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[anitek]

Got the chop on this one. Courtesy of an A6M Zero.

[P51vsFw190]

You know Ani, it’s all downhill after this. 


James

[anitek]

> P51vsFw190
Ha ha, Bro,..Thought I'd at least make 10 missions before I died.
Started this B-26 thing because I've always read about the tedium and downright danger of flying in B-26 squadrons.
Not a lot of romance, but definitely fun. Trying to hold station in a tight formation and get the herd to drop on target is a bitch.
Throw in AAA, some enemy fighters and a long flight - it can get as stressful as Christmas shopping. 
I broke formation and got out on a limb just long enough for an AI samurai to squeeze through escorts and nail me.
More escorts seems to be the solution. Happy Holidays!

[P51vsFw190]

You too Ani!

Just remember that it was the B model that was dangerous because of its very short wing.

Don’t be flak bait!


Happy New Year!


James

[anitek]

>P51vsFw190
James - Is this a B-26B?
Flight model is such that it drops like a rock if the energy state isn't kept up.
if I don't give it open throttle on the take off run, apply flaps just before lift off and hard rudder after take off  to climb - the ground comes up fast.
Glad the runaway prop issue can't be duplicated here.

[Benno]

Hi'
Only the early "B" had the short wing.
Benno

[anitek]

Benno, James:
the drawing on the right looks like the stubby version.

[P51vsFw190]

Thats right.

The early versions had a shorter wing. This made the aircraft land fast and long and contributed to many accidents. The problem was cured in the later models and it became for a time the safest of all of our bomber types.


James

[anitek]

Did they ever cure the high landing speed?
This thing lands like a rocket and after the long mission it's actually a little stressful.
It has the gliding characteristics of a safe.

[P51vsFw190]

I think you may have the early short wing version. That’s why you've been landing fast and having to fly at high throttle.

They fixed the problem later on in the B-26’s development when they realized the accidents were caused by aerodynamic issues.


James

[anitek]

James -
Apparently, the ship required a little special training as well.
When they put a priority on that it also helped decrease the pilot errors.
one thing rings true as I re-enact these missions..herding the group over targets again and again and watching the attrition take place..
feeling the strain. The Second World War was bigger than any of us could imagine..
the squadrons that had to hold the line on Guadalcanal faced hardships.
You lived with the knowledge you might not be around very long and you had to keep going.
I think we expected the same out of F-105 pilots in Vietnam and their casualties mounted.

[P51vsFw190]

Absolutely!

It must have been a harrowing experience to know that your chances of survival were slim.


James