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WarMachine 42
WarMachine 42
' -r,;'r,1r
The light and medium bombers of World War II were sandwrched The relative importance of tactical needs over those of a s:ra,eg-:
between the generation of glamorous day and night fighters on the one nature dictated that the Soviet air forces (V-VS) would place m;c:
hand, and the heavy bombers, such as the Boeing B-17, Consolidated reliance on intermediate-range light bombers: the four-engine Il-rpcie'.-
B-24, Avro Lancaster and Handley Page Hahfax, with their role of TB-3 and Petlyakov Pe-8 served we1l, but only in small numbers The
strategic bombing, on the other. For a multitude of reasons the Japanese, best Soviet bomber of 1941-4 was the Petlyakov Pe-Z; rt was replaced b1;
Germans and the ltalians failed to introduce an efficient four-engdne the Tupolev Tu-2 in 1944 The Americans had the immediate advantage
long-range healry into service: the Helnkel He 177A-5 did become of having a wide selection of very powerful air-cooled radral engrnes
operational, but was in service wrth only a few Gruppen, and such was when they went to war in 1941, Also they gained pre-knowledge of
the nature of its maintenance and unreiiability that its contribution to the actual operatlons from their Bntish ally. The light bombers produced for
Axis effort can hardly be emphasized. The Axis nations therefore opted the US Army and US Navy, the North American B-25 Mltchell, the Martin
for a selection of liqht and medlum bombers, restricted their use to 8-26 Marauder, the Douglas A-20 Havoc, the Lockheed PBO-1 and PV-1
tactical and naval work, and could never mount anything suggestive ofa and others, served not only ln the US forces but with a host of grateful
damaging campargn ol bombing of strategic concept, Nevertheless Allies, A11 were universally efficient: there was not a failure amongst
much of the triumphal gain that fell to the Axis ln the flrst half of World them, The Mitchell got the headlines in the papers for its daring low-
War II was born on the wings of the hqht bomber: for the Luftwaffe, the level work in the Pacific theatre, For the British, the best was undoubted-
fabulous Junkers Ju 88 was ihe workhorse of 1939-45; and for the Regta ly the extraordinary de Havilland Mosquito bomber serres whrch defred
Aeronautica, the 'evrl hunchback' Savoia-Marchetti S,M,79 and the iogical desrgn practice, But over Germany nothing could catch them,
graceful CANT Z 1007; and lor the Japanese, the Mitsublshi G3M2 'Ne11' and a legend was born,
and G4Ml 'Betty' of the Imperial Navy's land-based flotillas, and the
Kawasaki Kr-48 'Lily and Mitsubrshi Kr-21 Sally' of the Imperial Army's The second RAF squadron to receive the excellent Mosquitowas No. I39 Sqn
at H or sham S t F aith and, later, M arh am. T he type's speed and agdr ty b e c am e
regiments, These represented the striking power of the Axls powers essential attributes of the medium bomber as fighter and grround defences
and, in their heyday before the advent of Allied air superiority, they became impenetrable toearlier types such as the BristolBlenheim and
were iormidably effective. Tupolev SB-2.
DK tristolBlenheim
--, .:g ior the first time on 12 Aprll 1935
-:-: Brisoi Type I42 was a twin-engrne
:-3l-speed transport designed at the
:equest of the press baron, Lord
i.c-hermere, So startling was the per-
::rma:rce that the T\pe 142, and later
Type 142M, were adopted for de-
=e
i-elopment as a light bomber under the
Au Ministry Specification B,2Bl35, The
result was the Bristol Blenheim Mk I,
wh-rch was ordered straight from the
drawinq board, The first examples
went to No. 114 Squadron at wyton in
March 1937, At the time of the Mumch ret, while a rearward-firing twin-gmn were phasedout. Finlandand Greece Bristol Blenheim Mk I of No. I I 4 Sqn,
Crrsis in September l93B the Blenheim turret could be installed under the operated Blenheim Mk IVs, as did RAF, sewing at Larissa, Greece in
Mk I equipped 16 squadrons in Nos t, 2 nose section. slghted by a perlscope, Canada where it was known as the 1 94 1. The Middle East was a major
and 5 (Bomber) Groups of Bomber The Blenheim Mk IV scored a number Bolingbroke, The Bienheim Mk V (945 theatre for theBlenheim, where its
Command, As early as January 1938 of 'firsts' in World War IL On 3 burlt) appeared in late 1942, powered ability to absorb battle damage
the Bldnheim Mk i entered service September Blenheim Mk IV (N6215) of by two 950-hp (708-kW) Mercury 25 or helped it to severa,lsuccesses in the
with No, 30 Squadron at Habbaniya, No, 139 Squadron, under Flying Offlcer 30 engines, and saw sewice in North earlyyears ofthewar.
Iraq, while other Blenheim Mk Is were A. McPherson, became the flrst RAF Africa and T\-rnisia, and in the Far East,
posted to AHQ India early rn the fol- arrcraft to enter German airspace and Underpowered and poorly armed, the
Iowing year, The Blenheim Mk I was photograph the fleet units off Blenherm lost more crews than anv (27,260 ft), maximum range 2340 km
powered by lwo 840-hp (626-kW) Bris- Wilhelmshaven, On the following day other RAF type (1,460 miles)
tol Mercury VIII radial engines, The Blenheim Mk IVs of Nos 107 and 110 Weishts: empty 4445 kg (9,790 1b);
light armament consisted of one 7.7- Squadrons made the first offensive Specification maximum take-off 6537 kg ( 14, 400 ]b)
mm (0,303-in) machine-gun in the attack by Bomber Command, The Bristol Blenheim B.Mk fV Dimensions: span 17, 17 m (56 ft 4 in);
wing, and one manually-operated 707- RAF's first U-boat kill was made on I l Tlpe: three-seat light bomber
mm (0,3-rn) Vickers K gmn rn a dorsal !gr1gl! 12.98 m (42 ft 7 in)heght 2,99 m
March 1940, by a Blenheim Mk IV of Powerplant: two 920-hp (686-kW) (9 ft 10 in): wing area 43.57 m
hrret; 454 kg (1,000 lb) of bombs could No. 82 Squadron flown by Squadron Bristol Mercury XV radial piston (469 sq ft)
be carried. A total of 1,365 Blenheim Leader M,V Delap. Blenheim Mk IVs englnes Armament:up to five 7,7-mm (0,303-in)
Mk I bombers were produced by Bris- saw extensive sewice over France, off Performance: maximum speed machine-gmns (one ixed in wingr, two
tol, Awo and Rootest 45 were made Norway, over Germany, Greece, 428 krn/h (266 mph) at 3595 m in dorsal turret, and two optional rear-
under licence by the Finmsh VLT Crete, North Africa, Indra, Malaya and ( I 1,800 ft); cruising speed 318 kn/h frrrng), plus a normal bombload of
company, and the lkarus firm ofYugos- Sumatra until August 1942 when they (198 mph); servicecerling83l0 m 454 ks (1,000 lb)
lavia made 16. Wtth its characteristic
short-nosed glazed canopy the
Blenheim Mk I saw service with the
RAF in Greece, Malaya and North Afri-
:,-
Handley Page Hampden (continued) Light and Medium Bombers of World War II
neld Vrckers K guns, Operating within
a few miles of the German coast in
broad daylight soon brought repercus-
sions. On 29 September Nos 61 and 144
Squadrons were operating over the
German Bight when their Hampdens
were bounced by a mixed formation of
cannon-firing Messerschmitt Bf 109Es
and Bf I 10Cs from Jever and Nordholz:
in a runninq battle five Hampdens
were shot down, Some time later the
Vickers Wellingrton Mk Is of Bomber
Command encountered similar ex-
periences, and the RAF was forced to
commit its bomber force to noctumal
operations, On night mrssrons the stur-
dy Hampden Mk I, wrth its respectable
bombload, performed very wel1, The
first German land base to be attacked,
Hdrnum near Sylt (Westerland), was the Canadian CAA (160); 141 Hamp- Specification The Hampden did not have any
raided by Hampdens on 19/20 March den Mk Is were converted to Hamp- Handley Page Hampden Mk I power- oper ated gun tufi e ts, an d s o
1940. The type made the first attack on den TB,Mk I torpedo-bombers, whrch Tlpe: four-seat medium bomber withonly hand-held gruns for tail
the industrial Ruhr in the company of served wrth Nos 144, 455 and 408 Powerplant: two 980-hp (73 -kW)1 defence it was particularly
Wellingrtons on II/12 May, and it took Squadrons in Coastal Command from Bristol Pegasus XVIII radial piston vulnerable in the presence of
part in the first RAF bomber mission to bases in Scotland and the northern enqmes fighters. This is a H ampden M k I with
Berlin on the night of 25126 August USSR during 1942; two Hampden Mk II Performance: maximum speed Bn'sf o/ Pegrasus engrrnes.
1940. T\ruo Victoria Crosses went to aircraft with I,100-hp (820-kW) Wrrght 426 km/tr (265 mph) at 4725 m
crews of Hampdens: the fLst to Flight Cyclones were produced, The 1,000- ( 15, 500 ft); cruising speed 269 lca/h
Lieutenant R.A.B. Learoyd (No, 49 Sqn) hp (745-kW) Napier Dagger VIII en- (167 mph); climb to 4570 m (15,000 ft) in (669 sq ft)
for action against the Dortmund-Ems gine was installed in the Hampden's lB mrnutes 55 seconds; service ceiling Armament: initially single 7, 7-mm
canal on 12113 Augnrst 1940, and the cousin, the Hereford: 100 were built, 6920 m (22,700 ft); maximumrange (0,303-in) Browningand Vickers K
second to Sergeant John Hannah (No, saw no action, and nine were con- 3200 km ( 1,990 miles) guns in nose (fixed), nose cupola and
83 Sqn) for putting out a fire over verted to Hampden Mk Is, The Hamp- Weights: empty 5343 kg (l i,7BO lb); rear dorsal and ventral stations, after
Antwerp on 15/16 September i940. den was phased out of Bomber Com- maxrmum take-off9526 kg (21,000 lb) January 1940 upgrunned by twin 7.7-
Total production numbered I,532, mand's first{ine units by Augmst 1942, Dimensions: span 21.0B m (69 ft 2 in); mm (0.303-in) Vickers K gmns in ventral
Hampden Mk Iswere built by Handley but the Hampden TB,Mk I continued in Iensth 1033 m (53 ft 7-rn) heighI4.49 m and dorsal stations, plus a bombload oi
Page (500), English Electric (770), and sewice until December 1943, (14 ft9 in); wingarea62,06 m 1814 ks (4,000 lb)
2389 km ( 1,485 miles) ( 12ft 6 in); winq area 42. lB m2 F lying with No. I 39 Sqn from inJune thatyear on Pathfinder
Weights: empty 6638 kg ( 14,635 lb); (454 sq ft) M arham in the early suntmer of I 943, duties, flying'spoof' attacks and
maximum take-off 10433 kg (23,000 lb) Armament: four 227-kg (5001b) bombs this Mosquito B.Mk IV Srs II shows conducting radar dislocation raids
Dimensions: span.i6,51 m (54 ft 2 in); internally and two more under wrngs, the potent lines of the m arque. N o. using'Window' ( chafl).
|ensth12,47 m (40 ft 11 in); heisht3.8l m or one 1B l4-kq (4,000-]b) bomb 139 Sqntookits Mosquitoes toWyton
m iteguet
The Bregmet 690 was designed in re-
ogs
sponse to a 1934 French air ministry
specrfication calling for a twin-engnned
thee-seat fi ghter, Several manufactur-
ers submitted proposals, and the con-
test was won by the Potez 630. The
Bregnret proposal had been heavier
and more powerful than the other sub-
missions, its desrgmers believing it to
be a more versatile, multr-role aero-
plane. Design of the Bregmet 690 was
started in 1935 and a prototype was
completed in 1937, irst flying on 23 Above:Formerlyof GBAI/51 of theArmeedel'Air, thisBreguetBre.6g7 is pictured afterbeing transferred tothe
March 1938 The aircraft was found to Reg:iaAeronautica in I943.Theredof theFrenchroundelswereretained, with thellaft'an fasies replacingtheblue.
have a performance superior to that of
the Potez 630, and Bregnret received a
contract to supply lO0 aircraft, con-
figured as hght attack bombers,
The resulting Bregruet 69I was a
clean-looking cantilever mid-wing
monoplane of all-metal construction,
with two wing-mounted engines and a
short fuselage nose reminiscent ofthat
of the Bristol Beaufighter, Aft of the
wing, however, the fuselage tapered
to a tailplane with twin endplate fins
and rudders. Conversron from Bre.69O
to Bre.691 was relatively simple, the
main change being deletion of the
nar'lgator's position to provide a small
bomb bay, Experience with the
Bre.691 proved the Hrspano-Suiza
powerplants to be unrehable, and the
8re.693.01 was introduced with two
Gnome-Rh6ne l.4M-6/7 engnnes after
only 78 Bre.69ls had been built, 1\ro
hundred and thirty four examples of
Right: This Breguet Bre.695 was on
the strenglh of the 1"'e Escadrille of
GBA I / 5 1. The Bre.695 was powered
by the Pratt & Whitney TwinWasp
Junior engine, but it was severely
outclassed by the German fighters it
encountered.
Breguet 693 (continued) light and Medium Bombers of World War II
the Bre.693 were built, later examples The Bre.695 was virtually identical to Specifieation length 9,67 m (3 I ft B3lq Ln); herght
having two extra 7,S-mm (0.3-in) the Bre,693 but with Pratt & Whitney Breguet 693 3.19 m (10 ft Ssl+ in); mngarea 2-Q 23 r-=
machine-guns, one installed in the tail SB4G Twin Wasp Junior engines. it Type: hrro-seat light attack bomber (32 sqft)
of each engine nacelle, to improve was felt desirable to desigm a version Powerplant: two 700-hp (522-kW) Armament: one 20-mm Hrspano-S-:i-za
self-defence, of the aircraft using foreign engines in Gnome-Rhdne 14M-6/7 radial piston cannon andtwo 7.S-mm Darne
Foreign interest in the Bre,690 case the supply ofFrench powerplants engrnes machine-gmns firing forwarci pl- : :-+
series was cut short by the German was drsrupted by enemy action, Fifty Performance: maximum speed simrlar gun on pivoted mounl rn :ea:
invasion of France and the single Bre.695s were built, being delivered to 490 kn/h (304 mph) at 5000 m cockpit, one fixed 7.S-mm qx-'t fing
8re.694.01 built, intended as a three-
seat reconnaissance aircraft, was deli-
Groupe 18 in June 1940,
The Bre.696 and 697 were built only
( 16,400 ft); maximum cruising speed
400 km/h (248 mph) at 4000 m
obliquely aft from ventral poslu::.
(late models) rwo 7.S-mm gurs c:.: :-
-j
vered directly to the A6ronavale, The as prototypes and were respectively a (13, 125 ft); maximum range 1350 km each engdne nacelle firing ai. a::d ::
Bre,694 was generally similar to the two-seat light bomber and a two-seat (839 miles) to 400 ks (BB2 lb) of bombs
original Bre,690 with no bomb bay and heavy destroyer. The Breguet 693 Weishts: empty 30 10 kq (6,636 1b);
a navigator's compartment, but with proved extremely vulnerable and maxrmum take-off 4900 kq ( 10, 803 lb)
Gnome-Rh6ne I4M-4/ 5 engines, almost half were lost to enemy action. Dimensions:span 15.37 m (50 ft 5 in);
Eza
.::,:a. a:.::11
826
us
.G
'iil
828
Light
-,* :: -ne Sth Air coast of New Guinea, In October 1943 Kenney's
B-25s flew many rards on the harbour and
theatre was overshadowed by the fighting in January I945 This trme w::.:-
--C the A-20 the South Pacrfic when US forces invaded the Japanese suicrde operatro:- ,:
::: I,lajor Paul I. airfields at Rabaul: at this time the 38th and
:=;:eC for low- Marshall and Gilbert Islands. Here the US 7th kaze (divrne wind) attacks. ',',':.
345th BGs had B-25Cs, and A-20s equipped the
Air Force operated, its B-24s belng jolned by toll of Alhed shipping. In th: l
="=: ie highly 3rd, 3l2nd and 417th Groups. the B-25s of the 4lst Group, By now the latest paign the JAAFs Ki-48-ll a::
::is. The new versions of the Mitchell included the 75-mm bers fought courageously, -,'.:-=
.
:1::oped with The drive on lapan cannon armed B-25G and B-25H, and the latest subishr Kr-67 Hiryu ('Pegq- : -
;1,2 machine- While the US Sth arid ?th Arr Forces, jorned 8-251-lNA which couid carry up Io 12 12,7-mm countered for the flrst time -.-.
.;e, fie Lock- by the RAAF and RNZAF, took part in the cam- (0.S-in) forward-firing machine-guns, These best Japanese light bomber :- ':
; service with paigns in the Solomons and New Guinea, the
were employed with effect on Japanese in- Sth Air Force's B-25s, nor,n' : =
:-:rs from the small US l lth Air Force fought its own bitter stallations on Kwajalein, Majuro, Mille, and attacked shipping in the Sou-:
-r.-iyrng Mitch- war in the Aleutians. At first B-25s served wlth Eniwetok in the Marshalls, targets on Formosa, before'::-
;:. n the Battie the 28th Composite Group, and later, after the Air supremacy over the Japanese air forces Force after the invasion of Cr:
: lularch 1943, fall of Kiska in Augmst 1943, solely with the 77th had been securely achieved by mid- I944, after 1945: from Ie Shima, the B-25s -.
€:roop convoy Bomb Squadron: the last took part tn a raid on the crucial Battle of the Philippine Sea and the in southern Japan, During the
: bombers Paramushiro in the Kuriles on I l September paiqn the suicide attacks rose .
'-:-ght
:f the 1943, Japanese G4M2s of the 25th Air Flotilla
destruction of the Japanese navy's lst Air Fleet
JAAF's in the Marianas Isiands, The light bombers of with every category of Japanes:
::er and des- were also active in this theatre, as were an the sth and 7th Air Forces came under Ken- employed, includinq G4M2e
i: and the new lncreasing number of the US Navy's Lockheed ney's Far East Air Forces in June, and these rying manned MXYT Okha Ni:
at But, PV-1 and PV-2 Harpoon light patrol bombers
:=<ed
re northern engaged on anti-shipping work, This quiet
took part in the invasions ofLeyte and Lingayen
Gulf during the period from October 1944 to
By the time of the surrender rr -:-
latest Douglas A-26 Invader -,', =
62 Starboardfabriccovered
North American B-25J Mil chellcutaway alle ron
B3 Tailgun feedchute
84 Tallplane centre section
drawing key 63 Aileron tab
64 Alleron h ngecontro
Bb Starboard tai p ane
construction
35 Safetyharness 65 Starboard outer slotted f ap B6 Starboardtailfin
0.50-in (12.7-mm)
36 Co pllovnavigatoLsseat 66 Oilcooerairoutlets B7 Aerialcabie
machine-gun
37 Seat back armour platinq 67 Nace le tall fairlng BB Fabrlccovered rudder
Fixed nose machine-gun
38 Cockpit roof dltchlng hatch 68 Starboard lnner slotted f ap 89 Rudderhornbalance
Bomb sight
39 Starboardfixedgun 69 Gundeflectorplates 90 Ruddertab
Nose compartment glazrnq
ammunition boxes 70 Bombbayroofcrawway 91 Starboard fabrlccovered
Bomb fus ng and re ease
40 Radio racks 71 Bomb hoisting f rame e evatorconstructlon
switch panel
41 Turretfootpeda s 72 Verrica bomb rack 92 Elevatortab
6 Bombardier's instrument
42 Ammunition boxes 73 Portbombstowage, 93 Tai gunner'senclosure
panel 43 Hydrau ic reservolr maximum bomb load 94 Armour plating
7 Cabin heater blower
44 Turretmountingring 3,000 ib(1361 kg) 95 Tai barbette
8 Nose undercarrlage leg
45 Front/centre fuselage jolnt 74 Gunturretmotor 96 7-mm) /
Twin0.50-ln(12
strut
f rame amplidyne machine-ouns ,/
9 Nosewheel
46 Twin 0.50-in (1 2.7-mm) 75 Centre/rearfuselage joint 9/ Flevatoriab /
machlne-guns frame 98 Portelevator .'
10 Undercarrlage torque
l:e B-25 Mitchellwas awell 47 Upperrotating gunturret 76 Rearfuselage heaterunit
./ /'
sctssoTS tl
ts:gn on account of its speecl, ]T Aerialmast
48 Starboard innerwing panel 77 Starboard0.50 in(T2.7-
49 Nacel etopfalrings mm)waist machine-gun
j:t and agility. This B-25D 12 Heating airduct ng
50 Engine coollng alrf aps 78 Dlnghystowage
13 Bombardler's seat
-: al ffi eKansas City factory. 51 Ejectortype exhaustpipes 79 Fuselage skln plating
52 Starboard Hami ton 80 Ammunition feed chute
Standard constant-speed 8T Starboardwalstgun
propeller ammunit on box
53 Eetachable engine 82 Starboardtai gun ./ gg Portrudderconstructlon
cow inqs ammlrnitlon box 100 Ruddertab
63
,/ ./ 101 Tailfin constructlon
1 02 Fln/ta lp ane attachment
a/
./ jolnt
103 Podtailplane
104 Tail-gunner'sseat
14 Nose compartment
emergency escape hatch
15 Armoured
bulkhead
coclpit
16 Windscreen panels
a
*'.
11 lnstrument panel shroud
1B Pi ot's ouns oht
'19
W ndsdreen?le mistino a r
ductinq
20 lnstrument panel
I'E< IIL T'he US Navy used the 21 Rubber pedals
PBJ-IH and PBJ-I sub-types, 22 Contro column
:-: B-25s of all marks were Cockpit armoured skln
': patng
24 CrawlwaV to nose
compartment
25 D/F loop aeria
=tion
r.erican B-25D Mitchell 26 Ventral aerial cab e
21 Extending adder
:-seat mediumbomber 28 FoMard entry hatch
two 1, 700-hp ( I 268-kW)
-ar.t:
:'2330- 13 radial prston engines
a:.ce: maximumspeed
- 2E4mph)at4570m
:rrrsingT speed 3TS kr/h
' :lrnbto4570 m(15 000 ft)in
=: 33 seconds; sewice ceiling
- - 210 ft); normal range
- :C0 miles)
::pty 9208 kg (20,300 Ib);
,:ake-off 15880 kg (35,OOO lb)
::s: span 20.60 m (67 ft 7 rn);
: -, m (52 ft 1 1 in): heighl_
.I :U Ln), WlIlQdlea C0.bl m'
29 Nlachtne qun bl sterfarrnq 54 Carburettorairlntake
.
30 0.50rn(12.7-mm)fixed - 55 Outboard auxiliary fuel tank
,::: sx 0. S-rn ( 12, 7-mm) machlne-guns
56 Oll coo ers
3T Ammuntonboxes
5/ Olcooerramarilntake
; l.l2 quns (two each in nose, 32 Ammunltion feed 58 Landing/taxiing amp
:-:sal turret and ventral 33 Fire ext nguisher
chutes 59 Pitottube @ Pilot Press L *
60 Starboard navigation ight
:,-s a maximum bombloadof 34 Pilot'sseat 61 Aileron balance weights
j -10 Ib)
Light and Medium Bombers of World War II
theatre was overshadowed by the fighting in January 1945 This tlme witnessed the entry of
the South Pacific when US forces invaded the Japanese suiclde operations, known as Kami-
Marshall and Gilbert Islands. Here the US 7th kaze (divine wind) attacks, which took a high
Air Force operated, its B-24s being joined by to]] of A-llied shippingr. In the Philippines cam-
the B-25s of the 4lst Group, By now the latest paign the JAAFs K1-48-ll and Kr-2i-llb bom-
versions of the Mltchell included the 75-mm bers fought courageously, while the latest Mit-
cannon armed B-25G and B-25H, and the latest subishi K1-67 Hiryu ( PeSSy ) bomber was en-
B-25J-1NA which could carry up lo 12 1,2.7-mm countered for the first time. This last was the
(0.5-in) forward-firing machine-guns. These best Japanese light bomber of the war, The US
were employed with effect on Japanese in- Sth Air Force's B-25s, now based in Luzon,
stallations on Kwajalein, Majuro, Mille, and attacked shipping rn the South China Sea, and
Eniwetok in the Marshalls, targets on Formosa, before joining the 7th Air
Air supremacy over the Japanese air forces Force after the invasion of Okinawa in April
had been securely achieved by mid- 1944, after 1945: from Ie Shima, the B-25s attacked Kyushu
the crucial Battle of the Philippine Sea and the in southern Japan. Durtng the Okinawa cam-
destruction of the Japanese navy's Ist Air Fleet palgn the suicide attacks rose to a crescendo As with other islands attacks, the operation against
New Britain I sland at C ape Gloucester was a co-
in the Marianas Islands, The light bombers of with every category of Japanese llght bomber ordinated effort by land, sea and air forces. The
the Sth and 7th Air Forces came under Ken- employed, including G4M2e bombers car- B-25 Mitchell provided a large part of the aerial
ney's Far East Air Forces in June, and these rying manned MXYZ Okha Model 11 bombs, force, softening up the defences with lowJevel
took part in the invasions of Leyte and Lingayen By the time of the surrender in August 1945 the bombing attacks on military insta//aftbns sucft as
Gulf during the period from October 1944 to Iatest Douglas A-26 Invader was in action. gun emplacemen fs an d sf ores.
aitachment frame
106 Tail bumper
construction
'132 Wing rib construction
64 Aileron hingecontrol construction 107 Fuselageframe 133 Aileron hlnge control
35 Safetyharness 65 Starboard outerslotted flap 86 Starboardtailfin construction 134 Ailerontab
36 Co-pilovnavigator's seat 66 Oll coolerairoutlets 87 Aeriaicable 1 08 Poft tail gun ammunition 1 35 Port f abric-covered aileron
37 Seatbackarmourplating 67 Nacelletailfairing 88 Fabriccoveredrudder box construction
38 Cockpit roof ditching hatch 68 Starboard innerslottedf ap 89 Rudderhorn balance 1 09 Portwaist gunammunition 136 Wingtipconstruction
39 Starboardfixedgun 69 Gundeflectorplates 90 Ruddertab box 137 Port navigation light
ammunition boxes 70 Bomb bay roof crawlway 91 Starboard fabriccovered 'l10 Air scoop 138 Leading-edge nose ribs
40 Radioracks 7 l Bomb hoisting f rame elevator construction 11 1 Fuselagewalkway 1 39 Outerwlnq panel marn
4l Turretfootpedals 72 Verticalbombrack 92 Elevator:ab I 12 Emeroencvstores pack spar
42 Ammunition boxes 73 Portbombstowage, 93 Tail gunner's enciosure 1 13 Rearentryhatch 140 Portlanding/taxiing lamp
43 Hydraulicreservoir maximum bomb load 94 Armourplating 1 14 Extending boarding ladder 141 Mainwheeldoors
44 Turretmountingring 3.000 lb(136i kg) 95 Tail badette 1 15 Portwalstgun gondola 142 Naceileconstruction
45 Fronvcentrefuselagejoint 74 Gunturretmotor 96 Twin 0.sGin (1 2.7-mm) 1 T 6 Flexiblecanvasseal 143 Outerwing panel joint rib
frame ampiidyne euns
machine ,/ 1 17 0.50-in ('1 2.7-mm machine- I 44 Undercarriage retraction
46 Twin 0.50-in (1 2.7-mm) 75 Centre/rear fuselage iornt 97 Flevaior:ab gun jack
Pcnelevaior /' '/
,/ /
machine-guns rrame 98 1TB Spentcadridgecase 145 Oiltank, 37.5 US gal(142
47 Upperrotating gunturret 76 Rearfuselage heaterunit collector box litres)
48 Starboard innerwing panel 77
49 Nacelletopfairlngs
50 Englne cooling alrflaps
Starboard0.50-in ('1 2.7-
mm)waist machine€un
78 Dinghystowage
.,/
79
al
51 Ejectortypeexhaustpipes Fuselage skin p atrng tl
52 Starboard Hamilton B0 Ammunition feed chute
Standard constant-speed B1 Starboardwaistgun
propeller ammunition box
53 Eetachableengine 82 Starboardtailgun ." 99 Portrudoerconstruction
cowllngs ammunition box ./ 100 Ruddertao
/' 101 Tailfinccrsiruction
'/
/' / 102 Fin,tailplaieatiachment
joint
103 Pontajiolane
i 04 Tail€unner's seat
!'l
Z'a 146 Main undercatriage
'1
19 Portinboard slottedflap mountings
'120 Flapemergencyactuator 147 Oi coolerramairintake
121 Innerwlng rearspar 148 lvlalnwheel eg strut
1 22 Fuselage/lnnerwing joint 149 Undercarrlage leg door
strip
150 Torquescissor inks
123 Rearmainfueltank. 164 15T Poftmainwheel
US gal (621 litres)
1 52 Oil tank sump
124 Foward main fueltank. 153 Battery
1 51 US gal i572 litres)
154 Enginecompartment
125 Auxiliaryf ueltanks, T 52 US fireproof bulkhead
gal (575 litres) in three iuel I 55 Engine bearerstruts
156 Coolingairflaps
\-% cells perwing
1 57 WrightCyc one R-2600-13
'l
26 Flapactuator links
two-row radlal engine
'127 Flaphydraulic jack
Jv 128 Portoilcoolers
129 Oilcooierexhaustducts
158 Prope lerreduction
gearbox
130 Nacelerallfairing 159 Engine cowling rlng
1 60
Prope lor hub pitch change
mechanism
I 61
Hamilton Standard thiee-
bladed, constant-speed
propellor
162 Engine cowlings
163 Carburettorairintake
1 64 lnnerwing panel front spar
54 Carburettorairintake
55 Outboard auxillaryfuel tank
56 Oi coolers
b/ Ur coolerramailntake
58 Landing/taxiing lamp
59 Pitottube @ Pilot Press Limited
60 Starboard navigation light
6 1 Alleron balancewelghts
BZ9
Among the most coloudully decorated airnaftd
the war were the North American B-25s that srcTd.
in the Pacific theatre. Commanded by Colonel
Glenn A. DoolitUe, the 345th BG (Me&um) mavd
to Leyte in the Philippines in Novembr 1944, tfuir
B-25Js marked with the Group's'Air Apache'
badge prominently on their tails. Anzong iE
component squadrons were the 498th 'Fal<r nl
and the 499th 'Bats OutaHell', the latter displayiag
enormous bats' wings enveloping the airaalf s
nose, as typified by this l8-ganB-Zs,f Betty's Drem-
iffartinB-26 Marauder
=
IIigh wrng{oadings, break-neck land-
rng speeds and malictous single-
engine flying characteristics nearly i,. ii.5.rEaE!.s/,11.i*rylpl.Ht'n: r=1..;11'5
put paid to the career of the Martin
8-26 Marauder in October 1942 when a
US Army Air Force committee was cal-
led in to investigate its future, How-
ever, certain rmptovements were
made and the 8-26 went on to become
one of the USAAF's medium bomber
stalwarts. In the competition for
medium and light bombers for the US
Army Air Corps of January 1939, the Marauders sewed on onlY two RAF Africa from
N o. I 4 Sqn in N orth
Glenn L. Martin Company was squadrons, both in the August 1942 toSeptember 1944.
awarded a contract for 200 8-26 air- M editerr ane an ; the s hor t- s Pan Later, the long-span Marauder Mk II I
craft, Going all out for speed, designer Marauder Mk I shown here flew with sewedwithNo.39Sqn.
Peyton M, Magnuder produced an atr-
craft with torpedo-like fuselage, two
huge engines, tricycle landing gear
and stubby wings, Powered by two
Pratt & Whitney R-2800-5 engines the
prototype 8-26 first flew on 25 Novem-
ber 1940, by whlch time orders for
1,1318-264 and 8-268 bombers had
been received. The first B-26s and B-
26As were passed to the US 22nd Bom-
bardment Group at Langley Field in
February l94L Wrth the outbreak of
war the 22nd BG was the only unit with early 1943 the 22nd BG had been re- heavily defended targets and paid the A Martin 8-268-40 of the 444th Sqn,
B-26s and, after sewice at Muroc, Cali- equipped, The 8-268 came lnto the price: on 17 May 1943 the 322nd BG 320th BG based atDecimomannu,
fornia, the group was sent to Brisbane, war rn May 1942, powered by R-2800- was wiped out on the Ijmuiden strike. S ardinia, in I 944. The Marauder was
Australia, to operate against the 5, R-2800-41 or R-2800-43 engines, Adopting medium-level pattern widely used in ltaly, its high speed
Japanese in the South West Pacific without the spinners of the 8-26A, with bombing, the 8-268 and B-26C (with and agility suiting it to penetrating
Area: the 22nd BG made its first raid on extra armour and euns, and with en- the US VIII Air Support Command, and heavy defences. The original aircraft
Rabaul on 5 Aprll 1942, in addition to larged wing span on the 642nd and later the US 9th Arr Force) were the letter shows through the hastilY-
frequent attacks on Lae, Salamaua, and following production aircraft, Martin's backbone of the Allied medrum bom- ap plied olive- dr ab fi nish.
Buna, In the epic Battle of Midway four Omaha subsidiary made the B-26C, ber forces to the end of the war in
B-26As with torpedoes attacked the which was identical with the in- Europe, Total productron was 4,708. Weights:empty 10152 kg (22,380 lb);
Japanese fleet, flown by pilots drawn creased-span B-26B, maximum take-off I 55 13 kg (34, 200 ]b)
from the 22nd and 38th Groups. The The 8-26 saw sewice in the Aleu- Specification Dimensions: span 19.8I m (65 ft 0 in);
B-25 Mitchell was more successful tians in 1942, and rn the Western De- Martin 8-268 Marauder Iength 17.75 m (58 ft 3 in): heig^ht 6.04 m
sert under RAF Middle East Command Type: seven-seat medium bomber (19 ft 10 in); wingarea55,93 m'
than the 8-26 in this theatre, and by
as the Marauder Mk I (8-26A), Powerplant: two 2, 000-hp ( 149 I-kW) (602 sq ft)
Though frequently criticized on Marauder Mk IA (8-268), and Maraud- Pratt & Whitney R-2800-41 radial piston Armament: two 7. 7-mm (0, 3-in)
account of its tricky handling er Mk II (B-26C) No, 14 Squadron engmes Browning machine-gnrns (one each in
qualities, the8-26 packed aheavY being the first recipient, The type Performance: maximum speed nose and venttal stations) or two 12,7-
punch and was widely used by the was used by the Free French Air 5 0 knr,tr (3 I 7 mph) at 4420 m
1 mm (0.S-in) M2 machine-gnrns inbeam
USAAF in Europe. This B -268 of the Force, the SAAF, and as AT-234 and ( 14, 500 ft); cruising speed 4 18 km/tr positions instead ofventral gnrn, and
59 8th Bomb Sqn, 397 th Bomb Wing, JM-I target tugs by the US ArmY and (260 mph); climb to 4570 m (15,000 ft) in four l2,7-mm (0,5-in) gn:ns (two each in
pictured during the invasion of US Navy, Four grroups of the US 8th Atr 12 minutes 0 seconds; service ceiling dorsal turret and in tail station), plus a
Normandy, displays an impressive Force arrived in England in March 7165 m (23,500 ft); range 1850 km maximum bombload of 2359 kg
tally on the nose. 1943, flew low-level attacks over (1, I50 miles) (s,200 rb)
I JAPAN
Mitsubishi Ki-zI
The Mitsubishi Ki-zI (Army Type 97
Heavy Bomber) was produced by en-
gineers Nakata and Ozawa rn re-
sponse to an operational specrflcation
issued by the Air Headquarters
(Daihonei) of the JAAF on 15 February
1936. The first of two prototypes flew
on 18 December 1936, the first produc-
tion model being the Mitsubishi Ki-21-
Ia (Army Type 97 Model IA). Because
of production bottlenecks it was not
until the end of 1939 that Ki-2l{a bom- vice rn l94l were the Ki-2llla (Army escorted by Nakajima Ki-27 and Kr-43 M itsu bishi K i- 2 I J I b of the I mprial
bers equipped the flrst JAAF unit, the Type 97 Heavy Bomber Model 2A), fighters. In the flush ofJapanese victory Japane se Ar my. T his type w as
6Oth Hikosentai (air regiment) based in and the Ki-2I-IIb which had a pedal- in 1941-2 the Mitsubishi Kr-21, code- virtually obsolescent at the outbreak
China, tn totality; the next unit to be operated dorsal tuffet with one 12,7- named'Sally', performed well; only of the Pacific war but it soldierd on
equipped was the 61st Sentai, Early mm (0,5-in) TVpe I heavy machine- over Rangoon over December 1941 until 1 945 , scoring many nota.ble
lessons learned over China demon- gmn, Three sentals remarned in Japan, and January 1942 did the Kr-21s suffer successes before finally ending its
strated lack of firepower and protec- Korea and in Manchuria when the heavy casualties, The Ki-2 l-llb was the active life onkafitikaze attacks.
tion, and the Ki-2llb and Ki-2I-Ic sub- Japanese hrgh command went to war flnal model to enter sewice, which was
variants had extra armour, additronal in South East Asra, For operations over seen on all fronts in the Pacific and Far 10000 m (32,810 ft); maximumra-i:ge
7.?-mm (0.3-rn) Type 89 machrne-gmns, the Philippines the JAAF's Sth Air East theatres, Some 2,064 Ki-Zls were 2700 kn (1,680 miles)
more fuel and larger bomb-bays. The Group, based in Formosa, mustered built, Weights: empty 6070 kq (13,382 lb).
engines were 850-hp (634-kW) Naka- the 14th and 62nd Hrkosentais; these maxrmum take-off 10610 kg (23,391 ib,
jrna Ha-5 KAI radials, By the time of went into action early on the morning Specification Dimensions: span 22,5O m (73 ft 9% .::,
the outbreak of war in December 1941, of B December 1941 striking at Aparri, MitsubishiKi-2Illb lensth 16,00 m (52 ft 6 in); heisht 4 8: :.
the majority of the Mitsubishi Kr-21-la, T\rgmegarao, Vigan and other targets Type: five-seat medium bomber (15 ft l1 in): wingarea69.6 m2
Ki-z1-lb and Ki-21-lc bombers had in Luzon, Mitsubishi Ki-21s of the 3rd Powerplant: rwo 1,500-hp (1 1 t9-kW) (749,16 sq ft)
been relegated to secondline duties, Air Group, based in French Indo- Mrtsubishi Ha- 10 1 (Army Type 100) Armament: five single manually-
or to servrce as operational bomber China, were earmarked for bombing radial piston engrnes operated 7,?-mm Type 89 machtne-
trainers, First-line bomber senfars had strikes against Siam (Thalland) and Performance: maximum speed gruns (rn nose, tail, ventral and two
by now received the more powerful Malaya: umts were the i2th, 60th and 4BO kr/h (302 mph) at 472b m beam stations) and one 12, 7-mm (0. 5-
Ki-2I-II, with I,500-hp (1119-kW) Mrt- 98th Hikosentais, These smashed RAF ( 15, 485 ft); cruising speed 380 krr/h in) Type 1 machine-gn-rn (in dorsal
subishi Ha-101 engines in modified and RAAF facilities at Alor Star, Sunger (236 mph); climb to 6000 m (19,685 ft) in position) plus a maximum bombload o:
cowlings: production models in ser- Patanr and Butterworth, being 13 minutes 13 seconds; senice ceiling 1000 kq (2,205 lb)
JAPAN
:34
CAlfI 2.1007 Airone (continued) tight and Medium Bombers of World War II
:- 3ANT2, 1007 and Z, 1007bis bom- Malta battles in May 1942, CANT Z.1007ter (Piaggio P,XIX engines)
:els rn commission, of which 38 were Z,1007s took healry casualties from the amounted to 526,
-:iceable, These sewed with the 16' RAF's newly-arrived Supermartne
--e 47" Stormi da Bombardamento Spitflrc Mk VC frqhters; simrlar losses Specification
lerestre stationed at Vicenza and were experienced during the epic CANT Z. I007bis Alcione
3::edr Ln northern Italy, These units 'Harpoon' and 'Pedesta' convoy battles Type: five-seat medrum bomber
first action against Greek forces in of the summer, Dwindling numbers Powerplant: three 1, 000-hp (745-kW)
=..';
l:rober 1940, before turning therr were on hand to attempt to counter the Piagqro P.XI RC,40 radial piston
::ergiies to anti-shippinq strikes off Allied landings in Sicily in July 1943, engmes
3rete and North Africa, and on and by the trme of the armistice in Performance: maximum speed
:-edrum-level day and night bombing September only a few were still avall. 455 l<n/h (283 mph) at 4600 m
lards on Malta. Subsequently the type able, these continuing to fight both (15,090 ft); cruising speed 338 kn/h
r;as employed by the B', 9', 27', 30" with the RSI (Fascist regime) and the (210 mph); climb to 6000 m (19,685 ft) in
Stormi, and by the 41", 51', 59", B7', 90", Italian co-belligerent air forces, Thirty- l6 minutes B seconds; service ceilingr
33" and 107" Gruppi BT plus two ive CANT Z, l007ters were produced; 7500 m (24,605 ft); normalrange
squadnglie. During the climax of the productron of the CANT Z, lO7bis and 1795 km (1,115miles)
.!!,1.i:-..:' .: ..:1a
r;,.i|:t:l:n:'
'a.1l.
.,.::'::.:a):
: .a.t' ...-
iJ\
1l: ,::lrr r,1t' :11.t::j1it, r.1i:t
.:,::::j-:::3
::a
The PeQ qf the Baffle of Kurslr
Oneof thefiercestbattles in modernhistorywastoughtin theKursk salientin 1943. 'Citadel' commenced. The efc:e::.. :: 3e:-
Medium bombers were used widely over the enormous tank battleground, and the man fighter reaction resuled -: ::::.-,- -:s*.=:
finestof thesewas thePetlyakov Pe-2.Swift, agileandpackingaheavy punch,the within the attacking V-VS unr:s -:.: 3: - _,l-:_.
Pe-2 went on tobe instrumental in the eventual Sovietvictory. and Fw 190A-5s of the 1 FlieoelA'.-s-::=- -_:
The German recovery after the disastrous Sta- MIG-3 and Lavochkin La-S fighters, 300 Pe-2s,
the VIII Fliegerkorps claiming a :=:::: {:l
krils in the course of the day. The sca.e :: -:_: --:
lingrad campaigm of late 1942-early 1943 was 200 I1-4s and SB-Zs, The remainder were light fightlng was unprecedeited. The :::i=r_:
remarkable, despite the pressure being ex- night bombers (Polikarpov Po-2s), and Ilyushin losses of the Luftwaffe and the V-\-S :- -:_=
erted on other fronts in the Sovret theatre and in II-213m ground-attack aircraft, Units that rn- period 5/8 July 1943 were 854 and 566 respe:-
Tunisia. Reinforcements, an early thaw, and cluded Pe-2s on strength were primarrly the tively: these figures are taken from So',-e,
overstretched Soviet lines of supply assisted 22lsl, 223rd and 262nd Bomber Aviation Divi- sources, and while the casualties of the V-\-S
Generalfeldmarschall Erlch von Manstetn rn sions, and a number of reconnaissance units can be taken as true, those of the Luftwafe
his counterattack that recaptured the vital city with Pe-2Rs, were undoubtedly lower, Be that as it may, on
of Kharkov on the Donets in March 1943, and the ground the armies of Manstein and Mode]
restored German morale, By short-founded Aircraft in resenre were halted by the Soviet defences and, by 12
tradrtion the Germans always took to the offen- In addition the V-VS maintained reserves July, were on the retreat, Thereafter the Soviet
sive in the summer to capitalize upon their with the 1st,1Sth and 8th Air Armies to the north armies went over to the oifensive and there
armies' inherent mobility, whereas Soviet and south of the salient which were to be com- was to be no stopping them: Kharkov, Orel, and
practice had tended to utilize the snows and mitted later. The Luftwaffe had I,830 aircraft, Belgorod were retaken by August 1943, and
bad weather of the winter months with which to rncluding a large number of Messerschmitt Bf the way opened for the great autumn offensives
promote their offensive operations. As a pre- I09G-O and Focke-Wulf Fw I90A-5 fighters, to the Dniepr rlver and the prize of Kiev, the
lude to his summer offensives in the Ukraine, Junkers Ju 87D-3 dive-bombers (including a capital city of the Ukraine. Throughout the
Adolf Hitler ordered his generals to prepare few Ju 87G- Is with two 37-mm Flak 18 cannon), Kursk battles and the ensuing drives to the
fbr a massrve strike to wipe out the so-called and Henschel Hs 1298-2 anti-tank aircraft, dis- Dniepr, the Pe-2, Pe-2FT and Pe-2R com-
Kursk-Orel salient, or bulge, that was occupied posed rn Luftflotten IV and VI. The V-VS started pounded their reputations so assiduously
by Soviet forces and had been a result of the pre-emptive strikes as early as May I943 with garned durlng 1942 over Leningrad, Rostov,
German advance to Kharkhov, No effort was to the Pe-2s of the l6th Air Army conductrng a Stalingrad and the Kuban, Easy to seruice and
be spared in this undertaking, termed Un- successful attack on the rail centre at Brasovo maintain, capable of operations in all weathers
temehmen Zitadelle (Operation'Citadel'), for and the mrlitary camps at Lokot. The modifled and their high performance demanding hiqh
Hitler badly needed a vrctory, Just where the Petlyakov Pe-2FT was well capable of wardrng standards from their pilots, the Pe-Zs of the
Germans were next to strike was obvious to the off flghter attacks, being very fast and well V-VS maintained their status as the best Soviet
Stavka, the Soviet high command, and in its armed. Powered by two Klimov M-l05PF en- light bomber of the war with conspicuous suc-
preparations for defence of the salient it was gines each rated at I,260 hp (940 kW) the Pe-
helped immeasurably by knowledge of Ger- 2FT's maximum speed was 360 mph (580 km,/h)
man detailed planning through espionage, The at rated altitude, It carried a crew of three, and
Sovret military commander, General Georgl K, was armed wrth four or five 7,62-mm (0 3-in)
Zhukov, created a defensive system 40 km (25 ShKAS and 12,7-mm (0.5-in) UBT machlne-
miles) deep, deploying 109 rifle drvisions, 13 qruns; the maximum bomb load was I0O0 kg
tank corps, two mechanized corps and four (2,20s 1b).
cavalry corps, Pe-2s took part in the strikes of 6/8 May, and
The forthcoming Battle of Kursk was to wit- in the great air battles over Kharkhov and Orel
ness monumental clashes of armour between on the morning of 5 July 1943, when Operation
the opposing tank formations, and between the
fighters and ground-attack aircraft ofthe Luft-
waffe and the V-VS. Light and medium bom-
bers, such as the Heinkel He IIIH-6 of the
Luftwaffe, and the Petlyakov Pe-2, Ilyushin I1-4,
and ageing Tupolev SB-Zbis of the V-VS were
to play a subsidiary role before, during and
after the campaign in attacks on airfields, troop
concentrations, depots and rail centres, though
often at great cost, The Soviet air commands in
the Kursk-Orel sector were the 2nd, I6th and
17th Air Armies backed by units of the strategic
bombing force (ADD): these mustered about
2,900 aircraft in all, including some 1,200 Fast enough to escapg fi97l167,, .
?. 'ltti;rt.:
.:..'
e3Jiti.::.,:.1:..;r:.' -
L-=--=**l-;,-
:irl"j"b
I
lle
itpot"u ru-Z
ongdn of the Tupolev Tu-Z lay ln
--:e AUT-58, ANT-59 and ANT-60 hqht
bomber prototypes that came from the
desigrn bureau of Andrei N, Tupolev
dunng l93B-40: powered by two 1,400-
hp (1044-kW) Mikulin AM-37 V-i2
engdnes, the ANT-58 made its first
flight on 29 January 1941 with'M,P,
Vasyakin at the controls, The ANT-60
was re-engined with the big and
powerful 1,480-hp (1104-kW) M-82
radials because of the relatrve
unreliability of the AM-37s, The result ManywartimeTupolevTu-Zs hadtheir numbers handpainted.ThisTu-25 sewedon theKalininfront.
was the definitive Tu-2 bomber that
was to see service with the V-VS
during the last year of World War II
andwell into the 1950s, Soviet industry
was still in a state of upheaval following
the terrible years of I94I-2, when the
German army struck deep into
Belorussia and the Ukraine, The Tu-2
was too complicated an aircraft for the
conditions prevailinq, and after many
months in which the Tu-2 was modified
and srmplified for the mass production
lines, the Tu-2S (Seriinyl, or series)
appeared, flyrng for the flrst time on 26
Augmst 1943, A small number of Tu-2s
had previously been passed to front- TheTupolevTu-ZS carriedtwowingrootcannonandthreemachine-grunsmounted intherear cockpit and the
line reqiments rn September 1942, dorsal and ventral positions.
where their performance, armament
and bombload had received greneral
enthusiasm,
ByJanuary 1944 the first production
Tu-2 and Tu-2S bombers had been
passed to the regiments of the V-VS,
but it was not until June of that year that
Tu-2s saw action on a large scale, The
sector was the Karelian (Finnish) front
in the north where the V-VS forces,
under the overall command ofGeneral
A.A, Novikov, numbered 757 aircraft of
the l3th VA (Air tumy) the V-VS KBF
(Red Banner Baitic Fleet) and the 2nd
GV IAK (Suards fighter corps), Of the ThisTupolevTu-2Swas delivered to theV-VS in the summer of 1944 andwears thestandard camouflageof that
249 T!-2 and Petlyakov Pe-2 light bom- period.
bers in the Soviet order of battle, many
came under Coionel I.P, Skok's 334th including Tupolev Tu-2s, were called Performance: maximum speed in winq roots and three 12.7-mm (0.5-
Bomber Air Divrsion which subse- up to attack strongpoints at Kustrin, 547 kn/h (340 mph) at 5400 m in) UBT machine-gmns (one each in
quently received a citation for its wor\. Konigsberg and other fodrfied ports ( 17, 7 15 ft); cruising speed 4 42 lrrn/h both dorsal positions and ventral
Reconnaissance work was now beingt and crties, September 1945 saw many (275 mph); climb to 5000 m (16,405 ft) in station), plus a maximum bombload of
carried out by Tu-2D and Tu-2R air- Tu-2s in action against the Japanese 9 minutes 30 seconds; sewice ceiiing 3000 kg (6,614 lb)
craft with modified mainplanes, nose Kwantung fumy in Manchuna before 9500 m (31,170 ft); normalrange
glazing, and capacity for vertical and the final surrendet, 2000 km (1,243 miles)
oblique cameras. Wartime production Weights: empty 8260 kg (iB,20O lb);
of the T\rpolev Tu-2 and rts sub-types Specification normaitake-off i2800 kg (28,219 ]b) Andrei Tupolev was commanded by
amountedto 1, 111, Asabomberitdid Tupolev Tu-2S Dimensions:span 18,86 m (61 ft Stalin to produce a better bomber
not come into its own until the autumn Type: four-seat medium bomber I}Vzin),length 13,80 m (45 ft 3tlz in); ' than theJunkersJu 88, and the
of 1944, However, as German resist- Powerplant: two l,850-hp ( 1,380-kW) heightt56 m (14 ft I 1 in); wingarea resultingTu-2 proved to be one of
ance stiffened on nearing the eastern Shvetsov ASh-B2FN radtal ptston 48.80 mz (525,3 sq ft) the finest wartime aircraft. Tftrs ls a
borders of the Reich V-VS bombers, engmes Armament: two 2O-mm ShVAK cannon Tu-25 with broadened ailerons.
840
Armed Forces of the World
US NavalAvicilion,"n,ffi
One of the most important missions of today's US
Navy is that of keeping track of the ever expanding
fleet of Soviet submarines, sea- and land-based
elements having this as their prime function. ln the
case of the former, an organization known as Sea-
based Air Anti-Submarine Warfare Wings Atlantic
Fleet (Sea-basedAirASWWingsLant) exists, this
controlling three subordinate functional wings plus
an additional direct-reporting squadron from its
headquarters at Jacksonville, Florida,
Following the introduction of the multi-purpose
'CV' concept in the early 1970s, all of the large
carriers now routinely deploy with ASW-configured
aircraft and hellcopters, and these also adhere to the
'community' practice. Air Anti-Submarine Warfare
Wing One (AirASWWlngOne) at Cecil Field having
six S-3A Viking squadrons while Helicopter Anti-
Submarlne Warfare Wing One (HelASWWingOne)
at Jacksonville controls six deployable SH-3 Sea
King squadrons as well as a similarly equipped and
permanently shore-based training unit. ln addition,
there is another organization (Helicopter Sea Control
Wing One, or HelSeaConWingOne, at Norfolk) with
several squadrons engaged in two very different Galaxies being used on occasion to ferry the Sea A Grumman E-2C Hawkeye from USS America. Tlre
aspects of helicopter operations. Four of these Stallions to their operating location whilst they are Hawkeye can simultaneously Eack over 250
squadrons are equipped with the Kaman SH-2F equally at home aboard amphibious vessels and targets and control more than 30 interceptions
Seasprite, detachments from these embarking aircraft-carriers. Capability in this area should also using its APA- 17I radar and its advanced
autom ated processrhg syslems.
aboard the large number of surface combatants improve greatly when the three-engine MH-53E
(cruisers, destroyers and frigates) which have heli- variant of Sikorsky's massive helicopter begins to
copter operating facilities for the dual purposes of enter service in the near future. cerned, the US Navy has no less than 24 operational
ASW and anti-ship missile defence. Reinstated ln Finally, Air Tesi and Evaluation Squadron One patrol squadrons equipped with variants of the
production recently, the SH-2F's capability in the (VX-l ) serves as the US Navy's princlpal ASW opera- Lockheed P-3 Orion, as well as two further
latter task is rather limited but the forthcoming tional test agency from Patuxent River, Maryland. squadrons tasked with training. Equally distributed
introduction of the Sikorsky SH-60B Seahawk being equipped with a few examples of the P-3 between the two major fleets, these are home-
should greatly improve potential in this area and will Orion, S-3 Viking, SH-2 Seasprite, SH-3 Sea King and ported at just four US bases, deploying periodically
almost certainly result ln the formation of additional SH-608 Seahawk. in much the same way as carrierborne forces for
squadrons within HelSeaConWingOne. The second ln the case of the Pacific Fleet, organization of extended periods of overseas duty. East coast units
major area of activity concerns mine counter- sea-based ASW assets is rather different, these are administered by an organization known as Patrol
r-n€dSUres; there belng three Sikorsky RH-53D being grouped together in a single command known Wings Atlantic Fleet (PatWingslant) wlth head-
squadrons engaged on this mission, notable opera- as the Anti-submarine Warfare Wing Pacific
tions of recent years being the clearance of (ASWW|ngPac) at North lsland. This controls SH-3
Two Lockheed S-SAVikings enter the landing
Haiphong harbour following the 1973 Vietnam Sea King, SH-2 Seasprite and S-3 Viking units, the pattern of Dwight D. Eisenhower with arrester
USS
ceasefire and the sweeping of the Suez Canal in the majority of which are to be found at North lsland hooks down. The S-3 has greatly enhanced the
spring of 1974. Deployment methods vary accord- whilst shore-based between periods of sea duty, carrier group's anti-submarine powers, as well as
ing ta circumstances, Military Airlift Command C-5A As far as land-based ASW elements are con- providing secondary anti-ship capability.
|
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Armed Forces ofthe World E
r-a-:eis at Brunswick. Maine, its 12 front-llne aboard the T-2C Buckeye, TA-4J Skyhawk and
s':-adror,s being assigned to two equal-sized Patrol Rockwell T-39D Sabreliner before moving on to a
.'. rgs at Brunswick (PatWing5) and at Jacksonville fleet replacement squadron where they receive
=atWing1l) whilst the trainlng squadron reports training on the aircraft type that they will eventually
:l rectly to PatwingsLant headquarters. Patrol crew when they join an operational unit. AllT-39Ds
i{,ngs Pacific Fleet (PatWingsPac) is similarly orga- will be phased out by May 1985 and, beginning in
nized with five squadrons at Barber's Point, Hawaii, August 1984, replaced with the Cessna T-47A
under PatWing2 and seven squadrons plus the train- Citation ll.
ing unit at Moffett Field, California. under ln addition to f ront-line and training elements, the
PatWingl0. A third subordinate element (PatWingl ) US Navy also possesses a quite powerful Reserve
at Kamiseya; Japan) oversees the activities of for- Force, the organization of which follows lines similar
ward-deployed units operating from bases at Mis- to those of the regular US Navy. With headquarters
awa in Japan, Agana in Guam, Kadena in Okinawa at New Orleans, this body is spearheaded by two
and Cubi Point in the Philippines, whilst Atlantic Reserve Carrier Air Wings (CVWRs), each of which
Fleet deployment bases include Keflavik in lceland, consists of two F4 Phantom squadrons, three A-78
Sigonella in Sicily, Rota in Spain, Kindley Field ln Corsair squadrons, one RF-8G Crusader squadron,
Bermuda and Lajes in the Azores. one McDonnell Douglas KA-3B Skywarrior squad-
Most of the remaining Atlantic Fleet aviation units ron, one EA-6A lntruder squadron and one E-2B
are grouped together within Fleet Tactical Support Hawkeye squadron. Modernization of these
Wing One (FleTacSupWingOne) at Norfolk and, as elements is very much in prospect, with F/A-18
its title implies, thls body is principally concerned Hornets due to enter service within the next couple
with fulfilling a multitude of support functions of years, whilst it is also proposed to re-equip one of
ranging f rom carrier offshore delivery through target the three A-78 squadrons assigned to each wing
towing to helicopter combat support and communi- with the A-6E lntruder.
cations between fleet commanders and sea-based Secondline helicopter squadrons, of which there
forces. Pacific Fleet support elements do not consti- are seven in all, are grouped together within the
tute a separate command, most of the half-dozen or HelicopterWing Reserve (HelWingRes) and consist
so squadrons reporting to the functional wing com- of two light attack units with the HH-1 K lroquois,
mands which most closely approximate to their four ASW units with the SH-3 Sea King and one unit
mission orwhich place greatest demands upon their with the HH-3A Sea King, the last being unique in
services. that it is now the only active repository of combat
The few remaining f ront-line units are all stationed searih and rescue expertise in the entire US Navy.
at bases outside the continental USA and, accord- As it has done for many years now, maritime
ingly, come under local control, ln the Meditena- patrol remains a major feature of activity, there
nean area there are three such units, namely Fleet being two Reserve PatrolWings (one forthe Atlantic
Air Reconnaissance Squadron Two at Rota, plus and one for the Pacific) controlling 13 squadrons
T'woRockwellT-ZC Buckeyes ofW-26, based at
Fleet Logistic Support Squadron 24 and Helicopter with a mixture of P-3A and P-38 Orions, whilst the Kingsvifie, fiyover USSLexington, theUS Navy's
Combat Support Squadron Four at Sigonella. Opera- remaining element (the Reserve Tactical Support sole deck/aadjn g training carriet The Roclotrell
tional control of all these units rests with the Com- Wing) is essentially a transport force predominantly
'equipped with the McDonnell Douglas C-9B Buckqe k to b replacd later in the decade by
mander Fleet Air Mediterranean (ComFAirMed) at the British Aerospace T45B Hawk.
Naples whilst administrative control is exercised by although a few Douglas C-1 18Bs and Convair
ComNavAirlant. Pacific Fleet forward-based units C-131Hs are still in use.
engaged on similar duties are grouped together to The only other aircraft-operating agency within Naval Air Test Center complex at Patuxent River,
form the Fleet Air Western Pacific (FAirWestPac) the US Navy is the Naval Air Systems Command Maryland, to the small Naval Weapons Evaluation
organization. (NASC), which has responsibility for development, Faciliry at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. Examples of
Responsibility for the training of aircrew before procurement and service support of those items virtually every type to be found in the current US
assignment to a fleet replacement squadron rests necessary to permit the respective Naval Air Force Navy inventory (and quite a few that are not) are on
with the Naval Air Training Command, which main- to fulfil their missions. To assist in this task, NASC hand, the total test fleet almost certainly numbering
tains its headquarters at Corpus Christi, Texas, has nine major field centres, these principally being in excess of 250 aircraft whilst NASC is also respon-
exercising control over six Training Wings with a engaged in various aspects of RDT&E (Research, sible for management of the six Naval Air Rework
total of 20 squadrons at six different bases in the Development, Test and Evaluation) and they do vary Facilities (NARFs). Mainly concerned with the over-
southern states of Mississippi, Florida and Texas. in size quite remarkably, ranging from the massive haul of US Navy aircraft, the NARFs generally tend
Like the frontline.forces, the training syllabus and to specialize in certain types, this being beneficial in
equipment have been updated significantly in re- that it enables the predominantly civillan workforce
The McDonnell Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk is
cent years, with further improvements in prospect extensively used for advanced training,
to acquire a high degree of expertise and pro-
when Brltish Aerospace's T-45B Hawk begins to supplementing the Rocl<'lvell Buckeye. This picture ficiency. ln addition to airframes, other activities
enter service later in the present decade. Consider- shows a TA-4J from VC- I 3, based at Miramar, include the overhaul and repair of engines, com-
able emphasis is now placed on 'self-help', at least providing air-combat manoeuwe training for a ponents, spare parts and the guidance and control
in the early stages of pilot training which is at pre- GrummanF-14 of W-1 14. systems of air-to-air missiles.
sent accomplished on the Beech T-34C Turbo-
Mentor. Pilots destined to fly combat jet aircraft
then proceed to the Rockwell T-2C Buckeye and
McDonnell Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk whilst those
earmarked for the more sedate patrol community
progress via the Beech T-44A King Air. Helicopter
crews receive basic training in much the same way,
'noving on to the Bell TH-57A SeaRangbr for initial
'relicopter conversion, this being followed by adv-
anced tuition on variants of the ubiquitous Bell lro-
quols.
All Naval Flight Officer (NFO) training is principally
centred on Pensacola, Florida, where, after basic
non-pilot instruction, candidates are assigned to one
c"our couTSes for specialist studies, these being
'adar intercept, basic jet navigation, airborne
eectronic warfare and airborne intercept control.
--ese provide a thorough grounding in technique,
::-tents putting classroom theory into practice