[Milsurplus] BC-375

Mike Hanz AAF-Radio-1 at cox.net
Fri Aug 13 09:09:15 EDT 2004


Bob Camp wrote:

> The bomb load in a B-17 depended a lot on how much fuel they had to 
> carry. In some cases the BC-375 amounted to >= 10% of bomb load. 
> That's a significant issue in a bomber. Obviously the engines weighted 
> a lot more, so the radio wasn't the only issue ...


Quite right.  The aircraft were also frequently flown above recommended 
max loads as well, depending on the flight profile.  Basically the crew 
wanted as many tons of ammunition as they could sneak on board to 
protect themselves, so if they had their way, there likely wouldn't have 
been any radios at all...heh.  They had a huge problem in-theater when 
the radar surveillance receivers and jammers first began to be installed 
- many pilots wouldn't permit them on board.  Ammunition was considered 
a more effective use of the marginal weight capacity.  When it became 
obvious that aircraft protected by jammers fared statistically better 
against flak batteries aimed by gun-laying radar, the whole issue 
switched 180 degrees, and jammers became a scarce commodity.  It's all 
about what hits you closest to home...

73,
Mike



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