Skip Bombing Training

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Carl Schwamberger
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Skip Bombing Training

#1

Post by Carl Schwamberger » 11 Nov 2012, 14:47

I've found a description of the early skip bombing attacks of the US 5th Air Force in the South Pacific, which include the initial tests General Kenny directed off the Australian coast. What I've not found yet is information on how much training it took to make a pilot effective at this technique. Any direct information or leads on this would be most welcome. This need not be confined to the 5h AF operations. Info on training in this technique in any air force is welcome.

Thanks

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Juha Tompuri
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Re: Skip Bombing Training

#2

Post by Juha Tompuri » 11 Nov 2012, 18:48

Soviet used similar "Topmachtovoe bombing" technique
http://www.bellabs.ru/51/TopMast/TopMast.html
http://www.bellabs.ru/51/Additions/Article.html

Some examples at AHF
Svirstroi/River Svir hydro-electric plant bombing 1944: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 4151&hilit
Sinking the German AA-Cruiser Niobe: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=61&t=65762

Regards, Juha


Carl Schwamberger
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Re: Skip Bombing Training

#3

Post by Carl Schwamberger » 12 Nov 2012, 01:39

Thanks. That is helpful, opening information to Soviet aviation techniques.

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Takao
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Re: Skip Bombing Training

#4

Post by Takao » 12 Nov 2012, 03:26

Some interesting reading:
http://aupress.au.af.mil/digital/pdf/bo ... ir_own.pdf
and
http://aupress.au.af.mil/digital/pdf/pa ... _force.pdf

although both are vague on the training time involved.

Also, if you can find a copy for purchase or through inter-library loan.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... lfboutique

Carl Schwamberger
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Re: Skip Bombing Training

#5

Post by Carl Schwamberger » 12 Nov 2012, 03:39

A quick skim of the first two reminds me of how the 5th AF experience vs shipping paralled that of the US 9th AF vs transportation targets in France. The methods brought from the training in the US proved ineffective and a search for better techniques followed. It will be interesting to sift the details.

Thanks

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Re: Skip Bombing Training

#6

Post by Carl Schwamberger » 12 Nov 2012, 05:30

Juha Tompuri wrote: Sinking the German AA-Cruiser Niobe: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=61&t=65762

Regards, Juha
The descriptions there show some clear similarities to the USAAF attack techniques used against ships in the South Pacific. Aside from the extreme low altitude strike against the Niobe, using the 'skip bombing' technique there is the series of preliminary attacks from high and medium altitude. All those were made in less than a hour & in some cases minutes before the direct strike on the Niobe. These other attacks seem to have been aimed at the antiaircraft gun batteries & lesser ship i the harbor. This is again similar to the USAAF technique of combining high & low altitude strike at the same time on a close group of targets.

I am guessing this attack on the Niobe & the harbor was not the first & the Soviet aviators were not trying these techniques for the first time. Any other examples like this from earlier date would confirm my guess.

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Re: Skip Bombing Training

#7

Post by Mil-tech Bard » 13 Nov 2012, 04:25

Kenny and Chennault were corresponding on tactics through out the war.

Chennault's "Way of a Fighter" makes mention passing on low level and toss bombing tactics to Kenney.

Many of the BDA photos of 14th Air Force B-25 low level runs on Hong Kong shipping are indistinguishable from those of the the 5th Air Force off New Guinea

Carl Schwamberger
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Re: Skip Bombing Training

#8

Post by Carl Schwamberger » 13 Nov 2012, 04:42

Thanks. Where did you see the photos? Any other literature on the bombing techniques of the US 14th AF?

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Re: Skip Bombing Training

#9

Post by Felix C » 13 Nov 2012, 21:11

Wood mockup of a Japanese Takao class cruiser was built in the desert for skip bombing training

Google muroc maru and there will be a number of entries and images.
example below:

http://wonderduck.mu.nu/the_muroc_maru

Pardon if you know this already. I read where a japanese wreck in New Guineau was used for training in the early days while tactics were being worked out.

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Re: Skip Bombing Training

#10

Post by Carl Schwamberger » 13 Nov 2012, 23:03

Thanks for the Muroc Lake Maru link. From the date it look like the end result of the experiments & tests through 1942. the photos look like before the training bombs hit. No holes no craters.

Several wrecks off Australia & new Guinea were used for practice. General Kennys first tests in april 1942 were on a reef stranded wreck off eastern Australia.

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Takao
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Re: Skip Bombing Training

#11

Post by Takao » 14 Nov 2012, 00:12


Mil-tech Bard
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Re: Skip Bombing Training

#12

Post by Mil-tech Bard » 14 Nov 2012, 01:41

Thanks. Where did you see the photos? Any other literature on the bombing techniques of the US 14th AF?
There were several photos in Chennault's book "Way of a Fighter."

I got the Dallas Public Library's copy and scanned the book.

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Juha Tompuri
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Re: Skip Bombing Training

#13

Post by Juha Tompuri » 14 Nov 2012, 08:48

B-17 Skip-bombing (targetting SS Pruth wreck) footage from there:
http://b17blackjack.com/trailer/flash/skip-bomb.html

Regards, Juha

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Re: Skip Bombing Training

#14

Post by Carl Schwamberger » 14 Nov 2012, 13:59

Posted a similar question in the Luftwaffe section. No responses have been posted yet, which is a bit odd considering the excellent information posted here. http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 9&t=194461

Picking therough the links provided here & another location it looks to like the USAAF was reviving a technique that had been somewhat neglected in the latter 1930s. The concentration of the very thin resources of the US Army Air Force on the heavy bomber & high altitude attacks caused this & other 'strike aviation' techniques to be laid aside?

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Juha Tompuri
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Re: Skip Bombing Training

#15

Post by Juha Tompuri » 14 Nov 2012, 23:55

Some additional info:
Flying magazine , March 1944
http://books.google.fi/books?id=Y99hEM7 ... 22&f=false

The Mail from Adelade 10th April 1943:
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/55872477

Early skip-bombing:
http://b17blackjack.com/crew/mccullar/index.html

Regards, Juha

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