The German Luftwaffe pilots called the B-17 formations “Pulk” or herd. It was kind of a scary sight for the Luftwaffe pilots. As they close in on the formation, they were going about 800km/h or 500 mph. They only had less than a second to fire their weapons and then take action to evade fire from the B-17’s themselves.
What did the Luftwaffe think of the B17?
Enemy pilots gained a healthy respect for the tail guns. ‘A German pilot did once say that attacking a B-17 formation from behind was like trying to make love to a porcupine that is on fire,’ Walt Miller, Former 0311/0302 at United States Marine Corps (1973-1993), explains on Quora.
How many German fighters did B-17s shoot down?
After the Second Raid on Schweinfurt, USAAF gunners aboard the B-17 bombers claimed to have shot down 138 German fighters. German records show that 38 were lost and 20 were damaged. German fighter pilots claimed they shot down 121 bombers and 1 fighter.
What was the life expectancy of a B-17 crew?
Nothing in the peacetime lives of thousands of young Americans had prepared them for the violence that lay ahead. Although such statistics were not circulated among Army Air Forces crews, the average life expectancy of an Eighth Air Force B-17 in late 1943 was 11 missions.
How good were German pilots in ww2?
German pilots from World War II still top the list of fighter pilots with the most kills. While the Nazi Luftwaffe was largely absent during the final years of the war, at the outset German pilots racked up victories against inferior opponents.
What plane did German pilots fear the most?
They called it a ‘fork-tailed devil. ‘ Key point: The P-38 was a forerunner of modern multi-role fighters.
What plane did the Luftwaffe fear?
Among all of the Luftwaffe’s heavy fighter planes, it was the Messerschmitt Bf 110 that was the most revered (and feared). The Bf 110 featured 2 DB 600 V12 engines that produced anywhere between 900 and 1100 HP each (depending on the variant used).
What was the most feared German plane in WW2?
Junkers Ju87 Widely known as the “Stuka”, the Ju87 was one of the most feared aircraft during World War Two. It had a fearsome siren which terrified those who heard it.
Did the US ever shoot down Migs?
Indeed, during the first four months of the conflict, F-80Cs bore the brunt of the fighting against a numerically superior communist force by flying more than 15,000 sorties. A Shooting Star also shot down the first MiG-15 to fall to the USAF in the world’s first jet-versus-jet combat.
How effective were B-17 gunners?
The gunners were somewhat effective. The Luftwaffe determined the best way to approach B-17 formations was head on pretty early in the American attacks – BECAUSE the defensive machine gun fire resulted in losses using other approaches. B-17s didn’t have alot of firepower in the nose.
Did the B-17 have a toilet?
During World War 2, large bomber aircraft, such as the American Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and the British Avro Lancaster, carried chemical toilets (basically a bucket with seat and cover, see bucket toilet); in British use, they were called “Elsans” after the company that manufactured them.
How cold did it get in a B-17?
The planes were unheated and open to the outside air. The crew wore electrically heated suits and heavy gloves that provided some protection against temperatures that could dip to 60 degrees below zero.
What plane 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.
Who was the most feared pilot in ww2?
Erich Alfred Hartmann (19 April 1922 – 20 September 1993) was a German fighter pilot during World War II and the most successful fighter ace in the history of aerial warfare. He flew 1,404 combat missions and participated in aerial combat on 825 separate occasions.
Who shot down the most German planes in ww2?
Erich Hartmann
While serving in Germany’s Luftwaffe in World War II, Erich Hartmann flew more than 1,400 missions in the Messerschmitt Bf 109, enabling him to score an astonishing 352 kills. How did Hartmann get so good at dominating the skies over the Eastern Front?
Why did Luftwaffe pilots have so many kills?
The main reason German aces had so many kills is probably going to disappoint you: they had a lot more targets of opportunity than Brit, US, and Russian pilots. There were a whole lot of American, British, and Russian planes for the Germans to shoot down, and a lot fewer planes for the Allies to shoot down.
What fighter did the Germans fear the most?
The German military feared the P38 Lightning and its prowess as a fighter bomber. They nicknamed it “der Gabelschwanz-Teufel” or “the forked-tail devil.”
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.
Who was the most feared pilot?
The Red Baron
The so-called „Red Baron“ – Manfred von Richthofen – is probably the best-known fighter pilot in general. Red Baron is a household name, even for non-aviation fans. The Red Baron scored 80 kills in WWI – with his Fokker Dr. I.
What was the most feared tank in ww2?
Germany’s Tiger tank
Germany’s Tiger tank, whether in the form of the Tiger I or later Tiger II (King Tiger), was the most feared tank of WWII.
What is the most feared war plane?
Perhaps the most deadly in terms of potential, the B-2 Spirit was designed as a “deep-strike” aircraft with a payload of 40,000lbs of nuclear arms. With a payload that large, the devastation would be incalculable.