The Great Raid the Movie

[afi0yz]

[quote author=dcunning30
Oh yea, in Saving Private Ryan, at the end a P51 comes in low and spoils things for the Germans, and a guy says those are P51 tank busters.....  uh, yea...  ::)
[/quote]

maybe it was the expertise of the p51 squadron

[dcunning30]

maybe it was the expertise of the p51 squadron

Possibly, but P51's are quite vulnerable to ground fire.  One bullet pierce that radiator just behind the air scoop below the wing root and the plane is done for.  P47's were more suited for tank busting.

Often P51's went ranging for targets of opportunity, which meant they shot up aerodromes and other ground targets, but they weren't designated for such a role.

[Hagar]

The A-36A developed from the original P-51A was used for ground attack. http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/attack/a5/a5-12.htm

Unofficially named "Invaders," A-36As were assigned to the 27th and 86th Bombardment Groups (Dive), later redesignated as Fighter-Bomber Groups. In June 1943, the plane went into action from North Africa. During the Italian campaign, A-36A pilots flew bomber escort and strafing missions as well as ground support bombing attacks. A-36As also served with the 311th Fighter Bomber Group in India. Dive brakes in the wings gave greater stability in a dive, but they were sometimes wired closed due to malfunctions.

In 1944, AAF A-36As were replaced by P-51s and P-47s when experience showed that these high-altitude fighters, equipped with bomb racks, were more suitable for low-level missions than the A-36As.

[dcunning30]

Thanks Hagar,

I never knew that.  However, only 500 were built.  It didn't appear too successful.  And water cooled planes with a radiator on the bottom is still vulnerable to ground fire.  A radial engine can take a beating and still keep working, where one shot in the radiator or a coolant line meant the end of a water cooled engine.

[Hagar]

[quote]Thanks Hagar,

I never knew that.

[H]

... The average life of a Typhoon pilot in 1944 was much the same as a fighter pilot in 1916.

In April ...

[Wing Nut]

Threadjackers!  Back to the subject at hand...

I want to go see this thing, but I can't seem to find the time.  The twins take a lot of it, and other considerations take the rest.  I read Ghost Soldiers (on which this is based) and it was one of the most riveting books I have ever read.  In fact, the only one I can think of that held me more spellbound was (again, the book!) A Bridge too Far.

Best war movie ever is, of course:

Saving Private Ryan

Worst war movie ever:

Jet Pilot  :)

[Stormtropper]

Even though there are little mistakes here and there (I'm just really nit-picky about the aircrafts...but give them some credit, a dauntless probably looks exactly like a val to anyone that doesnt' spend 10 hours a day at simV )...

...over all, I think this is a must see movie...

[BFMF]

Threadjackers!

Does it surprise you that a thread can go from a ww2 movie to ww2 aircraft topics?

[H]

Does it surprise you that a thread can go from a ww2 movie to ww2 aircraft topics?

Or WW1: Bloody April !!