The Longest Bombing Mission Ever

[Gawdzilla Sama]

BTW, here's a poser: Which Pacific battle featured possible the shortest ever bombing missions?

From land or a carrier?

Land. If there were even shorter missions flown from off a carrier, I'd be shocked ...

From land. A bomber took of and bombed the enemy within sight of the strip. Location forgotten, of course.

Yup, that's the one. But can you remember the name?

[klr]

From land. A bomber took of and bombed the enemy within sight of the strip. Location forgotten, of course.

One of the Solomon Islands, where the marines were heavily engaged?

Close ... in fact I'd say there must have been some very short-range missions flown there, especially from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. But the island I'm thinking of is much smaller.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

From land. A bomber took of and bombed the enemy within sight of the strip. Location forgotten, of course.

One of the Solomon Islands, where the marines were heavily engaged?

Close ... in fact I'd say there must have been some very short-range missions flown there, especially from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. But the island I'm thinking of is much smaller.

Wake.

[klr]

Nope, Peleliu:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Peleliu

The Corsairs took off, did their business only a few hundred yards away - sometimes without having the time to retract their undercarriage - and then returned to base.

I am of course open to correction as to whether these really were the shortest ever missions. But they have to be in with a shout.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

So, do you recall the incident where a USAAF bomber downed a Zero without firing a shot?

[klr]

So, do you recall the incident where a USAAF bomber downed a Zero without firing a shot?

No, but I have a feeling I'm going to learn something new.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

So, do you recall the incident where a USAAF bomber downed a Zero without firing a shot?

No, but I have a feeling I'm going to learn something new.

We were bombing a Japanese runway that terminated at the beach. One Zero managed to get up speed to take off and was pacing a bomber, looking get around it and into the air. The pilot pickled off a bomb just ahead of him and the fighter flew into a column of water.

[Cormac]

aw c'mon - except for the Spitfire this got be the best looker



especially the night fighter version

two classics...

Beautiful.

[Sean Hayden]

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Wampyre?

[Sean Hayden]

Sea Vixen, they did also make the Vampire though.

[klr]

So, do you recall the incident where a USAAF bomber downed a Zero without firing a shot?

No, but I have a feeling I'm going to learn something new.

We were bombing a Japanese runway that terminated at the beach. One Zero managed to get up speed to take off and was pacing a bomber, looking get around it and into the air. The pilot pickled off a bomb just ahead of him and the fighter flew into a column of water.

Good one. Didn't an F-15E take out an Iraqi helicopter with an LGB in the first Iraq war?

Yup:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_engage ... Hughes_500

An F-15E strike eagle fighter/bomber dropped a laser guided bomb onto a chopper in the air. The chopper was on the ground initially loading up commandos, though it took off. Even with it taking off they left the laser on it and the bomb hit it when it was "200 or so" feet in the air. A special forces team on the ground witnessed the event.[2]

...

Ah, the de Havilland Sea Vixen*. Only the Royal Navy could manage to commission an aircraft that looks both beautiful and somewhat unsightly at the same time.

*Zilla: Same company as the Vampire, just later.

SNAP! Beaten to it again,

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Luckily, you didn't want to step on a Vampire.

[Jason]

It looks like it was inspired by that Luftwaffe monstrosity.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

It looks like it was inspired by that Luftwaffe monstrosity.