Can someone please tell me the formation and distances between planes used by the USAAF bombers flying over europe during WW2? Some diagrams will be amazing!
Thanks

Hi,

Google is my friend

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

OFF

Hi Sratos,

There is I think no specific answer. According to Freeman in his book the Mighty 8th they changed the formation several times based on experience, and as they had more planes available. I attach (hopefully) a series of pages from a book called "The Bombers" by Robin Cross which devotes a whole section to 8th AF Bomber formations.










I do not know how accurate they are but I hope it helps and yes I too only count 33 not 36 in the last diagram.

Cheers

Peter

Hi Stratos!
Here's some links to some posts I somehow remembered and dug up from the SimHQ archives. The links look awfully long so I hope they work, and that they are some help.
Here

and here

Regarding distances between bombers, from memory I think they used to work on two wingspans between aircraft in the individual 3 ship elements. Early on they used to fly with extremely tight formations, but on several occasions when a fully loaded element lead ship was hit by enemy fire, it blew up and took down the other two ships of the element. After that, distances were extended.

Chompy.

EDIT URL's

This might be of interest too. It shows the cost of getting out of formation.



Just note the Germans gun!

Hi,

Col .. seem's you read the exellent book
Shot At And Missed from Myers

OFF

Yep, and he tells it like it was.

Hi Guys,

Yes a good book and the shot of the 410 is most interesting as it proves the A-1/U4 version with the 50mm BK-5 cannon from the SdKfz 234-2 Puma armoured car did actually fly combat missions. Back in 1964 or thereabouts I bought the Frog 1/72 scale model of the Me 410, an aircraft I had never heard of at the time. It could be built as either a B model bomber/recce aircraft or the A-1/U4 but I had my doubts the latter ever saw service. This book proves it did - it is currently in bits in a box in my attic - I might just rebuild it.

Cheers,

Peter