Author Topic: B-17 questions (Read 486 times)

SunTracker · « **on:** February 23, 2004, 05:52:33 AM »

How many B-17s were shot down before the Memphis Belle (also Hell's Angel) completed 25 missions?

When did U.S. B-17s begin bombing continental Europe from England?

Guppy35 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 23, 2004, 09:47:33 AM »

12 B17s flew the first mission to Rouen on August 17, 1942 with no loss.

First B17 lost was on September 6, 1942 when30 B17s went to Meaulte France.

Using Roger Freeman's "Mighty Eighth War Diary" as a guide, it appears that 114 B17s went down in the missions up to the one where the Belle Crew finished 25 missions

Dan/Slack

frank3 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 23, 2004, 10:01:39 AM »

How many bombers/fighters were lost during the Europian theatre?

SunTracker · « **Reply #3 on:** February 23, 2004, 08:20:41 PM »

Excellent response Guppy. Wow, things must have really gotten bad after the Belle finished its tour then. 114/4000 B-17s lost.

Kommandant · « **Reply #4 on:** February 23, 2004, 08:27:44 PM »

Um.... Alot?

Guppy35 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 23, 2004, 10:40:31 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by SunTracker
Excellent response Guppy. Wow, things must have really gotten bad after the Belle finished its tour then. 114/4000 B-17s lost.

Part of it is just the amount of B17s increasing over time on each raid. Those early ones were 12 here, 18 there, 30 another time. then gradually pushing it over 50 planes then 70 then over 100. They were a long way from putting 1000 planes in the air at that point.

Dan/Slack

MiloMorai · « **Reply #6 on:** February 23, 2004, 10:49:14 PM »

THURSDAY, 1 FEBRUARY 1945

1. Mission 814: 699 B-17s and 328 P-51s are dispatched to hit rail targets and bridges in W Germany using Micro-H and H2X radar; no losses:

SATURDAY, 3 FEBRUARY 1945

1. Mission 817: 1,437 bombers and 948 fighters are dispatched in a major strike on Berlin by B-17s while B-24s hit the synthetic oil industry at Magdeburg; they claim 38-1-18 Luftwaffe aircraft; 25 bombers and 8 fighters are lost:

change the month and year in the link to see other months

http://hometown.aol.com/jlowry3402/feb45.html

SunTracker · « **Reply #7 on:** February 24, 2004, 02:59:36 AM »

March 14, 1945. 38 years to the day before I was born

Quote

Mission 887: 9 B-17s use DISNEY rockets weapons on the Ijmuiden submarine pens without loss.

What are DISNEY rockets?

MiloMorai · « **Reply #8 on:** February 24, 2004, 05:26:20 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by SunTracker
March 14, 1945. 38 years to the day before I was born

What are DISNEY rockets?

"'Disney' Rocket-Assisted Bomb
Designed by Captain Terrell RN of the UK, this 4,500 lb (2040 kg) hard-case streamlined bomb was intended to be used against U-boat pens and other super-hardened targets.

Dropped from 20,000 ft (6096 m) the bomb had a barometric fuze which activated at 5,000 ft (1525 m.) At this point a rocket in the tail of the bomb fired bringing the impact velocity up to 2,400 ft/sec (730 m/sec.)

Carried on B-17 bombers in pairs under-wing this weapon was first used on Febuary 10, 1945. Nine B-17s of the 92nd BG dropped eighteen Disney bombs on U-boat pens at Ijmuden in Holland, scoring one direct hit. The weapon saw further use but suitable targets were often either too far away (such as in Norway) or already over-run by Allied troops. Still by the end of the war a total of 158 Disney Bombs had been used in combat. "

http://www.ww2guide.com/bombs.shtml

Chortle · « **Reply #9 on:** February 24, 2004, 09:26:14 AM »

I have the date of the first B17 raid as 8th July 1941 when the RAF attacked Wilhelmshaven with 3 B17s.

Guppy35 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 24, 2004, 09:43:01 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Chortle
I have the date of the first B17 raid as 8th July 1941 when the RAF attacked Wilhelmshaven with 3 B17s.

Looked like he was asking about US 17 raids though

Dan/Slack