Medium bombers, now that's a new section / opinion poll in it self. Black widow P-61 can in no way qualify. I think you are thinnking of the A-20 which served in a night-fighting mode as well as being able to deliver a small payload. I would chose the B-25. Used in both theatres quite succesfully. Able to get down low like a Mossie and WAS the aircraft that took off of the Hornet. In pacific was a major anti-ship weapon using "skip-bomb" tactics and outfitted as the first gun ship. Monogram has great models of all 4 of these aircraft in 48th scale. I have them al...of course as long as I've had them some may be OOP

the b-29 he throw the atomic bombs if the lancaster or the liberator would be better the should have throw the atomic bombs.

Greetz Robster!

Steve i've heard that the B-25 was one heck of a good gun platform .I've seen the one up at the Bradley Air Museum and it says that it could mount a 57mm cannon.Andyou have to admire(i don't know if admire is really the word i'm looking for)the way the Doolittle raid was mounted and executed in very short order. (:-) (:-) (:-) (:-) (:-) (:-)

Dave, you are probably right about the 0.5 Brownings, I have pictures that my mate took, I'll try and find them. You are also correct in that the "crew" will fly the only flying lancaster in this country, the one maintained by the BBMF. The other Lancaster Sally B? Is in fact, I believe, cabable of flight but due to the cost is not flown, It does do taxi runs and you can pay to have a ride. I can't remember where this aircraft is housed, I'll ask my mate and get back.
If we are getting into mediums, then my pick would probably be the B-25, but the B-26 is certainly up there, I think I'm correct that there were fewer B-26 crews lost than from any other medium bomber? I also love the P-61and of course the Mosquito.
Mal

Hi Rob
I believe that lancasters were actually being modified, or there potential for being modified was being looked into, before the B-29 came on the scene. Far better that an American super weapon be dropped by an American Plane. There is no doubt? That had the B-29 not been born then the task of dropping the A-bombs would have fallen to the Lancaster.
Mal

Getting back to the heavies can anyone tell me what happened to the Halifax(i believe)that they found in Norway a few years ago?It may be as much as a decade. (:-) (:-) (:-) (:-) (:-) (:-)

The remains of the Halibag removed from the Norwegian lake are on display in the RAF Museum at Hendon.
Mal - Sally-B is the B17 that they fly on the program. I have been on board that plane, and used to be a member of the preservation society. 'Sally B' is from the Elly Sallingboe, the partner of the man that rescued the 'plane; and the chequered cowling on the starboard inner is in honour of Ted White the rescuer/former owner who died flying a Harvard with that design on the cowl.

Had the plane deteriorated so much that they were'nt able to restore it? (:-) (:-) (:-) (:-) (:-) (:-)

Most of it is just the framework, when I saw it it was posed as if it in the edge of the lake. There is no chance of a restoration, just not enough of it left.

Thats a shame it would have been nice to see a fully restored one.Do they have any Wellingtons at Hendon? (:-) (:-) (:-) (:-) (:-) (:-)

According to their website there is a MkX, but I don't remember seeing it. Also confirmed that the Halifax is still incomplete and displayed 'as recovered'.

http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/index.cfm

Medium bomber? my vote goes to the B-25 Mitchell...for thei flight crews sheer courage taking off of carriers at a time when it was debatable as to weather they could...but, this is the Heavy Bombers question...and it's a tie btwn the lanc and the lib...end of disscussion.

now, jimbrae, as for that "trailer" comment, i live in alabama, center of the deep south, heart of dixie and in montgomery the cradle of the confederacy. That jab was hurtfull, both to me and the manager of the Pine Crest Overlook Trailer Park. hehe...not really...just kidding...he didn't mind at all. You should see the new wheels Santa is bringing for my humble abode. you would be jealous...el jimbo

no, i guess everyone is on yer case fro the snappycomeback towards tom so, quit or go to your room.
Tom, fellow southerner, you are coming across abit overbearing in this and the other forums that you have added to...maybe its just your personality and we're not used to it...personally i can adapt...so just be aware of this when you next enter into a forum, dont stop adding your views...this is a community and ALL views are welcomed here.......merry christmas to all...

I don't know the Wellington could take a hell of a beating.And don't worry up north we don't think everyone down south lives in a trailer park.We just think everyone who appears on Jerry Springer does.(joke)My sister and brother-in -law used to live in a trailer park in Fla.A really nice trailer park.But i would'nt want to live in one not in Fla.Not with those hurricanes. (:-) (:-) (:-) (:-) (:-) (:-)

I am thinking of starting the New Year with two new topics. One is the value of trailer parks which seems to have captivated and motivated discussion and the other is feasibility of starting the American draft system. Where was I? Ah, bombers. I just noticed that in the basement I have a 1/32 Beaufighter. Nice looking aircraft. I may self-motivate myself based on this discussion to finally start it.
DJ

For some reason I thought the Lancaster I was refering to was called the Sally-B as well, I knew it had a picture of some dorris painted on the nose, it is in fact "Just Jane"

The rear guns are 0.5 inch.

Mal

Mal-- very nice photos. Where did you get them?
DJ

here's the noseart of the exact plane i flew in....

gotta love them flyboys (:-)

WOW! That is a beautifully maintained aircraft. Where was the shot taken?
DJ

Not sure DJ...lifted it from another site...all the photos i shoot during my flight are packed away and would take a medium to help find em'...but rest assured when i do, i'll post a couple. (:-)

Kevin-- is this B-24 a member of the Confederate Air Force?
thanks
DJ

I got them from my work colleage, the one that took the taxi ride in her. She is housed at East Kirkby and one day I hope to be able to take the ride which I'm sure, from listening to my mates discription of the experience, will only reinforce my belief that the Lancaster was the best heavy bomber of WWII :-)
Mal

I remember watching the History channel i believe.They had an interview with a B-24 pilot who said that the B-24 was a very tiring plane to fly .I think he compared it to driving a bus.No doubt about its punch though. (:-) (:-) (:-) (:-) (:-) (:-)

This B-24 is owned by the Collins Foundation in MA. The other side has the name "All American". I have flown in this plane and it is supurbly restored and maintained.

The Confederate Air Force's (Now Commerative Air Force) B-24 is "Diamond Lil". Technicly it is a converted YB-40. I was a member of the CAF and belonged to the wing that flew "Diamond Lil" and "FIFI" the B-29.

My Uncle Ben was 4F in the war & he worked in manufacturing the B-24's. He told me that the cheif complaints of the crews against the B-24's were:
1)Very tiring, cramped & uncomfortable. The cramped aspect also made bailout very diffficult, as access to escape hatches was incredibly restricted.
2)He also told me that due to the lack of a carry-through midspar, the wings had an unfortunate tendency to fold up when subjected to stresses like damage or overloading. He also said that the modifications needed to rectify this would have reduced the bombload by 2-3000 lbs, unacceptable to the war manuf. board-so off they flew on a wing & a prayer...

DJ- I have an airshow walkaround of both Diamond Lil & FiFi in My gallery.
Monte- any Idea who they used as the model for the Diamond lil Noseart? She's Gorgeous!

As to mediums, I have to say I'm split btwn the Welly & the B-26. I've always loved the Geometric framework of the welly & the fact that it could sustain gobs of damage & keep flying. Made for an ideal low-level precision bomber.
The -26 bbecause it was super adaptable and a hot-rod. Somewhere I saw an article about the Air America B-26's used in the Belgian Congo on Low level Strafing& pinpoint anti-armor/AA supression missions. Sounded very intense.

With the playground one-upsmanship out of the way, perhaps we can get back to talk of MODELING ???

To those who may not be aware, the Wellington Bomber was designed as a departure from the norm. Its frame was a geodetic structure, and it was thus able to sustain much more surface damage while maintaining its structural integrity vs. typical semi-monocoque designs. A partial cutaway:


As soon as I can track down the site I pulled this from I'll post it. Very interesting stuff there.