Dam Busters

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally posted by John McGillivray
Also one should note that because of all the armament and armour on the B-17 it could carry only a very small bomb load, but had a larger crew. A Mosquito bomber could carry the same weight of bombs as the B-17, but at twice the speed.

Ah yes, that argument. While it's not quite correct, I freely confess to having used it in other fora, primarily to tweak the noses of some of the more anachronistic Americans one tends to run into.

Bombload vs range is the determining equation. On a long trip, such as to Berlin, the Fort could carry twice the load of a Mossie; on a short haul, such as into France, perhaps one and a half times the load. Medium distances is where the Mossie excelled, because it could carry the same load and far faster; not only that, but it could get away quicker after having dumped its load with far more accuracy than the average heavy bomber formation.

I feel there ARE reasonable arguments that our aircraft industry might have been better served to mass produce aircraft like the Mosquito - far fewer resources required, many more aircraft in service and fewer casualties even in daylight raids. Food for thought.

While we in the colonies have come to hate those insidious little biting insects, I can't help feeling the appellation for the aircraft is entirely apropos. Clouds of Mosquitos indeed!