Tag:

aviation

The events leading up to the horrifying photograph of the B-17 Flying Fortress with one wing severed

by Till Daisd November 24, 2022

One of the most iconic images of the American daytime bombing campaign over Germany was taken on April 8, 1945, and it serves as the post’s primary image

One of the most well-known images of the American daytime bombing campaign over Germany, the horrifying primary image of this post was taken on April 8, 1945. The image depicts a B-17 Flying Fortress from the USAAF 322nd Bombardment Squadron, one wing severed, falling to its death.

This horrifying image is part of a photo sequence captured by a B-17’s automated bomb strike camera, as described by author Dan Sharp in his book Spitfires over Berlin. The photo sequence captures the last 18 seconds of B-17G 42-31333 “Wee Willie” above Stendal, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany after it was damaged by an 88mm flak burst. This aircraft was the 302nd Boeing B-17G to roll off the production line at Boeing Plant 2, King County Washington.

The port wing of Willie has already sheared off in the first image, and it is spinning over its tail while engulfed in flames.

The story behind the horrific photo of the B-17 Flying Fortress with one wing blown off, plummeting to its doom

The second image, which depicts the aircraft in the final seconds of its death dive, is widely used to illustrate the atrocities experienced by American air crews during the daytime bombing campaign over Germany. There are still all nine crew members inside.

The character “Wee Willie” has blown up in the previous image. Wings, a tail, and pieces of the fuselage fall to the ground burning.

‘Wee Willie’ was part of a 73-bomber raid on the locomotive repair shops at Stendal and was flown by Lt Robert E Fuller for this sortie.

The official report from the 322nd noted that the operation was a remarkable success: “The high squadron was furnished by the 322nd, led by Lt Johnson. Strike photographs for the high squadron’s bombs show an excellent concentration of hits covering the aiming point.

“Almost the entire concentration lies within a 1000ft circle over the MPI. Meagre to moderate tracking AA fire on the bomb run which was extremely accurate resulted in minor damage to 13 aircraft and major damage to four in the group. The high and lead squadrons each lost one aircraft in the target area from flak damage.”

Lt. Peter Pastras was the pilot of the B-17G-50-B0 42-102504 Times A-Wastin’, which was lost from the 401st, the lead squadron. Lt Mike Fodroci, a navigator on another B-17, saw it burn to death. He observed the four gun batteries on the ground following bursts of flak through the lead formation as they got ever-closer to Times A-Wastin’ until the fourth one shot straight into the bomb bay of the aircraft, which was still open.

He writes in his report that: “The pilot must have been killed instantly; for the ship pulled up and veered to the right, climbing directly over our ship. Captain Shelby put our ship into a dive so steep that I was thrown up against the astro hatch of the ceiling in the nose — seems I hung there for a brief second or two.

“I also observed that a bad fire was burning on the aircraft’s forward bomb bay area and that the co-pilot was trying to climb out of the small window with his backpack on. Somehow, we saw three chutes emerge from #504 as she spun toward the earth.”

Times A-Wastin’s co-pilot, Bob Morris, was killed when the B-17 exploded in mid-air, along with all but two of its crew, engineer Lyle Jones and radio operator Bob A Smith, who were taken prisoner on the ground.

42-31333 “Wee Willie,” an aircraft from the high squadron, was lost.

S/Sgt. George Little, a gunner on board a 401st B-17, states in the Missing Air Crew Report: “I observed 42-31333 receive a direct flak hit approximately between the bomb bay and the number two engine. The aircraft immediately started a vertical dive. The aircraft fuselage was on fire and when it had dropped approximately 5000ft the left wing fell off.

“It continued down and when the fuselage was about 3000ft from the ground it exploded, and then exploded again when it hit the ground. I saw no crew members leave the aircraft or parachutes.”

Another person who saw ‘Wee Willie’s demise was able to provide an even more precise account of what transpired. On any given flight, a third of the B-17 aircraft were outfitted with bomb strike cameras. These were fitted under the floor in the radio room and the lens cone was exposed to the elements.

The cameras were set to run automatically from “bombs away” until the film ran out or until a predefined number of exposures had been made. Every six seconds, they took an exposure, and then the system wound the film onto the camera in preparation for the next picture.

In this manner, it was sometimes possible to assess the images to determine whether a mission was successful or unsuccessful. The three images above were taken during the final 18 seconds of “Wee Willie” by the automated camera on another B-17 that was flying alongside or below it.

Willie was destroyed by an explosion that tore straight through the fuselage and blasted Lt Robert E. Fuller out of the cockpit just before the final of the three. He opened his parachute and made it through the descent somehow. The rest of his crew perished in the incident.

Fuller’s ultimate fate is unknown, despite the fact that it is recorded that he was taken prisoner; in some sources, he is simply listed as “killed in action” along with his crew. After completing 127 missions, “Wee Willie” was destroyed on mission 128.

Spitfires over Berlin is published by Mortons Books and is available to order here along with many other beautiful aviation books.

Photo by U.S. Air Force via American Air Museum in Britain

November 24, 2022 0 comment

History

Bruce Carr, the P-51D pilot who took off in a Mustang and RTB in a Luftwaffe FW 190

by Till Daisd November 21, 2022

written by Till Daisd

Col. Carr rushed across a corner of the field, passing between two hangars, before taking off since he didn’t really have time to line up on the runway

Bruce Carr received the Distinguished Service Cross and was a lieutenant at the end of World War II. Despite all of this, he makes no claim to heroism—a dubious assertion—but he is unable to deny his involvement in a risky incident that is unlike any other in that war’s history.

‘In October 1944 Colonel Bruce Carr of the USAAF took off on a mission in a 354th Fighter Group P-51D, and was shot down by flak while strafing ground targets over Czechoslovakia,’ remembers Jay Thompson, a pilot and aviation expert on Quora. ‘He landed near a Luftwaffe field with the intent of surrendering to the Luftwaffe troops since they were generally much more friendly to U.S. aircrew than were the soldiers of the German army, but it was becoming dark just as he got there, and from the trees, he watched two mechanics fuel up and then run up an FW 190A-8 and shut it back down again.

‘He decided well, that seemed to be a perfectly good airplane; why not give it a try? Near dawn, he snuck out and jumped in the cockpit, and having no knowledge of it, he went with the theory that if he kept flipping switches and moving controls to the opposite position of where they currently were, he’d find the starter somehow. And damned if he didn’t, and luckily the FW 190A series included the most advanced throttle system for a WW2 aircraft called the Kommandogerat, where boost pressure, fuel flow, mixture setting, and prop were all controlled with a single lever, making it about the only plane in WW2 that an enemy pilot could steal and manage to get going down a runway with less than 30 minutes of experimentation.

‘Luftwaffe personnel were already coming out to see what was going on, so Col. Carr didn’t really have time to line up on the runway; he just gunned it across a corner of the field on a path that had him pass between two hangars before he was airborne. He was very pleased with himself when he managed to get the gear up.’

Thompson continues:

‘He then later said that he decided to fly back at treetop height in hopes of not drawing any Allied fighter attention, but said that the choice wasn’t great, because he was convinced that every .50cal M2 machine gun in existence in the 200 miles between that German airport and his home field had taken shots at him.

‘When he got close to his squadron’s base in France, he decided not to mess around at all and line up with the runway some distance out and fly straight in before anyone could man the AA defenses – at this point in the war the Allies had pretty much total air control and there was almost no threat of German attack.

‘The only problem was that he couldn’t get the landing gear back down. Rather than make himself a target while trying to figure out what the problem was, he decided to just belly-land it. And that’s what he did, as American soldiers ran for the quad .50cal guns.

The Story of Bruce Carr, the P-51D Pilot who left on a mission flying a Mustang and RTB flying a Luftwaffe FW 190 — *Colonel Bruce Carr*

‘Needless to say, everyone was very confused when they found (then) Captain Carr sitting in the cockpit. It was an awesome opportunity for a one-liner, like “yeah, I never liked the P-51 anyway”, or maybe “you wouldn’t believe what happened in that fight yesterday, but some German is flying my P-51”, but unfortunately he was too exhausted from the adrenalin and just said something to the effect of “**** you, I’m Captain Carrnof this goddamned squadron” when the first soldiers arrived and pointed lots of guns at him.

‘Col. Carr later earned the DistinguishednService Cross when he and three other P-51s climbed (very bad idea) into a formation of 60 German fighters, and shot down seven, with Col. Carr being credited with five.’

Thompson concludes:

‘I had the honor of meeting Col. Carr, I think it was 1997 down at Kermit Week’s air museum called Fantasy of Flight in Florida, and he arrived at aged 70 something, flying a P-51D that blew over our heads at about 300kts and 50 feet before breaking into a perfect entry to a final on the runway. We got to then listen to him tell this entire story, and ask him questions afterward.’

Photo by U.S. Air Force

November 21, 2022 0 comment

Military

Su-47 Berkut: Russia’s fifth generation stealth fighter

by Till Daisd November 20, 2022

written by Till Daisd

The Su-57 next-generation air superiority fighter entered frontline service in 2020, making Russia the third nation in the world to do so after the United States and China. The United States introduced the F-22 Raptor into service in 2005, and China introduced the J-20 “Mighty Dragon” in 2017. The Su-57 made its first voyage in 2010, and the program appears to be largely focused on building an aircraft with sixth-generation capabilities. Future variants of the jet are anticipated to get orders far larger than those for the current fifth-generation variant.

The fighter underwent its first combat tests in February 2018 when cutting-edge combat-capable prototypes were deployed to Syria. The fighter is planned to integrate a variety of next-generation technologies, including hypersonic ballistic missiles, stealth coatings, laser defenses, laser weapons, artificial intelligence, and more. Although the Su-57 program seems to have a lot of potentials, it is only the most recent of several Russian next-generation fighter programs designed to replace the fourth-generation Su-27 Flanker. The Su-57 is the only one to have advanced past the early prototype stages and entered serial production. The Su-47 Berkut stealth platform was one unique project to create a fifth-generation fighter, which saw its first flight thirteen years before the Su-57 in the same month as America’s F-22 Raptor.

Uncertainty still exists regarding the Su-47’s potential for active duty in the Russian Air Force. There are hints that the Western Bloc did think about it as a possibility and anticipated the platform competing with the F-22 Raptor for air superiority in future conflicts. The Su-47 was only ever built as a single prototype, but it made its first flight in September 1997. The platform served as an invaluable testbed for a variety of cutting-edge technologies, including fly-by-wire and advanced composite materials, which later benefited both the Su-35 and Su-57 programs.

The Sukhoi design bureau started working on the plane in the 1980s, along with Mikoyan Buraeu’s MiG 1.44 fifth-generation fighter program and plans for an improved Su-27 that would eventually become the Su-30, Su-34, and Su-35. The Su-47’s prototype used the non-stealthy fuselage from the Su-27 due to budget constraints after the fall of the Soviet Union but recently obtained pictures show that the fighter was intended to be developed around a much stealthier airframe.

The Su-47 was renowned for having forward-swept wings, which set it apart from all other fifth-generation fighter designs. These wings gave the fighter an almost unmatched turn rate, and when coupled with thrust vectoring technologies, they made the Su-47 one of the best dogfighters in the world. A higher lift/drag ratio, superior stability at high angles of attack, a lower minimum flight speed, improved stall resistance, and anti-spin characteristics were all provided by the fighter’s wing design.

The fighter’s wing configuration also increased its subsonic range significantly and, thanks to the increased lift it produced, allowed it to take off and land on far shorter runways. The forward-swept wing design’s disadvantage was that it limited the fighter’s speed to just Mach 1.6, making it the slowest Russian fighter in service even if it was powerful for visual range battles and lighter than the American F-35A fifth-generation version.

However, this was not the only factor in the program’s abandonment, and it might have been justified in view of the significant benefits to flight performance. But the forward-swept wing design also caused wing twisting, which bent the wings under the weight of the aircraft and put them under a lot of stress. As a result, about 90% of the materials used to make the fighter’s wing panels had to be sturdy composites; nonetheless, even these would wear out far more quickly than the wings of normal aircraft.

To cut expenses, the Su-47 prototype borrowed the forward fuselage, vertical tails, and landing gear from the Su-27 together with the DF-30 engines from the MiG-31 interceptor. The Su-27, at the time Russia’s premier air superiority fighter, shared dimensions with the fighter, making it possible to reuse some design elements. The Su-47 was primarily built to perform well in visible-range combat, but it was also capable of firing sophisticated long-range air-to-air missiles, which when coupled with contemporary radar systems may have made it a successful platform for fighting beyond visual range.

It is still unclear whether the design would have entered production in the 2000s if the Soviet Union hadn’t disintegrated because funding for performance problems was much easier to come by during that time, and the Soviet defense industry was in much better shape than that of its Russian successor.

November 20, 2022 0 comment

History

Luftwaffe fighter pilot Werner Mölders, who developed the finger-four formation

by Till Daisd November 14, 2022

written by Till Daisd

His innovative strategies had such a profound effect that eventually all of the participating air forces in World War II adopted his pair system, finger-four formation, and crossover turn

The Luftwaffe, which had only been formally constituted in 1935 after being established in secrecy, was a new air force when the Spanish Civil War began in 1936. However, it was quickly growing and in a position to support its Nationalist allies under Franco. The first significant airlift in history was launched by the Luftwaffe’s expeditionary force, the Legion Condor, to transport Franco’s troops to Spain.

It deployed its best pilots and newest aircraft, the Bf 109, He 111, and Ju 87 Stuka, to join the battle to build the Luftwaffe’s doctrine, tactics, and combat experience over the course of the following three years. For the Blitzkrieg that would soon be unleashed throughout Europe, the Spanish Civil War proved to be an excellent training field.

The Luftwaffe also learned many tactical lessons in Spain, according to Dr. James S. Corum in his book Legion Condor 1936–1939 the Luftwaffe develops Blitzkrieg in the Spanish Civil War, but the most significant one was a revolutionary shift in fighter combat that would ultimately change how all air forces fought. Not a high-ranking officer, but a fighter pilot who arrived as a first lieutenant and replacement fighter squadron commander was one of the Spanish Civil War’s most important figures.

But in a very short time, this young lieutenant would play a crucial part in changing fighter tactics. In Westphalia, Werner Mölders was born in 1913. He was reared by his mother’s family in central Germany after his reserve officer father was killed in the conflicts of 1915. In 1931, after graduating from one of Germany’s top high schools, he applied to the army as an officer aspirant using his Abitur, which is a university entrance certification. He underwent a three-year, extremely extensive, and demanding officer education program after being appointed to the 2nd Prussian Infantry Regiment.

Mölders was appointed a lieutenant and given the new Luftwaffe in March 1934. Mölders enrolled in flight school and earned the top grade in his class. Then, in June 1935, he completed the special six-month fighter-pilot course, again graduating at the top. He received a promotion to first lieutenant in 1936. Major Theo Osterkamp, the group commander, who would go on to become one of the key figures in the Luftwaffe fighter force, oversaw Mölders’ command of a training squadron. Mölders assumed command of Jagdgeschwader 334 in March 1937 and quickly established himself as an outstanding leader and educator.

The story of Werner Mölders, the Luftwaffe fighter pilot who conceived the Finger-Four Formation — *Finger-Four Formation*

Mölders agreed to travel to Spain and arrived there in March 1938. He was given the responsibility of taking over Adolf Galland’s fighter unit, which was still using He 51s but was switching to Bf 109s. following a brief period of transition, assumed command of the squadron in May 1938. Mölders soon became embroiled in very tough battles over the Ebro and in the area of Aragon. On July 15, 1938, he scored his first victory over an I-15. Mölders amassed 14 confirmed aerial victories between July and November 3, 1938, making him the leading German ace of the Spanish Civil War. His wins included one SB-2 bomber, 12 I-16s, and two I-15s.

Mölders started construction on a ground-breaking new tactical system for the fighters as he led his squadron into the battles of Aragon and the Ebro. Until that point, the system employed by all the major air forces had hardly changed from World War I, when squadrons of 9–12 aircraft would fly a fairly close formation, typically based on the “V” or Flight of three aircraft. Fighter aircraft in World War I were not equipped with radios, thus they had to communicate with one another via hand signals. In order to read these signals, pilots needed to be close enough to their flight and squadron leaders.

A Great War tactical strategy made little sense now that airplanes were more than twice as quick as World War I biplanes and furnished with radios. Mölders created a system centered on pairs, where a pair of wingmen, known as a Rotte, would watch out for each other, usually with one facing forward and the other slightly above and behind. To create a loose formation of four aircraft known as a Schwarm, the Rotte could be increased by adding another Rotte. This four-aircraft Schwarm replaced the three-aircraft flight and was also called the ‘finger-four formation’ because it looked like the fingers of a hand, with two fingers, the second slightly ahead, and then a pair of fingers, the second aircraft again slightly leading.

Now, small groups and pairs would be the basis of fighter squadron tactics. Since radio connections allowed for good communication, aircraft could now fly 300–500m apart rather than 30m apart as in the previous tactics. The fighters could patrol and observe a larger region of the sky by dispersing and flying in pairs, and the risk of midair collisions was essentially reduced.

Any Schwarm engaging in combat may easily be joined by more Schwarms given the speed of the Bf 109. Mölders gave his fighter pilots training in the novel techniques. Additionally, he discovered a novel combat flight turn technique. A tight direction change for a flight or squadron used to be an extremely risky maneuver due to the extremely close spacing between aircraft. Now that there was more space between the aircraft, Mölders created the crossover turn, which required the aircraft to simply pivot 90 degrees and transfer positions.

When Mölders finished his tour, he was taken back to the Luftwaffe staff and given a specific assignment in the Fighter Inspectorate: to develop and train the Fighter Command in this new tactical system. The new fighter tactics proved to be so effective against the Republican pilots. From March to December 1938, Mölders only spent eight months in Spain before being promoted to captain and handing over command of his squadron to Hubertus von Bonin. However, Mölder’s reputation as a great fighter tactician and leader was cemented during those eight months in Spain. Mölders was swiftly given the position of group and wing commander.

In the 1940 French campaign, he served as a major and group commander. By 1941, he had achieved the rank of colonel, or Oberst, and was in charge of a fighter wing in Russia. He was appointed Inspector of the Luftwaffe Fighters that year, although he only held the position for a short time until his death in an accident in November 1941. He achieved more than 100 confirmed victories in the air before any other fighter pilot in history. His innovative strategies had such a profound effect that eventually all of the participating air forces in World War II adopted his pair system, finger-four formation, and crossover turn.

Legion Condor 1936-39 the Luftwaffe develops Blitzkrieg in the Spanish Civil War is published by Osprey Publishing and is available to order here.

Photo by MisterBee1966, Gold Lead, Bundesarchiv, Bild 146-1971-116-29 / CC-BY-SA 3.0, Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-B12018 / CC-BY-SA 3.0 via Wikipedia

November 14, 2022 1 comment

History

How Operation Allied Force’s Serbs managed to shoot down an F-117 Stealth Fighter

by Till Daisd November 14, 2022

written by Till Daisd

‘How were the Serbs able to shoot down an F-117 stealth aircraft? Through a combination of Complacency, Strategy, and Luck,’ Chris Morehouse, Aerospace Engineer at U.S. Air Force.

The F-117A Nighthawk was the first operational aircraft in the world built to take advantage of low-observable stealth technology. By entering high-threat airspace, this precision strike aircraft attacked vital targets with laser-guided weapons.

The last F-117A was delivered in the summer of 1990, with the first being delivered in 1982. The 4450th Tactical Group (later 49th Fighter Wing) at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, became the sole F-117A unit under Air Combat Command in October 1983.

F-117As performed over 1,300 flights during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, hitting 1,600 high-value targets in Iraq with direct hits. It was the only aircraft from the United States or the coalition to hit targets in Baghdad’s center.

To aid NATO’s Operation Allied Force in 1999, 24 F-117As were sent to Aviano Air Base in Italy and Spangdahlem AB in Germany. On March 24, 1999, the aircraft led the first Allied airstrike against Yugoslavia.

One F-117A (AF ser. no. 82-0806) was lost to enemy action three days later, on Mar. 27. How did the Serbs manage to fire down a stealth F-117?

‘Through a combination of Complacency, Strategy, and Luck,’ Chris Morehouse, US Air Force Aerospace Engineer, said on Quora.

An In-Depth Analysis of how Serbs Were Able to Shoot Down An F-117 Stealth Fighter during Operation Allied Force

‘First the Complacency. This was on the part of the US Air Force, and joint allied forces. The routes used by the F-117s during the shootdown had been flown previously multiple times. This is contrary to the F-117 operations in the 91 war where they flew into Baghdad, never repeating the same inbound track consecutively.

‘Perhaps this was due to overconfidence in their equipment, and air superiority. During Operation Allied Force, the NATO air campaign, it was standard operating procedure (SOP) for all strike missions to be accompanied by electronic warfare aircraft [EA-6B Prowlers]. These aircraft flew with strike missions to detect, jam, and destroy enemy radar installations. Because of these aircraft, it was difficult for the Yugoslavian anti-air forces to operate their radars and get target-quality tracks on even conventional military aircraft. Keep in mind, during the 78 days of Operation Allied Forces we flew 38,004 air sorties and lost only 2 aircraft to enemy fire. The Prowlers were a big part of that unprecedented record.

‘Unfortunately, on the day Vega 31 would be taken out of the sky, the Prowlers were grounded due to weather. The decision was made for the F-117s to fly their strike mission unsupported.

‘Worse yet, the Yugoslavian anti-air forces knew that the Prowlers were grounded, and knew that the F-117s were going to fly a strike mission anyway. How did they know? Because the Serbs had spotters and human intelligence assets in Italy, where the strike missions were flying from. They had also compromised NATO communications in the area and had civilian sources in Italy feeding them intelligence who had access to operational information. In short, the NATO forces had a massive failure in operation security, OPSEC, which was feeding valuable data to the enemy. The Serbs knew the strike was coming, knew the general route, and knew the F-117s would be flying without electronic warfare support.

‘It is important to note that the F-117A is a very lean aircraft. It has no radar of its own. When flying for penetration all of its antennas are retracted. It had a single system that could function as a radar warning receiver, but the antennas are not exposed during a strike mission. As such it has no way of detecting search and tracks radar on its own. Simply put, operating alone, it is effectively blind.’

Morehouse continues;

‘Now let’s discuss the Strategy.

‘The Serbs were learning every available advantage they could to accomplish a shootdown of American aircraft. They knew the war was not a popular option for the US civilian population, and it was perceived that if they could shoot down some American aircraft, they could turn public opinion against the air war. A particularly valued prize would of course be one of the coveted “Stealth Fighters”. As such, they worked diligently to set up anti-air ambushes for NATO aircraft, particularly hunting for the F-117As. How did they do this?

‘For these ambushes, they employed two radar systems. First the P-18 “Spoon Rest D” early warning radar. This radar is a Soviet Union radar system that operates in the VHF frequency. Typical it can detect a fighter aircraft out to 200 nautical miles. The Serbs discovered that by setting it to its absolute lowest frequency, and thus largest bandwidth, they could detect the F-117As. However, in these settings, the radar can not provide very good information on the F-117s, and the “early warning” radar could only detect them within 15 miles. This is a very poor detection range indeed, however, if you just so happen to know the route your enemy is flying, it is enough to let you know when they are getting within range of your other systems.

‘Even when the P-18 is operating at the optimal performance (not at the absolutely lowest frequency) and against a conventional aircraft, it can still not produce a precision tracking of quality to guide a weapon on anything more than a kilometer or so away. That is why these systems are considered ‘early warning’ radar. They are not meant to guide weapons. This brings us to the next system the Serbs used.

‘For their anti-aircraft weapon system, they had the S-125 or SA-3 Goa to NATO. The S-125 had three radar systems; The P-15 Flat Face, SNR-125 Low Blow, and PRV-11 Side Net.

‘The P-15 was a C-band target acquisition radar. Nominally it had a detection range for a fighter aircraft out to 150 miles. Against the F-117s it was completely worthless. It could not detect them, even flying overhead.

‘The SNR-125 was the fire control radar, intended to guide the missiles onto their targets. This had two modes of operation for detecting aircraft, essential two different radar bands. Nominalnit could detect and track a fighter aircraft between 25–50 miles out, depending on the mode of operation and conditions.

‘The PRV-11 was used as a ‘height finder’ to get an accurate read on a target’s altitude.

‘All these radars were paired with a quad missile launcher carrying the V-600 missile. A two-stage solid-fueled surface-to-air missile with a max range of about 15 miles and a minimum engagement range of a little more than a mile.

‘This SAM system is not usually considered a mobile missile system. But the Serbs had trained diligently, and by only naming their quad missile launchers with two missiles each they were able to relocate the missile system in 90 minutes. Doing so meant they could set up ambush positions with this missile system, and then take down and relocate. So, if a route was flown one day and there were no missile systems detected in the area, the Serbs could be operating in that area just hours later.

‘The Serb had attempted to set up ambushes in this way for the F-117s two times previous to the actual shoot down. They would get an indication of a pending strike mission and move their missile batteries into place to intercept the suspected routes. The P-18 would be able to detect the F-117As when they got within 15 miles, as was mentioned before. Even with the Prowlers flying, the P-18 did not register on their systems as a radar system when operating at their lowest frequency.

‘With the P-18 indicating the F-117s were in the area, they would time for a possible intercept and when they believed the F-117s were close enough, activate the SNR-125 radar trained in the direction of the incoming F-117s. They limited the amount of time they kept the SNR-125s active due to the risk of being detected by the EW aircraft and then hit with Anti-Radar missiles. On both previous attempts, the SNR-125 was unable to detect or track the F-117s. This brings us to the last bit.

‘Luck.’

Morehouse explains:

‘On the day of the shoot-down, as has been mentioned, the Serbs got intelligence that the F-117s would be flying a strike mission without the support of the Prowlers. Being well drilled in setting up these ambushes, they positioned their S-125 missile system into position on the F-117 suspected approach.

‘The P-18 radar detected the F-117As when they were about 15 miles out. The Serbs activated their SNR-125 radar and detected… nothing. Looks like they were going to miss out again.

‘Except for the fact that they knew nonProwlers were in the air. That being the case, they decided to try again. They activated their SNR-125 radars another time.

‘Meanwhile, aboard Vega 31 the Air Forcenpilot [Lt. Col. Dale Zelko] was preparing to drop his ordnance. His weapon bay doors opened, exposing his very radar-reflective bomb bay interior.

‘The SNR-125 radar detected the F-117A five miles distant. We should point out that this strike mission had 3 F-117s in it, and they only were able to target one of them. This reinforces the fact that they were ONLY able to do so because at that time Vega 31’s weapons bays were open.

‘The Serbs fired at least 2 missiles atnVega 31. The F-117A had no indication it was being painted by a targeting radar, but the pilot did visually acquire two missiles that were launched against him. The first missile flew right by aircraft, passing it overhead. A close miss. The missiles passing buffeted the stealth fighter but it did not detonate, its proximity trigger likely not detecting the F-117 to initiate detonation. The second missile that approached also failed to hit the F-117 but it DID detonate in close proximity.

‘The F-117 took blast and fragment damage. Flight control was lost, and the pilot was forced to eject.

‘Complacency, Strategy and Luck.’

Photo by U.S. Air Force, Srđan Popović via Wikipedia and Petar Milošević via Wikipedia

November 14, 2022 0 comment

History

Why Hitler’s bombardment of Guernica in the Spanish Civil War was his greatest success

by Till Daisd November 13, 2022

written by Till Daisd

The world believed that the Luftwaffe could easily burn down entire cities as a result of the greatly inflated tales of the bombing, which was undoubtedly beyond their capacity in 1937, 1938, or even 1940

The Luftwaffe was a brand-new air force when the Spanish Civil War started in 1936; it had been created in secrecy and had only been formally founded in 1935. However, it was quickly growing and in a position to support its ideological allies, Franco’s Nationalists. To transport Franco’s troops to Spain, the Luftwaffe’s expeditionary force, the Legion Condor, undertook the first significant airlift ever.

According to Dr. James S. Corum in his book Legion Condor 1936–1939: The Luftwaffe Develops Blitzkrieg in the Spanish Civil War, the Legion Condor also took the lead in the air attack on Guernica, a small Basque town that was right next to the Republican Army’s lines. This incident is the most well-known one in the history of the Spanish Civil War. It attained the status of the Spanish Civil War’s single most-written-about battle on April 26, 1937.

With 7,000 residents, Guernica was a tiny industrial town with a crucial bridge and intersection that crossed the Mundacan River. It was the only river crossing for 20 miles and a large portion of the Basque Army, 23 battalions, was in retreat to positions behind the river. The Basque Army’s primary escape route could be blocked if the bridge could be destroyed and the town closed to traffic. Guernica presented an opportunity for operational-level interdiction.

Guernica was attacked by the legion Condor around 4.30 pm on April 26. As pathfinders, three modern He 111 medium bombers and one Dornier Do 17 light bomber flew in front. 18 Ju 52 bombers followed them, and Bf 109 and He 51 fighter aircraft provided support. Some Nationalist Air Force Ju 52s also joined the attack. The aircraft of the Legion Condor pounded the town for an hour in waves of three to four aircraft each.

With the Renteria Bridge as their target, the Germans dropped around 32 tons of high-explosive and incendiary bombs on the town. Just across the bridge, the first bombing pass dropped its bombs. Bombers flew in successive waves, dropping their bombs into the area of the town center as the target was shrouded in smoke.

Although the bridge was not destroyed by the bombing raid, one end of the town was completely destroyed, which achieved the tactical goal of closing the road to traffic for a full 24 hours. Though only a few miles from Guernica, the Nationalist Army was unable to advance rapidly, trapping the Basque Army. The Army cleared the way through Guernica and evacuated its troops through the Renteria bridge during the course of the following three days.

Oberstleutnant Wolfram von Richthofen, the head of the Legion Condor, said that although the attack on Guernica was a “technical success,” he was upset that the Nationalist Army did not occupy the town right away to cut off the Basque Army’s escape.

Here’s why the bombing of Guernica was Hitler’s greatest victory in the Spanish Civil War — *A Bf 109A from the Condor Legion with Spanish rebel markings*

In the course of the war, small towns in Spain were the target of numerous raids, including the one on Guernica. A report from the Legion Condor to Berlin on February 11, 1938, explains the German operational justification for hitting cities like Guernica: ‘We have notable results in hitting targets near the front, especially in bombing villages which hold enemy reserves and headquarters. We have had great success because these targets are easy to find and can be thoroughly destroyed by carpet bombing.’

As a result of the bombers’ inability to hit exact targets, the report stated that attacks on point targets like bridges, roads, and rail lines were more challenging and generally less successful. Precision bombing had not yet become commonplace.

But the age of mass media had come. Although there were two Basque Army battalions in the town, the Basque government hailed the attack on Guernica as a “terror attack” against a “open city” in order to use heavy airstrikes to weaken the Basque people’s will. Nearly half of the town’s population, or 1,687 killed and more than 800 wounded, were officially reported by the authorities. Just after the attack, British journalists went to Guernica and reported on the catastrophic destruction.

The headlines of the major newspapers in Europe and America featured vile depictions of the bombing. Picasso was inspired to create the magnificent painting “Guernica,” which was displayed at the world expositions in Paris only a few weeks later.

Ironically, Hitler’s greatest success in the Spanish Civil War came from a news story intended to highlight German brutality and win support for the Spanish Republic abroad. The world was given the impression that the Luftwaffe could easily burn entire cities to the ground, which was undoubtedly beyond their capabilities in 1937, 1938, or even 1940 due to the greatly exaggerated reports of the bombing (the actual number of civilian deaths at Guernica was 300, not 1,687).

When British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and French Premier Edouard Daladier met with Hitler in Munich in September 1938 and bargained away the freedom of Czechoslovakia, the popular story of Guernica was very much on their minds. This was primarily because they and their populations feared the complete destruction of their cities by the Luftwaffe.

Legion Condor 1936-39 the Luftwaffe develops Blitzkrieg in the Spanish Civil War is published by Osprey Publishing and is available to order here.

Photo by Self-photographed, Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-H25224 / Unknown author and Unknown author via Wikipedia

November 13, 2022 0 comment

Military

10 cool fighters you may not know

by Till Daisd November 13, 2022

written by Till Daisd

Fighter jets are among the most extreme forms of machinery that mankind has ever produced. They are capable of flying faster than the sound itself, doing feats of gravity-defying, and delivering terrifying payloads.

Because of this, of all of a nation’s military equipment, fighter jets are usually the most recognizable. But here are 10 cool fighter jets that you probably had never idea existed.

10. Atlas Cheetah

Atlas_Cheetah_3_orientation — Atlas Cheetah

The Atlas Cheetah, a fighter developed by South Africa, is as swift as its name implies and is strikingly similar to the Dassault Mirage, a delta-wing aircraft developed by France. South Africa, which was the target of an arms embargo, had previously flown French Mirage III fighters and sought to modernize them in the face of being unable to purchase more aircraft. The Cheetah updated the aged jet’s airframe with contemporary avionics, armament systems, and re-designs, keeping only around 50% of the Mirage III’s original airframe. With a top speed of about Mach 2.2 at altitude, the Cheetah, which entered service in 1986, is regarded as the classic Mirage III’s ultimate evolution.

9. IAI Kfir

Colombian_Air_Force_Kfir_cropped — IAI Kfir

The IAI Kfir is an Israeli fighter plane developed to replace their fleet of outdated French Mirage fighters, in this case, the Dassault Mirage 5. Its development is remarkably similar to that of the Atlas Cheetah. Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) switched to an American engine, notably the GE J79—the engine that propelled fighters like the F4 Phantom—after basing development on the Dassault Mirage 5’s subpar engine. 100 Kfirs were initially constructed by IAI before they were put into service in 1977. Israel deactivated the Kfir in the 1990s after numerous generations of development; however, they had previously been leased to the US Navy and sold to other countries like Sri Lanka and Columbia, where they are still in use today.

8. HAL Tejas

IAF_Tejas_full_size_32941198511 — HAL Tejas

The HAL Tejas, an indigenously developed modern fighter jet from India, flies at supersonic speeds and is light, agile, and quick. It has an incredible and distinctive delta-wing design. The HAL Tejas was a product of India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program, which was created to replace its outdated Soviet-made MiG-21 fighters. The first prototype of the aircraft took to the skies in 2001. One of the smallest multi-role fighter fighters in the world, the Tejas entered service in 2016 and is presently undergoing trials with the Indian Navy for deployment on aircraft carriers.

7. Sukhoi Su-47 Berkut

The Su-47 and its peculiar wings, a proposed next-generation fighter with promised performance and capabilities, were delayed to the point of obsolescence by the fall of the Soviet Union. The Su-47 has tremendous mobility thanks to the wings’ backward installation, which, combined with the aircraft’s cutting-edge sensors and armaments, may give the impression that a manufacturing error occurred. The Su-47 has previously taken to the skies at many air shows, but due to the protracted development delays it encountered, it never became a real force on the battlefield.

6. Saab J-35 Draken

Saab_SK_35C_Draken_DragonKite_SE-DXP810-1 — Saab J-35 Draken

The Saab Draken, whose name translates to “Dragon,” is one of the coolest fighter jets ever made. Add to that its impressive set of capabilities and the Draken is unquestionably a badass machine. The Draken, which went into production in 1957, was Sweden’s first fighter with a Mach 2 capability. This performance capacity, which was still in its early stages, successfully served some Scandinavian countries until 1998, when it was phased down. Although its kite-style delta wing may appear unusual, the Draken’s exceptional performance and mobility for a supersonic fighter jet of the time contributed to its long service life. It is an excellent aircraft through and through.

5. Saab J-37 Viggen

Saab_AJS-37_Viggen_angled — Saab J-35 Draken

The Viggen, which translates to “Thunderbolt” in English, was the formidable Draken’s successor and had a similarly distinctive delta wing design. The Viggen, like the Draken, was a beast capable of Mach 2, outfitted with cutting-edge weaponry and an unusual but effective airframe. The Viggen was designed with short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities in mind, and its massive engine, with a thrust rating of 28,100Ibs, was its main attraction. The last Viggen, which entered service in the early 1970s, left Swedish service in 2007.

4. Lockheed YF-12 Blackbird

1024px-YF-12A — Lockheed YF-12 Blackbird

One of the most radical jet aircraft designs ever created, the YF-12 is essentially an SR-71 built to carry missiles. The A-12, the forerunner of the SR-71, had reached its last phases of development in 1962, and worries that the plane would be made public during test flights were a serious worry. The White House unveiled an armed YF-12 interceptor prototype in 1964, omitting any mention of its role in the development of the SR-71 and A-12, rather than run the danger of the aircraft being made public due to circumstances outside government control. The YF-12 was possibly the most powerful interceptor ever made, detracting from the program’s real spy-plane goal.

3. Douglas F4D Skyray

Douglas_F4D-1_Skyray_of_VMF-115_in_flight_4_April_1957_NNAM.1996.253.7328.029 — Douglas F4D Skyray

The F4D Skyray, a manta-ray-like fighter jet that lived up to its name, was one of the best interceptors of its era but was mostly forgotten as a result of the aviation industry’s rapid development. The F4D Skyray, which was contracted to develop the fighter in 1948, was influenced by German plans from World War II that had been recovered. When the F4D entered service in the middle of the 1950s, it had already shattered previous records for time-to-height and won the Collier Trophy for aviation achievement in 1953. Skyray interceptor squadrons were regarded as some of the greatest America had since they could break the sound barrier in a dive and were in use until 1964.

2. De Havilland Sea Vixen

Duxford_Air_Festival_2017_-_sv3_34932299646 — De Havilland Sea Vixen

The strange-looking Sea Vixen is a jet from the early Cold War era that was the culmination of de Havilland’s odd twin-boom fighters. The Sea Vixen, which was derived from the Vampire and Venom, first took to the air in 1957, breaking the sound barrier for the first time in testing, and seeing 119 units enter service with the British Royal Navy. The Sea Vixen was one of the strangest-looking fighters in British history, but as it was built specifically for naval defense, its capabilities weren’t all that unusual. The Sea Vixen, though a capable aircraft that entered service, was never engaged in battle.

1. Horten Ho 229

Horten_Ho_229_concept_art — Horten Ho 229

If we go back to World War II, it might surprise you to learn that fighter jets as a category were in use all during the conflict. They were flown for the first time by Germany, which led to some absurd developments. The Horten Ho 229 was by far the most bizarre German WWII aircraft ever to fly. The Ho 229 was developed as a long-range fighter/bomber and an early attempt at stealth technology after receiving financing from the government in 1943. The Ho 229, despite appearing as though it were taken right out of science fiction, was actually built and put through a number of test flights. The only airworthy Ho 229 crashed during a test flight, however, as a result of the design’s severe unpredictability.

November 13, 2022 0 comment

History

The Battle of Berlin: How aviation played a key role in the defeat of the Nazis

by Till Daisd November 10, 2022

written by Till Daisd

Airpower played a crucial role in the Battle of Berlin. Aircraft were used to drop bombs on Berlin, protect advancing ground troops, and transport soldiers and equipment.
Aviation technology helped the allies take control of the skies long before they reached Berlin.
The Allies had an advantage from the beginning of World War II. The German Luftwaffe had better planes, but they didn’t have as many planes or trained pilots to fly them. They also lacked a clear strategy for air superiority and were often forced into defensive measures due to shortages of fuel and other resources. In contrast, the British Royal Air Force (RAF) was able to put together a well-defined plan that used multiple methods including radar technology, precision bombing tactics, and new aircraft designs such as modified Spitfires which could outmaneuver their opponents in dogfights above Berlin itself—all of these factors contributed significantly towards Allied victory during The Battle Of Berlin

The Luftwaffe was already a weakened force in the fall of 1944, as it had been fighting on multiple fronts since the beginning of the war. By this point, Germany was essentially surrounded by Allied armies from all sides, with only Italy still under Axis control.

In its weakened state, the Luftwaffe could not stop or even slow down Allied bombing missions during World War II. The Allies’ superior planes and pilots meant that they were able to drop bombs on Berlin without much interference from German forces. The bombings by British and American bombers resulted in high civilian casualties and contributed greatly to Germany’s defeat in World War II.

The Luftwaffe’s strategy had been to destroy the Allied bomber forces, but they were unprepared for the Allies’ use of heavy bombers, radar, and ground-based anti-aircraft guns. These factors combined to leave them with a lack of experienced pilots and inefficient planes. For example, the Bf 109 was one of their primary fighters but had only two machine guns compared to its British counterpart—the Spitfire—which had eight machine guns. The Luftwaffe also didn’t have enough fighters available; their production was limited by Adolf Hitler’s insistence that only he could authorize large-scale production changes or increases in aircraft numbers. This meant there were fewer planes available than needed during the Battle of Berlin.

The German air force also suffered from a lack of spare parts due to Allied bombing raids on factories producing such materials or destroying transportation networks necessary for moving them around Europe (such as bridges). A further complication was that if fuel supplies were interrupted then aircraft couldn’t fly out again once they landed back at base—and without fuel, there would be no way for them even if they did manage this feat! In addition, there wasn’t enough food leftover after the fighting started so pilots began starving too!

Aviation played a massive role in the outcome of the Battle of Berlin and the fall of Nazi Germany. The Battle of Berlin was the final battle of World War II in Europe. It began on April 16, 1945, and ended on May 2, 1945, when an Allied victory became imminent.

In the months preceding this conflict, there were thousands upon thousands of aerial raids that took place over Germany by Allied pilots and their aircraft carriers. The Nazis lost massive amounts of territory because they couldn’t keep up with all the bombings and attacks by pilots from Britain and America. There were also many small-scale skirmishes between airmen such as one where Americans shot down two German planes while another saw them lose three planes to friendly fire from British soldiers who were trying to guide them through enemy territory with flares but accidentally shot down their planes instead.

Airplanes played a vital role in transporting troops into battle zones during this period — they could fly over enemy lines without being spotted easily since they weren’t visible once they got high enough up above ground level (they weren’t tracked either because radar technology wasn’t advanced yet). They also helped deliver supplies quickly so that no one would get hungry or thirsty even if there weren’t any food left for days at a time – which happened often since most people didn’t know how long things might last before finding out whether or not peace had been declared yet.

Supermarine-Spitfire — Supermarine Spitfire

Hawker_Typhoon_MkIB — Supermarine Spitfire

The Battle of Berlin saw some of the most brutal battles in aviation history. The Messerschmitt Bf 109 was pitted against the Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Typhoon. Each side had a plane that represented their nation’s pride in aviation. The Me 109 and Spitfire are still of the top planes from World War II, each with its pros and cons.

November 10, 2022 0 comment

History

The P51-D Mustang: From the Battle of Britain to the Flying Tigers

by Till Daisd November 9, 2022

written by Till Daisd

The P51-D Mustang was, and is, arguably one of the best all-around fighters ever to grace the sky. Its tremendous range and load capacity made it a good bomber escort, while its speed made it an excellent long-range photo-reconnaissance aircraft.

The plane could also be converted into a fighter-bomber by replacing its armament with bombs. This was one of its main purposes after World War II ended: it served as a ground attack aircraft during Vietnam and in other conflicts around the world where U.S airpower was required but there were no enemy jets to contend with.

The Mustang was a sturdy aircraft that could take a lot of abuse. If a pilot had to make an emergency landing, they would often find themselves just fine after the impact. One British pilot who had flown many missions in B-17s and B-24s said that he never had more than minor damage on any of his P51 Mustangs.

For pilots and crew members who were not used to handling these planes, however, things were different. A common issue for inexperienced pilots was having trouble getting out if there were problems with the canopy (the top part of the plane). The first thing they would try was pulling up on it from below and then pushing down from above—but this didn’t work very well at all because it only popped open about halfway before getting stuck again! After trying unsuccessfully for several minutes (and attracting attention), they finally realized that it opened by pressing forward on both sides simultaneously instead of pulling up or pushing down alone.

But, at first, it never really took off with any air forces. The P-51 was an excellent fighter plane, but it wasn’t the best fighter.
The problem was that the Germans had something better at the time: their Messerschmitt Bf 109s were faster and more maneuverable than most of what they could throw against them. The Mustang might have been able to match speed and dive rate with these aircraft (and out-climb them), but its guns were mounted too far apart for accurate shooting in a dogfight.

The British were the ones who initially embraced the Mustang, recognizing its potential as a long-range escort fighter. The British also recognized that it would need some modifications to improve its range and performance. The Supermarine Spitfire was already an outstanding fighter airplane at that time, but it could only fly up to about 400 miles. The RAF needed something with longer legs to provide cover over Germany from bases on the island of Britain or close by in France and Belgium.

The first P51-D Mustangs arrived at Royal Air Force airfields in September 1942 and immediately began being used in combat against German aircraft like Messerschmitt Bf 109s and Focke Wulf 190s—fighters that had been developed during World War II as more advanced replacements for those earlier models which had appeared during World War I (the Russian Revolution caused them not only not to see much action during their intended era but also prevented any further development).

And when the Americans finally got around to developing it further, they found a winner on their hands.
Meanwhile, the British were toying with their version of the Mustang—the P51B. It was faster and had a longer range than its predecessor, but it was armed with only four .50 caliber machine guns. The British also developed a bubble canopy for this model, which provided better visibility in flight.

In 1943, North American Aviation made further improvements to their aircraft as they created the P51C model. This variant had a more powerful engine and improved armament (6 x .50 caliber machine guns). The new aircraft was known as an excellent fighter in both Europe and Asia; however, there were some issues with overheating due to its high rate of speed (over 460 mph/740 km/h), which led to some early deaths among pilots flying it during combat conditions at high altitudes above 20 000 feet/6400 meters above sea level.

Such a winner that after the Mustangs were delivered to China in 1944, a group of U.S. pilots flew them in combat against Japanese fighters from Japan’s bases! Unfortunately for the Japanese, who were flying on home turf and had air superiority over much of China, the P51-D Mustang was a very effective plane. The only real drawback to using it was that it wasn’t as powerful when carrying bombs or rockets as other planes were at that time. But its primary role was to shoot down enemy fighters and bombers, not attack ground targets like tanks or ships.

So effective were these Mustangs that after they arrived in 1944 there was some discussion about whether they could be used in combat over Japan itself! While this never happened (at least not during World War II) an interesting footnote is that some of those same Mustangs later flew against Japanese forces from bases within Japan itself!

The origins of the P51-D Mustang began with Britain’s unexpected entry into World War II. While the British had been preparing for war since 1936, when Germany remilitarized the Rhineland, their efforts were not as far-reaching as those of Germany’s military buildup. The Battle of Britain in 1940 would prove that despite all their preparations, Britain was still woefully unprepared to meet an overwhelming enemy threat in the skies over England and Europe.

The British immediately requested help from North American Aviation (NAA) and asked if their new fighter could be modified so that it would have an extended range. NAA responded positively and set about making changes to both its airframe and engine configurations so that it could carry extra fuel tanks internally or externally depending on where they fit best on each aircraft model type.

The Royal Air Force had not been able to prepare itself for war as quickly as Germany had prepared itself to fight one, and they were now facing an overwhelming enemy threat in the skies over England and Europe. The British were desperate for new fighters, but America was still neutral at this point.

In 1940, the British War Ministry asked North American Aviation (NAA) if they could design and build a single-seat fighter based on their P-40 Tomahawk/Kittyhawk series of fighters that had been built by NAA under license from Curtiss-Wright Corporation. In addition to facing enormous odds when they went into battle pilots often found themselves without sufficient fuel to make it home again.

For the RAF, this meant that pilots often found themselves without sufficient fuel to make it home again. In those cases, they would have to ditch their aircraft in the English Channel and await rescue by British ships. However, many RAF pilots did not survive these water landings due to hypothermia or drowning as they waited for rescue boats to arrive.

A P51-D Mustang with drop tanks could fly 1,600 miles (2,575 kilometers). This was long enough for USAAF units stationed on island bases like Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima to strike targets deep within Japanese territory—and return safely home after doing so!

The British asked North American Aviation if their new fighter could be modified so that it would have an extended range and be fitted with larger fuel tanks under its wings. The result was the P51-D Mustang, which became one of the most successful fighters of World War II.

The P51-D Mustang had an exceptional reputation for being rugged and easy to fly. It was equally effective at low or high altitudes, and its six .50 caliber machine guns gave it plenty of firepowers. By the end of 1944, over 21,000 Mustangs had been built (more than any other USAAF [United States Army Air Force] fighter plane) and they would go on to serve in various roles until 1952 when they were decommissioned from service by the USAF (the United States Air Force).

The P51-D is still in use by the U.S. Air Force as part of the Heritage Flight program, which allows vintage aircraft to fly in formation with more modern jets for ceremonial purposes. The P51-D is one of five World War II aircraft that fly as part of this program, along with two B-17s and two P-38s.

The airplane was also used by the Flying Tigers during World War II when it was flown by American pilots who had been recruited from the U.S. Army Air Corps before Pearl Harbor. The Flying Tigers were an independent squadron composed entirely of American volunteers who fought for China against Japan during World War II; they flew American planes under Chinese colors and uniforms so as not to anger Japan too much while they were still officially neutral at that time (although that didn’t last long).

November 9, 2022 0 comment

History

The Hollywood icon who rose to the rank of Air Force 2-Star general flying B-52s

by Till Daisd November 8, 2022

written by Till Daisd

Jimmy Stewart, a skilled pilot, and a devoted patriot insisted on taking part in an airstrike against VC sites in 1966 by piloting B-52F 57-0149 on a mission

The B-52 provided crucial Cold War support by standing ready to fly atomic strikes against the USSR with a succession of increasingly more deadly weapons. It was built to form the core of Strategic Air Command’s nuclear deterrence.

Stratofortress aircraft were sent to Southeast Asia in 1965 and served as the mainstay of the USAF’s bombing campaign in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. During Operation Arc Light in June 1965, the aircraft engaged in its first aerial combat over the Vietnam jungles.

Although the region’s first B-52s deployed were B-models, the B-52F, a superior variant, was the first to see combat service.

Even in 1966, the Vietnam War was divisive and not something a Hollywood actor focused on advancing his career could be considered to endorse too strongly. The B-52F deployment was therefore doubly pleased when a USAF Reserve brigadier general arrived at Andersen AFB as part of a two-week inspection tour, as described by Jon Lake in his book B-52 Stratofortress Units in Combat 1955-73. That officer was none other than Jimmy Stewart. In 1959, as his time in the USAF was concluding, he was promoted to brigadier general in the USAF Reserve.

When Jimmy Stewart flew B-52's in Vietnam: the Story of the Hollywood Star who became an Air Force 2-Star General

Stewart asked for a combat deployment during his two weeks of active duty in 1966, and he was accordingly despatched on an inspection tour of Vietnam, where his stepson, 1Lt Ronald McLean, had only recently died at the age of 24. Stewart, a skilled pilot, and a devoted patriot insisted on taking part in a bombing strike against VC sites while piloting B-52F 57-0149.

Stewart had a spectacular and illustrious military career, despite being best known to the general public as a Hollywood actor. He volunteered for service in 1940 after recognizing the approaching war clouds and joined the USAAC in March 1941, which was more than nine months before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the US’s entry into the conflict. Stewart, who was 33 years old and too old to be an aviation cadet, used his own aircraft—a Stinson 105—to accrue flight time until he was old enough to be admitted as an experienced pilot. According to the Army Air Corps doctors, the gangly Stewart was also underweight. He binged until he gained the ten pounds required to meet the Army’s minimal weight requirement.

Stewart, who had previously flown BT-13s as an instructor and later twin-Beeches and Boeing B-17s, was compelled to serve in overseas warfare and took great efforts to overcome government reluctance to put him in danger and avoid the propaganda responsibilities that were assigned to him.

Capt. Stewart, a B-24 pilot from Tibenham, Norfolk, who had been assigned to the 445th BG as the operations officer, led the unit during a 1,000-bomber attack against Berlin on March 22, 1944, before rising to the commander of the 703rd BS. After the 453rd BG sustained significant losses, Stewart was assigned to it. With him as operations officer and a new CO in charge, the 453rd’s proficiency rate on raids improved, moving it up the list of Eighth Air Force units from near the bottom to near the top.

In July 1944, Stewart was appointed full colonel and assigned as the 2nd BW’s chief of staff. In the spring of 1945, Stewart was promoted as the wing CO. Against targets such as Brunswick, Bremen, Frankfurt, Schweinfurt, and Berlin, he performed 20 bombing missions over Germany. His awards include the Croix de Guerre (with palm), two Distinguished Flying Crosses, a string of oak leaf clusters, seven battle stars, and an Air Medal. To maintain his reputation as an officer who was incredibly diligent, conscientious, and dedicated, Stewart took care to avoid being remembered for who he was before the war rather than for what he was doing in the military.

Stewart continued to take his duties as a member of the Air Force Reserve very seriously even after picking up his acting career again, making sure that he flew the B-36, B-47, B-52, and B-58. He had been a diligent study of bomber tactics and doctrine during the war and had become quite knowledgeable about and enthusiastic about daylight precision bombing. The respected brigadier general’s exposure to the carpet bombing of nearby targets in Vietnam must have surprised him somewhat.

B-52 Stratofortress Units in Combat 1955-73 is published by Osprey Publishing and is available to order here.

Photo by U.S. Air Force via This Day in Aviation and San Diego Air & Space Museum

November 8, 2022 0 comment

Newer Posts

Older Posts