There's a vast body of literature on Bomber Command tactics and issues. From a force that in 1940 couldn't find the target, by 1945 it was one of the most powerful weapons of war in history.
The lower turret was discarded because it was generally difficult to make a good, usable one, and they were generally ineffective, as well as creating drag and sometimes instability. As previous posters have said, the Luftwaffe took advantage of this weakness, and the few aircraft that came back after a 'Schräge Musik' ('Jazz or 'slanted music') attack didn't know what had hit them. Most did not come back. The Sperry ball turret was probably the only truly
effective underside defence system in history. Canadian and Australian Bomber Command units experimented (independently) with ad hoc defensive experiments, but they were frowned upon.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schr%C3%A4ge_Musik
The Lancaster Navigator went from (in 1942/3 basically dead reckoning to in 1945 use of most of the modern aids an airways pilot today would recognise. I've just done an article on the Lanc Navigator for March 2008
Aeroplane, and researching it was fascinating; particularly as it's a role not often examined.
H2S was indeed named after the nasty smell, and as a code-name.
Cheers
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
