World War two was one of the first true modern wars, in the sense that rather than relying on manpower, this war relied on who could muster the most impressionable machines and weapons. This extravagant display of industrial prowess could not have been better suited to nation than it was to the United States. Known for its massive manufacturing capacity, the United States was able to produce in the most prolific way possible. This learned ingenuity was prevalent on many platforms, but one of the most influential was the aviation produced during this war.
While many impressive aircraft were produced during this war, one of the most destructive was the B-17 bomber. This was nicknamed the flying fortress, because that is what it was. Introduced to the army corps in 1938, Boeing's B-17 was an impressive aircraft designed specifically for bombing. These were an amazing resource, as it was a high-flying aircraft capable of defending itself and returning home despite stunning damage. They were used primarily in order as continuous air-raids on German cities, in an attempt to lower moral and disperse the troops. Often times they were able to create some disruption, but it took a while to nail the correct way to use these airplanes.
One such problem with the B-17 bombers was seen in the bombing of Schweinfurt, where they tried to attack in a simple air offensive over Germany. This attack was a catastrophe for the allies, because the planes were not accompanied by fighter jets and were quickly shot down by the German fighters. However, from this moment the Allies were able to start to build the proper offense with these planes, equipping them with accompanying fighters and planning attacks more strategically. As such, these planes became some of the most useful machines of the war. They bombed many cities, and were helpful to the war focused on people's morals and ability to keep supplying for the war effort.
Cool article, it was very easy to follow and understand. I do think it would be cool to perhaps add some statistics about American production for aircrafts. It's interesting how although American war technology had already advanced so much, bombers were still dependent on fighters to be effective. This website has some statistics on war production that really shows how America surpassed other nations:http://www.nationalww2museum.org/learn/education/for-students/ww2-history/ww2-by-the-numbers/wartime-production.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/
ReplyDeleteToward the end of the Pacific War in particular, I think that the Japanese air force lacked both experienced pilots and planes, so which one was air superiority usually determined by? Also, I think one of the documentaries said that Japanese fighters were faster but more fragile; is that an advantage or disadvantage, and why were kamikaze attacks encouraged?
ReplyDeleteOverall the article is informative, particularly of the strategies of bombing with the B-17.
Your article was fun to read and easy to comprehend! Its interesting on of the major effects of using the aircrafts was a reduce in morale for the Germans, that surprised me. There were multiple different types of aircrafts in use, how do you think the outcomes would have been different if there were only one type of aircraft?
ReplyDeleteI like your article, it was interesting and short, but also very interactive. I find it interesting that you interpreted both the pro's and con's of the B-17 bombers. Without the attack at Schweinfert would the Allies have had different results in the war? Do you think the B-17 were used for different tactics as well as bombing German cities?
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