What-If: Air to air rockets for US heavy bombers
Here's a video that was posted on the FW groups list:
Aside from the proposal for B-24s, it has a good deal of extra information.
An interesting what-if possibility, as well as a sigh of relief that the Germans never got a proximity fuse working for their ATA rockets.
Karl
It is impossible for a man to begin to learn what he thinks he knows. -- Epictetus
A flawed idea but interesting that they tested the concept. Thanks for posting it, Karl.
Sapiens qui vigilat... "He is wise who watches"
Interestingly enough, this concept lead to the USAF's first air-to-air guided missile, the (initially) AAM-A-2 (then) GAR-1 and (finally) AIM-4 Falcon. A very problematic missile, but then, it being the first, it was naturally going to have a bunch of problems which only extensive research, testing, and use would figure out. But this project in itself was a necessary first step.
Never come across this before - many thanks for posting the video, Karl!
I laugh in the face of danger - then I hide until it goes away!
Good article Karl, even though a bit Heath Robinsonesque
I'm not sure I can agree on that. If the fighter threat had stayed high, this would have been a good way to reduce it, and possibly deter the technique.Originally Posted by camel crew
The fighters were attacking at the area of least firepower. Frontal attacks were done for the same reason, hence the increase in MG firepower into the frontal arc (at least on the B-17).
Karl
It is impossible for a man to begin to learn what he thinks he knows. -- Epictetus
I wonder if tis was Dale Brown's inspiration for "Stinger missiles as air mines" on the titular B-52 in Flight of the Old Dog.
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