WW2-1979 Graphics Showcase

[Eivind IV]

Hello there!

I am looking for these units (in nemo style), but can't seem to find them anywhere. Can any of you guys help me?

* Tupolev-3 Heavy Bomber
* SB2C Helldiver
* Wellington bomber

Thanks!

[fairline]

Pretty sure Tanelorn has covered most US Navy aircraft, if you search back far enough. I had a stab at a Wellington some time ago:

[Eivind IV]

Thanks! Now I only need the Tupolev 3. Has anyone done that?

[tanelorn]

What the...! Now that's a big red Mamma'!!!

[Eivind IV]

Yes, isn't she a beuty?!

[Galvatron]

Eh, just one question guys. I know with this question I might look dumb but hey that's nothing new for me

There looks like there are people sitting on top of the plane "Tupolev 3" on the first picture, while it's flying

Holy, what are they doing there? Paradudes? Hmm, I'm not an expert on parachuting but I think it's not a good idea to jump from the top of a plane. Or is this another part of the series for Russian tries to adapt western technology to their possibilities : This might be gunners, sitting on top of a plane with the bombs in their hand and when they reach their destination, they just throw them on the city? Or are these the version of Russian onboard technicians, in case a wing will loose itself he might fix it again with a glue?

[Palaiologos]

Actually to me it looks more like Anti-aircraft fire than people.

But if they were people then they are obviously manning the machine gun turret, almost all WW2 bombers had, to defend against enemy fighters.

Turrets like this were also on the aeroplanes' "bellies" and tails.

[curtsibling]

And in earlier 1930's bomber models, the AA turrets were open-air, similiar to WW1 era heavies.

Men were tough in those days!

[fairline]

I reckon that they're dead hard parachutists! If you look at the wing it appears to have a queue of 'em ready to jump off. I think those nutters are climbing out of the open top gun turret, on to the wing, and then sliding off. Madness. I suppose if they jumped straight out of the turret opening they'd get sliced by the tailplane.

Mind you, the Russian parachutists used to have it worse than this. They started out without parachutes and were trained to throw themselves out of low and slow aircraft. Apparently the advice given to them was to try and jump on something soft like a haystack . Iwonder how many hit something hard instead, like the ground, before the VDV adopted parachutes

[curtsibling]

More evidence of pure Russian hardcore!

[techumseh]

Originally posted by fairline
Mind you, the Russian parachutists used to have it worse than this. They started out without parachutes and were trained to throw themselves out of low and slow aircraft. Apparently the advice given to them was to try and jump on something soft like a haystack . Iwonder how many hit something hard instead, like the ground, before the VDV adopted parachutes

I dunno, Gareth. Not even the People's Commissariat of Heavy Boilers and Ankle Socks could come up with such a dumb plan.

[curtsibling]

Remember that parachutes were forbidden in WW1 too.

In case the pilot got cold feet and bailed out, abandoning the 'king's property'...

Such foolishness by the top brass of the warring factions cost the lives of many gallant men.

[techumseh]

Parachutes were forbidden in WWI? Not that I've ever heard of. They were developed late in that war by the Germans, and apparently used. As far as I'm aware, the allies did not have them until the war was over.


(edit) Sorry, I should remember to research first, speak second. Parachutes were developed in the 1700's and the first human use from an aircraft was in 1911. There is a reference in one net article to American generals refusing to authorize parachutes for WWI pilots because of a fear that they would abandon their aircraft at the first hint of danger. However, by 1916, the losses of trained pilots by the British and French was so high, that I'd be very surprised if they were deliberately withheld from use. I think I'm still correct in saying that only the Germans used them and only near the end of the war.

[curtsibling]

You are both right and wrong, sir.

It was the idea of parachutes that the leaders of the warring powers took offense to.

You will find that parachutes predate WW1...

[Panda]

...and they were used in the war by personnel manning observation balloons, just not by other aircrew.