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From: fiddler%concertina@Sun.COM (Steve Hix)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: American Bomber Designations
Keywords: bombers, US, designations
Message-ID: <1990Aug22.025101.15642@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 22 Aug 90 02:51:01 GMT
References: <1990Aug18.182619.24453@cbnews.att.com>
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From: fiddler%concertina@Sun.COM (Steve Hix)

> From: jfb@ihlpm.att.com (Joseph F Baugher)

Great list!

> Consolidated B-24          Four-engine heavy bomber.  Four Pratt and Whitney
> 	Liberator          R-1830 radial engines on high-mounted wing.  300 mph
>                            at 30,000 ft.  1700 mile range with 5000-pound 
> 			   Liberators in American service concentrated mainly
>                            in Mediterranean and Pacific.  Operations over
>                            Northern Europe showed deficiencies in armament and
>                            armor.  Not nearly as robust as B-17; was prone to
>                            catching fire as a result of superficial strikes. 

One problem resulting in catching fire was that the fuel crossover system was
in a vulnerable position up around the wing root.  Hit it and the plane would
burn brightly.

The B-24's bomb bay doors were kind of cute: instead of a couple of doors that
swung outward, they were implemented as a pair of rolling blinds, somewhat like
a rolltop desk.

>                            Had some bad flying characteristics which made it
>                            not as popular with its crews as was the B-17.

It was faster than the B-17, which led to jibes against B-17 crews that "our
plane gets you home quicker", usually countered with "but ours gets you home
more often".

> Martin B-26 Marauder       Twin-engine medium bomber.  Two P & W R-2800 radials.
> 			   High-mounted wing.  Streamlined cigar-shaped fuselage

Had the lowest loss-rate of any American bomber.  Something on the order of less
than 1% combat losses.

The B-26 designation was shared with Douglas' A-26 Invader when it was redesignated
sometime after the Martin B-26 had been retired.  The Invader saw combat service
up though Viet Nam.  Also a fast, twin-engined light bomber.

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