« Reply #113 on: October 23, 2024, 10:20:34 AM »
I was watching a film clip about B-17 bombers in formation and wondering if the gunners ever hit another bomber by mistake.
friendly fire - absolutely,Luftwaffe fighter pilots used the bomber squadron’s inability to turn while in box formation to make high-speed strafing attacks. They would scream right thru the formations spraying bullets toward the entire squadron increased their chances of getting multiple hits all the while getting in and out fast and avoiding lingering around which was riskier.
In the meantime Flying Fortress gunners where twisting/turning/contorting like crazy and some sprayed each other. There is a well known video of B-17 formations dropping bombs but the bombers right below them were not staggered properly and a bomb ripped right thru a wing below and immediately that B-17 dropped into spiral.Either way, both fighters and bombers scored many kills on each other despite their tactics and counter tactics.
All of this in '43 before the Mustang started it's escort service.
« Last Edit: November 02, 2024, 11:32:20 AM by MrNubbz »

Logged
"Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports... all the others are games" - Ernest Hemingway