Bomber Boxes - Training Film

**Zoe Brain** · 11-20-2014 07:22

B-17 & B-24 Bombing Missons: "Target for Today" 1944 US Army Air Forces Training Film World War II

**Naharaht** · 11-20-2014 11:37

That is an interesting 'find', Zoe. Well done again!

**Flying Officer Kyte** · 11-20-2014 14:12

Incredible find Zoe.
It makes you feel as if you were in a briefing at the time.
The amount of information will take me some time, and more than one viewing to assimilate.
Just a pity we do not have an R.A.F. equivalent.
Rob.

**gully_raker** · 11-20-2014 15:12

Yes there are some good Docos becoming available.
I have that one on a DVD with 3 other similar ones.

**Naharaht** · 11-20-2014 18:50

Originally Posted by Flying Officer Kyte

Incredible find Zoe.
It makes you feel as if you were in a briefing at the time.
The amount of information will take me some time, and more than one viewing to assimilate.
Just a pity we do not have an R.A.F. equivalent.
Rob.

Perhaps there is an R.A.F. equivalent. In 1941 a film was made called 'Target for Tonight'.

**Marechallannes** · 11-21-2014 07:55

I'm pretty shure the bomber crews were a little bit displeased about the film titel.

Being targets by themselves in the skies over Germany...

**gully_raker** · 11-21-2014 15:34

Originally Posted by Marechallannes

I'm pretty shure the bomber crews were a little bit displeased about the film titel.

Being targets by themselves in the skies over Germany...

**Flying Officer Kyte** · 11-22-2014 01:55

Another interesting insight into the period.
Thanks Dave.
Rob.

**Zoe Brain** · 12-02-2014 03:32

The WGS formation corresponding to a standard 3-ship "bomber box". Lead, low ship down sun, high ship up sun.

**Naharaht** · 12-02-2014 22:03

Yes, but in reality the altitude differences between the bombers in a box would not be as great as that represented by one peg, Zoe.

**Zoe Brain** · 12-03-2014 01:03

Originally Posted by Naharaht

Yes, but in reality the altitude differences between the bombers in a box would not be as great as that represented by one peg, Zoe.

I'm not so sure - one peg is about 1-1.25cm. The ground scale is about 1:2000-2400. So a peg is somewhere between 20-30 metres. Call it 100 ft. That is, unless there's some vertical exaggeration. 100 ft works well with the simplified altitude rules.

**Naharaht** · 12-03-2014 15:11

Zoe, the maximum altitude for a B-17 is 12 pegs. The service ceiling for a B-17 was 35,000 feet. Ares treats 1 peg as being just off the ground, so each of the remaining eleven pegs will represent over 3000 feet.

**Zoe Brain** · 12-03-2014 16:39

Originally Posted by Naharaht

Zoe, the maximum altitude for a B-17 is 12 pegs. The service ceiling for a B-17 was 35,000 feet. Ares treats 1 peg as being just off the ground, so each of the remaining eleven pegs will represent over 3000 feet.

And thus the ability for an aircraft of climb rate 2 to climb 3000ft in 8-10 seconds...(4 cards).

**Naharaht** · 12-04-2014 06:52

The horizontal and vertical scales are different and there is no way to reconcile or combine them. It is a quirk of the game mechanics, which I guess we will have to live with.

**Flying Officer Kyte** · 12-04-2014 12:21

Originally Posted by Naharaht

The horizontal and vertical scales are different and there is no way to reconcile or combine them. It is a quirk of the game mechanics, which I guess we will have to live with.

As indeed it is with most Wargames Dave. At least we don't have to worry about 30 figures representing 600, who can all hide behind a barn.
Rob.

**Zoe Brain** · 12-04-2014 18:32

Originally Posted by Naharaht

The horizontal and vertical scales are different and there is no way to reconcile or combine them.

There is if you just multiply the ceiling figures by 10. It's still out, 20 would be better, but close enough. Then use the simplified altitude rules, and you get results pretty close to reality.

**7eat51** · 12-08-2015 20:02

Thank you for pointing us to this, Zoe. I just finished watching it. I was not aware of all that went into preparing for such a run, or the issue of setting fuses on the bombs. This was a very informative and enjoyable film. I really liked the graphics.