British bombers no good outside night ops, eh? Supposedly they were more accurate in daylight ops late in the war than the USAAF bombers were.
And what source did that come from, Juzz?
The British tried Daylight Bombing early in the war, and sustained heavy losses to the point that they had to cancel all daylight heavy bombing raids. (No insult to the British bombers and crews intended)
This is due to many factors including tactics, available aircraft, and enemy air superiority.
It wasn't till very late in the war when the Allies had total air superiority that the British resumed their Daylight offensives, and even then in limited numbers.
Everything I have ever read on bombing accuracy though has stated that the US Norden Bombsite equipped bombers where by far the most accurate bombers of the war. And even they resorted to carpet bombing in most cases. So I think any arguement of "accuracy" is laughable after a certain point.
Wasn't the British technique called "Area Bombing" and they proudly pointed out that 50 percent of their ordinance fell within 50 miles of the target.
Different theories, different tactics.
The Lancaster in an arena would have a very difficult time of surviving.
Its defensive firepower is very light (8x .303 in turrets) which results in only about 15% of the defensive firepower of a B-17, same max speed as a B-17, and its max ceiling is 24,500 ft.
So it can't fly overtop of interceptors very easily, and if they are caught it will be over quickly.
Its one big attribute is its heavy payload, and it that area it is far superior to anything else available.
Don't get me wrong, I would like to see a Lancaster myself. I just dont' think it will perform up to the high expectations of its pilots.
------------------
Vermillion
WB's: (verm--), **MOL**, Men of Leisure,
"Real men fly Radials, Nancy Boys fly Spitfires
"
