks on to this random pair. I'm confused regarding why you think Allied radar technology in 1943/1944 would do a good job of locating small targets flying very low at high speed, then directing night fighters to that location or intercept track to pick them up? Further, how many such small attacks cause enough damage on bases with fuel loaded bombers or fighters before you cause serious changes to operational procedures? This would have been 'guerilla warfare' with many two ship flights striking at RAF bases in early evening and US bases in early morning - not slow 100+ bomber forces flying into the strike zone of RAF night defenses. BTW it would be far too much to ask in bad weather but relatively low altitude cloud cover for a decent instrument pilot would be to the advantage of the intruder - not the defender. I really don't care if you have to suspend belief or not - it is a theory that is not easily dismissed as 'impossible'.
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" The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein |
#43
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Re: A 'what if' question RE: LW vs 8th AF
Sir, I have said all I have to say, I have nothing more to say on this topic, let us simply agree to disagree and save time for both of us
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#44
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Re: A 'what if' question RE: LW vs 8th AF
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#45
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Re: A 'what if' question RE: LW vs 8th AF
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So mars, how did the British manage to attack German airfields at night? |
#46
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Re: A 'what if' question RE: LW vs 8th AF
Mass and repeat area bombing, night time bombing was not about accuracy in WWII era.
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#47
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Re: A 'what if' question RE: LW vs 8th AF
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Typically a Brunswick range penetration would get target escort from Dummer Lake inbound and out, etc. The tactic would have occasionally worked but the 8th AF had a fair amount of discipline in parceling out the escort flights to attack German fighters. If caught by surprise it is possible that an entire section of 8 would drop tanks and turn to the LW fighters. For a small attacking flight however, only one and perhaps two flights would be sent after them. Only a very large force would impact an entire squadron or group - and would be difficult to escape unscathed.
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" The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein |
#48
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Re: A 'what if' question RE: LW vs 8th AF
On the subject of attacking bombers, I've often wondered why the Germans didn't copy the Russian rockets fired from their fighters and Il-2. They probably had examples and how they worked. They could have modified the design for attacking bombers even in 1943. The shot gun effect even with just breaking up the box would have made it easier to get the bombers.
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#49
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Re: A 'what if' question RE: LW vs 8th AF
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I believe Kutscha was talking about the very effective intruder operations carried out by the RAF over Luftwaffe nightfighter bases. Best Regards Andy Fletcher
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Per Speculationem Impellor ad Intelligendum Last edited by Andy Fletcher; 4th May 2012 at 21:21. Reason: Typo |
#50
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Re: A 'what if' question RE: LW vs 8th AF
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What about the R4M rockets, though I don't think they entered service until late 44. Best Regards Andy Fletcher
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Per Speculationem Impellor ad Intelligendum |
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