Would the gunner have to be lucky? I don't mean a group of B17s. I mean one gunner in a turret against a fighter.
2007-01-17 08:59:42 · 9 answers · asked by Bill Spry 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
An interesting question.
The M2 .50 caliber machine gun has considerable hitting power. Theoretically, yes, in a non-crossing shot (no deflection) so the gunner can track for a few seconds, with a long enough burst.
Historically, there is no confirmed instance, in the ETO, of a single bomber gunner knocking down a fighter. Propaganda mentioned stories about gunner "aces"- untrue.
Usually, the best a gunner would do would be a quick 1/2 second burst in a high deflection shot. This might be enough to make the fighter break off,or shoot badly; which is the gunner's job actually...
2007-01-17 09:08:26 · answer #1 · answered by jim 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sure, a 50 cal bullet can go through armor; it would have no trouble tearing up a thin-skinned fighter & even smash its engine to pieces. Obviously, the bullets had to hit the plane, so the skill of the gunner came into play but luck really had little to do with it.
The 50 cal is still in use today.
2007-01-17 09:20:21 · answer #2 · answered by Celt 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Russians seem to be toying with us lately. It's happened a lot in Canada recently as well, one incident resulted in two Canadian CF-18 jets being scrambled to intercept two Russian Tupolev Tu-95 "Bear" bombers, coincidentally the day before Barack Obama visited Canada. As for actually shooting them down? I'd say no. Breaching airspace is one thing, but destroying a multi-million dollar aircraft without them actually bombing some first isn't something that would happen this day and age.
2016-05-24 01:08:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Correct answer by Jim.
The gunners only fired in order to form a "curtain" of fire. A single gunner wouldn't be able to hit a fighter. Only concentrate fire from the formation can do the job.
2007-01-17 09:12:23 · answer #4 · answered by tom t 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the enemy fighter pilot would have a very hard time unless he was skilled or lucky as the B- 17 Flying Fortress Bombers were tough and the crews expert in their jobs.
2007-01-17 09:29:05 · answer #5 · answered by Marvin R 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, of course. It was very, very common. The Browning 50 Cal M2 (known as the Ma Deuce) could easily fire its rounds clean through the engine blocks of enemy fighters. It is a bodacious weapon, and is still in use in our military today.
2007-01-17 09:04:58 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Absolutely. 50 cal bullets are pretty big and those machine-guns fire lots of them. Check out this WWII video on YouTube...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4iWObz2i1A
2007-01-17 09:14:06 · answer #7 · answered by FreddyBoy1 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
it would make minced meat of it
2007-01-17 09:03:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yep...And many of them did...
2007-01-17 09:06:47 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋