Lancaster, also called Avro Lancaster, the most successful British heavy bomber of World War II. The Lancaster emerged from the response by A.V. Roe & Company, Ltd., to a 1936 Royal Air Force specification calling for a bomber powered by two 24-cylinder Rolls-Royce Vulture engines.
What was the best ww2 British bomber?
the Lancaster
The most successful bomber of the Second World War, the Lancaster had room for a crew of seven men, boasted no less than eight Browning machine guns, and could carry an impressive payload of 15,000kg in fuel and bombs.
What was the most used bomber plane in ww2?
Developed by the Boeing Company in the 1930s, the B-17 was a four‑engine heavy bomber aircraft used by the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. It was a very effective weapons system, dropping more bombs during the war than any other American aircraft. Why was the B-17 called the “Flying Fortress”?
How many bombers did UK have in ww2?
In 1939 RAF Bomber Command had 23 operational bomber squadrons, with 280 aircraft. This modest force gave Britain the means to immediately strike back at Nazi Germany, but only against strictly military targets at first.
What was the most used plane in the Battle of Britain?
The most famous fighter aircraft used in the Battle of Britain were the British Hawker Hurricane and the German Messerschmitt Bf 109 E variant (Emil) single-engine fighters. These aircraft played a vital role in patrolling the skies.
Which is better 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 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.
Who had the best bombers in ww2?
1 Avro Lancaster – UK
It could not absorb the punishment of the American B-17 and had to bomb by night-spreading it’s bombs over large cities. By far the best bomber of the war. Carried a comparable bomb load to the B-29 years earlier. It took more than two B-17s to carry a comparable load into Germany.
What was the best ww2 dive bomber?
The Douglas SBD Dauntless was sturdy enough for pilots to dive at a near-vertical 80 degrees. The US Navy’s primary dive-bomber at the war’s start, the bomber earned its reputation—and helped earn victory—at the 1942 Battle of Midway, sinking four Japanese carriers.
What British bombers were used in ww2?
British Dive/Torpedo Bombers
- Blackburn B-24 Skua.
- Brewster SB2A Buccaneer (Scout Bomber)
- Hawker Typhoon (Fighter Bomber)
- Fairey Barracuda.
- Fairey Albacore.
- Fairey Swordfish.
- Grumman TBF Avenger.
- Vickers Vildebeest.
Which British pilot had the most kills in ww2?
Frank Reginald “Chota” Carey (7 May 1912 – 6 December 2004) was a Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter pilot and flying ace credited with 23 enemy aircraft shot down, six shared destroyed, four unconfirmed destroyed, seven probable, two destroyed on the ground and ten damaged.
Which British pilot shot down the most planes in ww2?
Braham was the most highly decorated airman in RAF Fighter Command. He claimed the destruction of 29 enemy aircraft. In addition, he claimed a further six damaged and four probable victories.
How many German vs British planes were lost?
More than 1700 Luftwaffe (German air force) planes were destroyed. The 2662 German casualties included many experienced aircrew, and the Luftwaffe never fully recovered from the reverse it suffered in August-October 1940. The Royal Air Force (RAF) lost 1250 aircraft, including 1017 fighters.
Which was better P51 or Spitfire?
In most cases, the Spitfire had better performance as an all-purpose fighter. The all-important climb rate for a P51D sat at 3200ft per minute whilst the Spitfire could climb at an impressive 3650ft per minute. The maximum speed of a P51D was 437mph whilst the Spitfire was slightly faster at 448mph.
What was the fastest British plane in ww2?
The Tempest emerged as one of the most powerful fighters of World War II and was the fastest single-engine propeller-driven aircraft of the war at low altitude.
Which was faster Spitfire or mosquito?
The original estimates were that as the Mosquito prototype had twice the surface area and over twice the weight of the Spitfire Mk II, but also with twice its power, the Mosquito would end up being 20 mph (30 km/h) faster.
How many B 29 Superfortresses shot down?
B-29 gunners were credited with shooting down 27 enemy aircraft. In turn 78 B-29s were lost; 57 B-29 and reconnaissance variants were lost in action and 21 were non-combat losses. Soviet records show that one MiG-15 jet fighter was shot down by a B-29 during the war.
How many B 24s were shot down?
Flak varied from light to heavy and was, especially heavy over the city and very accurate. During the attack on Hamm, three B-24’s were shot down, and, for most of the crews, it was their last flight, because this would have been their thirtieth flight, earning them a return to the US.
What replaced the b29 bomber?
They were decommissioned in 1958, being replaced by de Havilland Comet aircraft. Two British Washington aircraft were transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 1952.
Does the UK have any bombers?
Royal Air Force aircraft and personnel have been integrating with United States Air Force B-52H Stratofortress Bombers from the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron as part of their 2022 Bomber Task Force mission.
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.