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In the early days of military aviation, pilots took grenades and other small explosives aloft
to drop down on enemy trenches. Before long military planners realized that the new plane
could be harnessed to drop much more than a few small explosives. In World War 2, the
concept of strategic bombing was pushed to the fore. With relatively inaccurate aiming
systems and gravity bombs it took a lot of bombs to destroy a target and a lot of planes to carry those bombs.
While the B-17 garners much of the attention of WW2.
The B-24 was the other half of the US heavy bomber fleets of Europe
and an important part of the strategic bombing campaign.
Despite a less rugged reputation than the B-17, the Liberator flew some of the fiercest,
most important, and highest loss ratio strikes of the war. The strike on the Axis oil supplies at Ploesti,
The strike on the Axis oil supplies at Ploesti,
done at treetop level in the B-24 was a costly, but important attack to help slow the Axis
war machine.
While the B-24 and B-17 were engaged in the heavy strategic work, the smaller B-26 Marauder
spent much of its time down on the deck carrying out low level attacks.
With cheek mounted guns, the Marauder was a heavy hitter capable of taking down not just ground targets, but
also enemy aircraft. It was a dangerous plane to fly, with a high landing speed
that earned it the nickname Widowmaker
but when in the right hands it was a highly capable medium bomber.
During the cold war bombers were designed for one thing, dropping a nuclear payload.
The pilots trained to be ready to drop the ultimate weapon and incinerate countless people.
The nuclear bombs were large and the planes were fast, loud, and large.
The Avro Vulcan formed the backbone of the UK nuclear deterrent. It was designed to penetrate
enemy defenses by flying high and fast. The Vulcan fleet took part in a long range conventional
bombing campaign during the Falklands War, where they were supported by several refueling
tankers while delivering their bomb load from Ascention Island to the Falklands.
In the process they set the world record at the time for the longest bombing sortie.
The Victor bomber was the third of the UK V-Bomber fleet, though it was retired early
due to fatigue cracking in the wings. Originally designed for high altitude bombing the plane
was modified for low level attack when it was found that missiles would bring down the
plane too easily. Eventually the type was converted to an aerial tanker where it served
until replaced in 1993.
Not all cold war bombers were large, some were medium bombers designed for low level
strikes. The F-111 was designed for low level terrain following strikes. Originally concieved
as a cross branch aircraft, the plane was too big for the Navy, but found a long career
with the Air Force as both a bomber and an electronic jamming aircraft.
Some cold war bombers just don't stop flying. With upgrades meant to keep it flying for
nearly 100 years the B-52 is one of the longest flying military aircraft of all time.
With a strong design and rugged build the B-52 has been slated to be replaced multiple times, but each time
the replacing aircraft was unable to completely handle the job the B-52 does. Some B-52 pilots
today are flying aircraft their fathers or even grandfathers flew, and if this plane continues as planned
The pilots of today could see their children or even grandchildren flying the venerable B-52 Stratofortress.
One of the planes that was supposed to replace the B-52 was the B-1 Lancer . Designed for fast, high
strategic strikes the B-1 looks much like an enlarged F-111. However, the presence of
missiles forced the B-1 to a fast, low altitude strike profile. This changed the aircraft's
design and ability and those changes made it incapable of covering all the roles of the B-52
Though it continues to serve as part of the bomber triad in the US, it never filled its role as a replacement for the B-52.
Designed as the cutting edge of bombing, the B-2 attempts to deliver its payload by stealth
rather than speed altitude, or terrain following. The B-2 is a highly computer controlled aircraft
with an eye watering price tag. It was also designed to replace the B-1 and the B-52,
but again, compromises meant that it joined those planes as a triad rather than replaced them.
Capable of long range conventional, nuclear, and missile strikes, the B-2 aircraft have only served in a couple of conflicts,
but they have served well.
Soviet Russia was not to be outdone by the Western powers. The Tu-160 was built to replace
the slower turboprop powered bombers. Looking very much like an enlarged B-1 the Tu-160
was never designed to fly the same sort of flight profile, however it,
is one of the largest combat and swing wing aircraft built. Instead of delivering a bomb load
by being fast and low altitude or fast and high altitude, the Tu-160 was designed to get to its staging point with Mach 2+
speed and launch nuclear tipped missiles rather than penetrate the enemy defenses itself.
Some of the ugliest aircraft are built to do very special jobs. Their strange protrusions
and bulges are there to do their job. Unlike the bombers and fighters, but more like the
transport planes, these planes aren't flashy, but there are still important.
The Gannett was designed to hunt out submarines that threatened the British Navy. The unique
twin Mamba engine and counter-rotating prop gives the Gannett a one-of-a-kind look, but also a great loitering time to stay in the air.
Later used for electronic countermeasures and supply delivery the Gannett was a unique feature
of the Royal Navy.
The E-1B was an early warning platform designed to be an eye in the sky for a fleet. Able
to watch the air, land, and sea with its radar systems the E-1B was the Navy's version of
the E-3 Sentry. The radom lent a very strange look to the plane, but its all seeing eye
became a vital part of the US Navy's fleet protection and force projection. Allowing
coordinated defense and offense in a way unheard of before the introduction of this style of aircraft.
It's ugly, it's slow, it's heavy, but when you are in need of air support a couple of
A-10 Warthogs rolling in over your troops is as welcome a sight as water in the desert.
Built around a massive gatling gun and designed to dish out punishment like no other aircraft
the A-10 is the preeminent tank busting, ground support aircraft in the US inventory.
Capable of taking large amounts of ground fire and returning home the A-10 was designed to stem
the tide of Russian tanks in Europe, but its role has changed.
With long loiter time, slow speed, and accurate gunning, the A-10 is one of
the most feared aircraft if you are on the receiving end of its power, but one of the
most loved if you are a soldier who is pinned down and in need of air support.