Updates, new video tomorrow and more.
A new video goes up tomorrow. It's a non technical video about various P-47 missions in the South West Pacific. I think it's one of my best videos yet.
The new video should give a good feel for the types of missions Thunderbolts flew in that theater. One is a mission in which three new pilots got lost, seriously lost. There are some escort missions, two missions involving pilots being awarded the medal of honor. There is even a 1000 mile round trip ground attack mission. Obviously Thunderbolt ranges will be covered as quite a few of these missions are long range.
This is probably the last Thunderbolt video for a while. I didn't plan to make so many in a row, but after the debate I felt the need to put up the receipts.
The Bomber Mafia true believers seem to be changing their story, which is a strong sign of defeat for the few who remain. It's changed from "tank pressurization" and "Greg's 200 gallon metal Republic tank is imaginary", to what about the P-38's drop tank? Or why didn't the P-47 go to location X? Those are so comically easy to shoot down I'm not sure it's worth the trouble.
I have quite a few other videos in production, but I want to touch on P-51 vs. Dora turn performance as a Mustang pilot in a recent interview talked about a Dora out turning the 51. I think it's going to be fun to explore.
Greg
Comments (9)
Here is a fictional proposal: The fascist cult propagating war in the ETO and PTO found a way to influence the high level policy makers in the U.S. Bomber Command as a way of limiting damage to the factories in Germany. By making policies for no drop tanks on Army Air Force aircraft, it was more difficult to send fighter aircraft across the Atlantic and Pacific waters quickly. Long range operations, such as Greg detailed comparing distances to New Guinea targets with targets in Germany, could be limited.
Again, fantastic video. One issue that impacts range that is ignored is ACM tactics. E.g., you and I arrive on station, you drop your tanks first and fight, I keep my tanks for another 15 minutes, then drop and fight. This makes the entire flight fight longer.
Ok Greg, got a Q. I know turn rate is a function of stall and G limits of the pilot. I know (I think) drag impacts overall speed? You said you were surprised of the low drag on drop tanks. Then why drop them?? Is it because the weight of external stores increases the stresst at high G on the aircraft, thus reducing the G limit the pilot can use to sustain the tightest turn radius?
Hello Greg, how or where can I find the manuals you talk a lot in your superb videos? Links in old post do not seem to be working.
Sounds interesting, looking forward to it Greg! I happen to be reading up on the JAAF Hayabusa Sentai deployments around New Guinea. Be interesting to know if any of the Thunderbolt missions are in this neck of the woods. Logistics for these operations just blow my mind.
Before people lie to others, they usually lie to themselves. So, of course the Bomber Mafia believed their tale. And, before it was disproven, it was a nice theory to try out. But once it was obviously wrong, like so many, they simply doubled down on denial. And that is not only a very bad look, but a bad look that cost many lives.
The P-47 missions video sounds great. Looking forward to it.
I don't think it was malice on the part of the bomber mafia, I think the truly believed what they were saying, trying to come up with an alternative to the horrors of WW1 trench warfare..
It's baffling to me that people are still arguing about this issue, you certainly proved the math, and math dosent lie. I guess thiers a need by some people to protect the "greatest generation", eventhough they were simply humans who thought they were doing the right thing.