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Aviation History
1940
1940 - 0739.PDF
MARCH 14, 1940 231 BOMBERS (CONTINUED) One of the most recent twin-enginedbombers is the Fokker T.9 (right), a large machine with two BristolHercules 14-cylinder sleeve-valve engines. Below is the Merlin-engined Arm-strong-Whitworth Whitley bomber. This type has done magnificent workover Germany. performance at low altitudes ; the top speed at 4,500ft. is 252 m.p.h. In Poland the Germans used Messerschmitt Me no twin- engined fighters armed with 20 mm. shell-guns for attacks on trains. A group of Messerschmitts would perforate the boilers of the locomotives with their shell-guns, the train subsequently being destroyed by dive-bombers. The Daimler-Benz DB 601 engines of the Me no have two- speed superchargers which confer a good performance near the ground. Although the long-distance trips made over Germany by the R.A.F. in large, comparatively slow bombers are referred to as reconnaissance flights, long-distance day- light reconnaissance is normally undertaken by fast twin- engined machines of the type already discussed. For this sort of work the machines are fitted with cameras, and in some cases, if visibility is restricted by a part of the struc- ture, are provided with a special compartment beneath the fuselage for the observer. A transparent nose is, however, usually considered sufficient for observation. Large high-altitudt, cameras and /or extra tanks may be fitted in the bomb bay ; the Dornier Do 17, for example, when undertaking reconnaissance, carries a battery of three cameras in the bottom of the fuselage. The French version of the Martin 167 is delivered with extra tankage and special photographic arrangements for reconnaissance work. For night reconnaissance special apparatus such as the Fairchild night photographic equipment may be used. This equipment was for many years kept secret by the U.S. Army Air Corps. It consists of three principal units: a special camera, a light-sensitive cell, and an electric control box. The high-intensity flash charges which give brilliant flashes of light and deafening detonations are completely consumed in bursting, and provision is made to ensure positive action at a predetermined interval after the release of the charge, this being the time when it is well below and behind the machine. Means are also provided to prevent a premature explosion. It is said that the heavy charges of flashlight powder have a million times the intensity of ordinary photographic flash bulbs. As for speed, it was considered astonishing years ago that Mr. C. R. Fairey could build a bomber (the Fox) which could "walk away" from many contemporary fighters. The fast twin-engined multi-purpose bombers of to-day in some instances approach fighter performance, but are not as fast as might be expected. Greater speeds would un- «e North American NA-40A bomber has fixed guns in the nose and free guns above and below the fuselage and in the tail. The view above also shows the bomb stowage arrangements.
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