POLL on what you think was the best bomber aircraft during WWII
The B-25 is the best out of the bunch. By the way, the JU-88 is a medium bomber…
So’s the B25…
The poll compares “apples and oranges” though, e.g. the Lancaster was a different class and had different role to the JU-88 and the B-25. Perhaps the Mosquito would have been a better option?
What type of Bomber are we talking about? Missed out a lot of Bombers here. B-29, B-17, B-24, Mosquito etc etc…
Those are 4 widely different machines! The B5N “Kate” was a used primarily in the torpedo plane role too. Of the 4 listed I 'll take the Lanc. But given free reign I’s say the B-17.
But didn’t the B-25 carry a higher payload than B-17, etc?
B-17 - up to 17,600lb, but normal load of 6,000lb
B-25 - 5,000lb
Everyone always dismisses the B-24, it was the workhorse of the USAAF and more numerous than the B-17.
So’s the B25…[/quote]
my bad. confused it with the B-24. I think teh B-24 was the best of the bunch.
Same here, confused the B-24 with the B-25. That’s a big no no when you’re telling that to the guys who actually flew them. Sorry!
I voted Lancaster, purely for aesthitics, i’m sorry, it’s something about the way when you see the lancaster bomber drop all those poppies on remembrance day.
When one looks at the versatility of the Lancaster as to payload, the others pale into insignificance.
The B-29 superfortress was a monster, with twice the payload and range of the B-17.
True, but I’ve read several accounts saying that the B-29 is a super easy plane to shoot down as compared to the B-17. As a matter of fact, many pilots refused to fly it and would rather fly the B-17 for sheer protection in case of no escorts. They said the B-29 was like flying a paper cup.
I would have voted for thr B-29…but had to go with the Lancaster. The Lancaster had the room for the largest payload in the war. However to do this they had to leave out a bottom turret which made them easier to shoot down from below.
Well, as has been said before all the bombers listed have different roles and are in a differnent class. If were looking at the best “bomber” out of that list theres no doubt about it, the Lancaster. It’s interesting though that the B-25 Mitchell took off from an aircraft carrier. Was there any other plane like the B-25 that took off from an aircraft carrier?
One thing to consider about the B-29 was that it routinely sortied at 10,000+ feet higher altitude than any other Allied bomber. At 35,000 there were fewer interceptors able to attain the altitude in a reasonable time span and fight effectively once there. :o