I recpgnise this series of pictures from one of my refence books - I think several places say the bomber made it home but the reports are wrong and it was actually lost with all crew. Il have to see if I can find the info on it as I remember it being an itneresting read
V
EDIT - Found an online reference - http://www.daveswarbirds.com/b-17/tail3.htm
Salute
In standard Squadron and Wing formation, this type of thing would not happen. The placement of aircraft within the formation allows all the planes to bomb without hitting one of their own.
However, when one of the bombers fell out of formation as a result of flak or enemy fighter attack, you could see this type of occurance.
Here is a standard 3 aircraft element formation diagram:
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Four elements make up a Squadron box:
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Below is a photo of parts of two elements, in the distance can be seen a Squadron box:
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Photo taken just after bomb release.
3 Squadrons would make up a Bomb Group of 36 aircraft. The three Squadrons would be organized as 'Lead', 'Low' and 'High'.
In turn, three Bomb Groups would make up a Combat Wing, again organized as 'Lead', 'High' and 'Low'.
All of these aircraft had to take their positions after takeoff, in the course of forming up over England, prior to setting out for their targets in Germany. Sometimes, in the case of large 1000 plane raids, it would take two hours for all the aircraft to get into their formations. The various Combat Wings would be strung out in a line, which could be hundreds of miles in distance.
Aircraft, elements, Squadrons and Groups were always staggered high/low so that the aircraft were closer together and their guns could protect all aircraft in the formation:
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Photos and diagrams courtesy 398th Bomb Group:
http://www.398th.org/index.html
There was never any time when the density of aircraft in war was greater than during the Battles over Germany, we will never see such formations again.
In February, RAF74 will be holding an online campaign recreating 'BIG WEEK', the decisive battle in February of 1944, when the 8th AAF began to assert its dominance over the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Germany.
We are particularly looking for players who enjoy flying heavy bombers in formation, B-17's and B-24's, to participate in this online campaign.
Any Squadron or individual who is interested should contact us at our website or PM me here.
http://www.raf74.com/
The plane didn't make it home safely according JG53-Valentine's link.Originally posted by SkyPiggies:
I don't know the identity of the damaged plane, but would be surprised if it got back safely.
"later information revealed that the B-17 went straight down and crashed, with all crew lost"
Sad but true...
http://www.airwarweb.net/usaaf/8af_1944-05.php
It seems that 16 fortresses were lost on this raid
Salute
As per above source:
FRIDAY, 19 MAY 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):
Mission 358: 888 bombers and 700 fighters are dispatched to hit targets in Germany; very heavy cloud cover forces the bombers to use H2X PFF methods; Luftwaffe resistance is heavy and 28 bombers and 19 fighters are lost; the fighters claim 77-0-33 Luftwaffe aircraft:
1. 588 B-17s are dispatched to Berlin; 495 hit the primary, 49 hit the port area at Kiel and 1 hits a target of opportunity; 16 B-17s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 289 damaged; 3 airmen are KIA, 16 WIA and 137 MIA.
2. 300 B-24s are dispatched to the industrial area at Brunswick; 272 hit the primary and 1 bombs a target of opportunity; 12 B-24s are lost and 64 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 8 WIA and 119 MIA.
Escort is provided by 155 P-38s, 182 P-47s and 363 P-51s of the Eighth Air Force and 264 Ninth Air Force aircraft; the P-38s claim 0-0-2 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 1-0-0 on the ground, the P-47s claim 29-0-16 in the air and 2-0-0 on the ground and the P-51s claim 41-0-5 in the air and 4-0-10 on the ground; 4 P-38s, 4 P-47s and 11 P-51s are lost; 2 P-38s are damaged beyond repair; 5 P-38s, 4 P-47s and 7 P-51s are damaged; 17 pilots are MIA.