Author Topic: Could level bombers Dive Bomb? (Read 218 times)

Virage · « **on:** March 22, 2003, 12:06:20 PM »

Could a B17, Lanc, etc. drop bombs while in a dive? I know the JU88 was designed to dive bomb, but was it possible to do so with the bombs in the bay or only with the wing mounted bombs?

Watched a perfectly executed B17 formation Kamikazee on a CV and it got me wondering if it would of been possible to do in WWII. Not that anyone would want to of course.

BenDover · « **Reply #1 on:** March 22, 2003, 11:04:56 PM »

i don't think the lanc, b17, etc. could level bomb, i think the reason why the ju88 could dive bomb was that its bombs were vertical (or at least it look that way when i saw a video of one)

Replicant · « **Reply #2 on:** March 23, 2003, 05:37:33 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by BenDover
i don't think the lanc, b17, etc. could level bomb, i think the reason why the ju88 could dive bomb was that its bombs were vertical (or at least it look that way when i saw a video of one)

Think it was the He111 that had their bombs stored vertically within the main fuselage.

BenDover · « **Reply #3 on:** March 23, 2003, 07:36:15 AM »

I'll have to check on the video i've got, if i can get the bastard VCR to keep it in....

LLv34_Camouflage · « **Reply #4 on:** March 23, 2003, 07:56:21 AM »

AFAIK, the Ju88 has its internal bombs vertically stacked in a few rows in the bomb bay. Those bombs cant be dropped in a dive, only in level. Dive bombing can only be done with the bombs in the external racks.

The navigator performed the level bombing with his sight, the dive bombing was done by the pilot with the stuvi sight.

Camo