... if the feasibility of a takeoff from the deck of an aircraft carrier is now demonstrated, is still to undergo a major modification work on aircraft that will take part in the raid.
Well before the Japanese, the first enemy to confront is the weight of the planes themselves: to enable them to fly over 4000 kilometers, you will need to pass the fuel capacity to more than 2400 of 4400 liters, which, with the mass of auxiliary tanks and their fuel systems, representing over two tonnes.
Since we can not sacrifice the planned bomb load (ton), or do without one of the five crew members, the only way to compensate for such weight gain is to sacrifice all that is not compulsory ... starting with defensive weaponry.
By itself, the suppression of the ventral turret (and shrink) will allow recovery of about 600 pounds. But we will go further, sacrificing also two machine guns behind the cone, and replacing them with simple pieces of wood painted black ... which we hope they will at least illusion if attacked by hunters Japanese! The other most notable change - even if it results in only a marginal gain weight - is the removal of Norden viewfinder, which we do not want to run the risk of falling into the hands of Japanese in case of forced landing, and judge in any case irrelevant to the low altitude - less than 1000 meters - which will be carried out the bombing.
Started in Minneapolis in mid-February, the site changes the 24 B-25B for the Tokyo raid is completed by the end of the month, which will finally allow crews chosen, and who know nothing about their future mission to train at leisure and under the direction of a man who, at age 45, is already a legend in the U.S. Air Force ...
0 comments:
Post a Comment