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Aviation History
1943
1943 - 0721.PDF
MARCH I8TH, 1943 F LI G H T 293 CORRESPONDENCE The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the views expressed by correspondents. The names and addresses of the writers, not necessarily for publication, must in all cases accompany letters. BOMBER ESCORT Glider Fuel Tanks Suggested THE correspondence in your columns on the subject ofbomber escort has caused me to wonder if consideration has been given to the jettisonable fuel tank in glider form. The unmanned glider, little more than a fuel tank with wings, could be trimmed to glide slightly higher than the towing fighter, permitting a simple gravity feed through a hose-type towing cable. Although the reduction of the fighter's speed would be con- siderable, the quantity of petrol carried by this means would be much higher than by jettisonable tanks fitted to the air- craft itself. At the approach of danger the jettisoning of the glider would leave the unhampered fighter with its full load of petrol. G. GREEN, Major, R.E. THE BEST TYPES OF AIRCRAFT Do 217E Better than the Mitchell ? IN reply to Ex-R.F.C.'s letter in "Correspondence" (Flight,March 4th), I feel that the choice he has made is very good, apart from one of the aircraft he has chosen, namely, the B.25 Mitchell. To say that the Mitchell is the best medium bomber is, I feel, being rather unfair to the Dornier 217E, as the latter's performance figures, armament, etc., are in nearly all respects higher than the Mitchell's. I think I am correct in stating that the Dornier is practically universally acclaimed the best of its class. O, \V. CARR. * ' Allied and Axis F reply to "Ex-R.F.C.'s" query in your issue of March4th, I have revised his excellent list and made the following substitutions: — Typhoon for Hurricane. Marauder for Hampden. Avenger for Barracuda. Sky master for Sky train. The list below includes the best type in service with Allies as well as that in service with the Axis air forces, and vice Spitfire IX for Spitfire V. Do 217 for Mitchell. Seafire for Corsair. Helldiver for Dauntless. Operational Type. High-level interceptor dog- fighterMedium and low-level anti-bomber and anti-nghter-bomber fighter Heavy Nigbt Bomber ...Heavily-armed Day BomberMedium Day Bomber ... Long-range Fighter-Bom- ber (equipped to carrybombs and/or torpedo) Low-level high-speed rec.bomber Army Co-op. Scout Heaw Land Transport Land:based TorpedoBomber Short Range Fighter- Bomber Naval Fighter Naval Dive-bomber Naval Torpedo-Bomber... Lonff-rangc Naval Patrol Plane. Spitfire IX Typhoon Lancaster Fortress VDo 217e2 Bristol Beaufighter D.H. MosquitoMustang Skymaster Marauder Adapted Typhoon (Hurricane atpresent) Scafire Curtiss Helldiver Avenger I.iber.itnr 111 Nationality. British British British U.S.German British BritishU.S. U.S. U.S. British British U.S. U.S. U.S. Equivalent best type in Opposing Fortes. Me 108g. IW 190. He 177. Do 217es.Mitchell. J.188. Me 210.Me lOOf. J U.290 Do217e2. FVV 190. Mitsubishi NavyS-OO. Ju87. Aichi Navy K-y9.Mitsubishi Navy f* Q* 1Lf-y 1 -1. Do 22k. By way of commentary on the above list, the 0021702 is well armed, is faster, carries a greater bomb load, and is more ver- satile than the Mitchell. I have not taken into account the Constellation. This is essentially a civil type and is not yet in quantity production. A Typhoon modified to carry bombs, with its great fire-power, should prove deadly. A four-cannon Seafire should be just superior to a Corsair (practically the same fire-power and speeds, but the Seafire should gain on fly- ing characteristics). As no details have been released about the Barracuda, the Avenger is likely to be the best-known torpedo-bomber for a time. The Helldiver, now in production in quantities, supersedes the Dauntless. C. C. DAVIDSON. A Word for the ThunderboltW ITHOUT altering the operational class I suggest a few amendments to the aircraft type. First, I am of the opinion that the "Republican Thunder- bolt" is superior to the Spitfire Mk. IX in all respects at high altitudes. It has a higher ceiling and more manoeuvrability than the Spitfire. Furthermore, I am a 0.5m. wallah and I prefer the formidable battery of eight 0.5 m.g.s to the "corny " two 20-mm. cannon and four 0.303 machine guns of the "Spit." The best all-purpose fighter-bomber is the Whirlwind. Thirdly, in the naval dive-bomber category the Dauntless is inferior to the Curtiss A-25 Helldiver, which in my opinion will be the basis of all future development in the dive-bomber category. Finally, with regard to the naval torpedo bom tier: 1 con- sider it unfair to include the Barracuda because "officially" we know nothing of its merits. I should imagine the Grumman Avenger would compare very favourably with it. "SQUITA." More Amendments BY way of an answer to your correspondent "Ex-R.F.C.,"whose letter was published in your issue of March 4th, 1 should like to submit the following amendments to his list:— Operational Clas:. All-purpose Fighter/Bomber ..Long-range Fighter/Bomber .. Naval FighterLand-based Torpedo Bomber .. Naval Torpedo BomberTransport Flying Boat Aircraft Type. FW190Me 210 SeafireWellington AvengerBV822 Nationality. GermanGerman BritishBritish AmericanGerman You will notice that I have displaced our latest naval torpedo bomber from his list, referring to the Barracuda, not because of information detrimental to its reputation, but because of complete lack of information on its performance. This, I think, is the only amendment that needs any explanation. Doubtless some of your readers will disagree with me, and I should like to see what suggestions they have to ofler. W. G. ANGLISS. Some Alternatives HERE is the list I would think correct. It includes severalalternatives and alterations from that of "Ex-R.F.C." Single-seat fighter... intercepter High altitude fighter... Long range dayand night fighter Short range attackbomber ... , ... Long range fighterbomber - Light bomber recon-naissance Medium bomber ... ...'„ Heavy day bomber Spitfire V Hawker Typhoon Spitfire IX RepublicThunderbolt BristolBeaufighter Hurricane D.H. Mosquito Boston Mosquito BostonMitchell MarauderBaltimore Flying Fortress 2 .Heavy night bomber High altitude bom- ber-reconnaissance Low level armyreconnaissancfe ... Naval fighter ,, Land-based torpedo bomberNaval torpedo bom- berNaval dive bomber Land - based dive bomber ...Long range naval patrolTransport land plane Transport flying boat Lancaster (None good enough] MustangCorsair Seafire Beaufort AvengerDauntless Vengeance CataliiiaStratolina Mars R. E. GREGORY. Sunderland or Catalina ? AN Attempt to Rank Leading Designs," by " Ex-R.KC,"is very good. But in my opinion the palm for classes "Long-range Naval Patrol" and "Transport Landplane" should be given to Britain. Surely, the Sunderland. although an older boat, is superior to the Catalina, and now that the Sunderland II is in full production I am certain that the credit can be given 10 Short Bros. Although the American partner in naval patrol is doing a grand job, I think I am justilied in saying that Britain leads in this category, which is dcing so much in the
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