Interesting B-24 Photo...Info?

[Dennis7423]

All-

Here is an interesting photo I found online of a B-24 dropping what appear to be paper drop tanks like those carried on P-51's... and idea what they filled these with and dropped? Some sort of napalm perhaps?



-Dennis S.
Arvada, CO

Editied By Mod

[Matt Gunsch]

Edited by Mod

as far as the pic, my guess is napalm, since it was dropped in long range tanks.

[lestweforget]

Interesting pic. My guess would be napalm too but I had no idea that heavies dropped it. I thought it was more of a tactical , low level weapon. The Libs are in formation and appear to be at altitude, although I could be wrong on that one. Can anyone tell from the tail codes what unit and theatre?

[lestweforget]

Hello Dennis. A wee bit of digging and I found this. Was news to me too. Look in the picture library , gallery six, under Picaddilly Commando. http://www.the467tharchive.org/frame.html

[Dennis7423]

Very interesting! Thanks for the link, excellent information supplied there. Didn't know that napalm was used in this role in Europe, and at this altitude.

-Dennis S.
Arvada, CO

[Jack Cook]

Here another shot of the bombs...

B-17G E-RAT-ICATOR 452nd BG

[Tulio]

Jack,

Aren't those, the "paper" fuel tanks used in the ETO?


Saludos,


Tulio

[Jack Cook]

Same method of manufacture different use though.
BTW the some paper tanks will be flying on a P-51 soon

[Tactic]

Aren't those the cluster type fire bombs that were dropped on Japan? They would tumble through the air, and break apart releasing little incineratory (sp?) bomblets that would rain down on the cities.

Early in the war B-24s and B-17s were used until the 29s arrived.

That would be my guess

[Jack Cook]

No, there napalm canisters.