James Foreman

Comment Threads

• Trottelreiner commented on The jet lag game
  I guess the difference would be more like strategic vs. tactical bombing. BTW, AFAIK the precision attacks were carried out by Mosquitos, which were two-man multi-purpose planes with a maximum bomb load of about 2500 kg. While the Avro-Lancaster could take about 10000 kg. Range for the former, 1500 km, range for the latter, somewhat below 4100 km. With refueling, that might have changed, but the technology was AFAIK not operational in WWII. Well, I don't know how this translates to targets in Europe. And incidentally, quite some of the bigger air raids were in the later stages of the...
• Trottelreiner commented on The jet lag game
  Just played around a little bit with a distance calculator... It seems like most of the Rhein-Ruhr is quite comfortably in the range for the Mosquito (distance London to Dortmund or Cologne about 500 km), while Berlin or Munich are stretching it too far (about 900 km, e.g. 1800 km for the whole trip). Though with actual missions, e.g. dodging fighter attacks, returning with damage etc. there might be some modifiers....
• David L commented on The jet lag game
  OK. Fine. And riffing off Charlie's comment about experts and training, these precision things were not so much done technically as with experts and training. Likely lots of prep per mission. Today we could put some oxygen breathing people on the moon and get them back if we wanted to really do do. In a year or two. Maybe less if we really really wanted to do it. But to run there and back monthly with a base.... Yes sort of. In theory we do have the tech. But no one on the planet has the budget (or is willing...
• anonemouse commented on The jet lag game
  The (possibly made-up) story is that a Mosquito crew who wanted to show off could drop as many blockbuster bombs on a target as a Lancaster - while they could only carry one they could drop it, return to base, re-arm, and be back over the target before the Lancaster even arrived. Range-wise, we have thorough evidence of two Mosquito raids on Berlin in January 1943 - a special occasion, yes, but still demonstrates the possibility. I think perhaps your figures may neglect the wing tanks some versions could carry... But we're orbiting a Strange Attractor again, aren't we? Shutting...
• Trottelreiner commented on The jet lag game
  I think perhaps your figures may neglect the wing tanks some versions could carry... I am quite certain they do. ;) My main idea was that comparing feats of one weapon system to those of another one is tricky business, as is judging risks from said features. As the saying goes, no plan survives enemy contact. that's why he's called the enemy. But we're orbiting a Strange Attractor again, aren't we? Seconded....