Lancaster had far better payload, far better range and smaller crew. B-17 had better ceiling, better defensive armament and more rugged construction.
Was the B-17 the best bomber?
Most agree, given the above criteria, that the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is the best bomber ever built. Apparently, the US military felt the same way. The baker one-seven was not fully retired from active service until the late 1960s!
Was the Lancaster bomber any good?
Nevertheless, the Lancaster was far and away the most effective British heavy bomber of World War II, being far superior to its main competitor, the Halifax, in tons of bombs dropped per man-hour expended in production and maintenance.
Which was better B-24 or Lancaster?
While the B-24 had a better capacity than its competitor, the Lancaster far outshone them both. At maximum bomb load, the B-24 could carry 8000 lbs of ordinance, split between the two bomb bays.
Which was a better aircraft B-17 or B-24?
The B-24 was a faster plane having a greater range and payload capacity. However, in the ETO, the B-24 operated with the B-17 which constrained the aircraft’s operating speed. The B17 was a sedate aircraft and placed fewer demands on the flight deck crew. The B-17 was also an easier aircraft to fly in formation.
What was the toughest bomber in ww2?
The heaviest bomber of World War II was the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, which entered service in 1944 with a fully pressurized crew compartment (previously used only on experimental aircraft) and as many as 12 . 50-inch machine guns mounted in pairs in remotely-controlled turrets.
What is the most feared bomber?
The Boeing B-29 was the biggest American bomber of the Second World War, but perhaps what made it the most deadly was that it was the aircraft that dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which in a way makes the aircraft infamous.
What is the best bomber ever built?
This advanced aircraft was never offered for sale to any other country, even NATO allies.
- The B-2 is almost invisible to radars due to its sophisticated design and radar-absorbent coating.
- This plane carries a powerful array of weaponry.
- Currently the B-2 Spirit is the best bomber ever built.
What was the most successful ww2 plane?
The P-51 is widely regarded as the finest all-around piston-engined fighter of World War II to have been produced in significant numbers. Approximately 1,500 Merlin-powered Mustangs were used by the RAF for daylight duties over Europe, and the plane was produced under license in Australia toward the end of the war.
What is U.S. most advanced bomber?
US Air Force will unveil its advanced new B-21 Raider stealth bomber on Dec. 2. Its manufacturer describes the B-21 as “the most advanced military aircraft ever built.”
How many Lancaster bombers were lost?
3,736
The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engine heavy bomber used by the Royal Air Force and other Commonwealth air forces during World War II. Of the 7,377 aircraft built, 3,736 were lost during the War (3,249 in action and 487 in ground accidents).
Which was better Lancaster or Halifax?
The main limitation was that the Halifax spread it over six compartments while the Lancaster had a single compartment (having been designed to be able to carry torpedos) which allowed it to carry much larger bombs than the Halifax. Range, ceiling and speed were similar with the Lancaster having the advantage.
What was the life expectancy of a Lancaster bomber crew?
The Lancaster was one of the most dangerous places to be in the entire war – the life expectancy of a new recruit was just two weeks.
Did the B-17 sink any ships?
The first great success attributed to the B-17 was the sinking of the Japanese battleship Haruna off Luzon during the invasion of the Philippines, by a Fortress piloted by Colin Kelly, who thereby became one of the first American popular heroes of World War Two.
How many B-17s were shot down?
In addition, air crews liked the B-17 for its ability to withstand heavy combat damage and still return its crew safely home. Between 1935 and May 1945, 12,732 B-17s were produced. Of these aircraft, 4,735 were lost during combat missions.
Is the B-17 hard to fly?
The rugged B-17s would often return with many of their working parts shot up, but the Flying Fortress earned its reputation as one of the toughest planes to fly in World War II.
Which fighter shot down the most planes in WW2?
It is accurate to state that the P-38 did shoot down more Japanese aircraft than any other USAAF plane with 1,857, with the P-40 running a close second at 1,633.5.
What was the weakest plane in WW2?
According to the Smithsonian Air and Space Magazine, the worst plane of the Second World War was a piloted rocket made of wood, that did not have any landing gear. Yep, it’s already sounding bad. The plane was the Bachem Ba 349.
What plane was shot down the most in WW2?
Which plane shot down the most planes in WW2? As others have said, it pretty much has to be the Messerschmitt Bf-109. The Bf-109 was a fine, modern fighter – though it was getting a bit old by the end of the war.
What is the most Unsafest plane?
Top 5 Most Dangerous Aircraft Models
- Tupolev Tu 154 – 7 Fatal Crashes.
- CASA C-212 – 11 Fatal Crashes.
- Ilyushin Il- 76 – 17 Fatal Crashes.
- LET L-410 – 20 Fatal Crashes.
- Antonov 32 – 7 Fatal Crashes.
Who is the deadliest pilot in history?
Erich Hartmann
20 May 2022. Erich Hartmann, sometimes referred to as the ‘Black Devil’, is the deadliest fighter pilot in history, having downed 352 Allied planes during World War Two over the course of some 1,400 missions.