Re: RR Link to WWII Fighter Activity

dougvv Wrote:
=======================================================
> 1) how big is a B17 or B24 compared to today's
> planes (say an F117 or F15)?

> Thanks.
>
> Doug vV


As you guess, 1930's aircraft were not large. An F-15E is in the same general weight range as a B-17G. The F-15 is only about ten feet or so shorter length, but has a much smaller wingspan (not even half as wide). This really just illustrates how there's no point in comparing a modern jet to a 1940's piston-engine bomber. Modern jet aircraft have many times more thrust than WW2-era A/C had. Just about anything will fly with sufficient application of power.

The really big bomber was the 1950's-era B-36.

Comparing the B-17 to the B-24, the B-24 could carry more bombs over a longer distance at a slightly higher speed than the B-17 could, whilst the B-17 could climb higher and was regarded as the more durable airframe. The B-17 suffered worse, overall, anyway because it was concentrated in Europe while the more numerous B-24 also served in large numbers in lower-threat theatres. Pretty well the only worse job in WW2 than being a USAAF bomber crewman in Europe was a U-boat crewman. Although U.S. propaganda tried to hide the fact ("bad weather" mad a convenient excuse), by late 1943 the U.S. daylight bombing campaign was effectively defeated and had to be suspended until sufficient quantities of escort fighters came available.