For WW2 buffs!

[difalcojr]

I learn something new every day in PF, even fundamental stuff. Thanks. 'Gas station' bombs, no wonder the explosions were so violent. I wonder if the Japanese suicide bombers in the Pacific loaded up their aircraft with extra petrol for more explosive power too? i don't think I ever heard of that. What a world!

 

[Drakkith]

. I wonder if the Japanese suicide bombers in the Pacific loaded up their aircraft with extra petrol for more explosive power too?

You bet they did. They commonly loaded their planes with bombs and extra gasoline tanks to maximize the destruction. Though the gasoline is less explosive and more "coat everything within 20 yards of the impact with burning fuel".

 

[Baluncore]

Indeed. It was and is quite common for the hollow spaces of the wings to be used as fuel tanks in aircraft of all sorts.

That is the case because it is the lift from the wing that must support the fuel tanks in flight. By placing the tanks in the wings, the total fuel load can be increased without having to increase the spar structure in the wing roots.

The undercarriage can then be mounted from the wing structure, so the heavy wing tanks are supported prior to and during takeoff.

Takeoff is fuelled from centre tanks in the fuselage, that will not unbalance the mass distribution at a critical time during the initial climb.

Multi-engine aircraft benefit from having fuel available close to the engines in the wings. That reduces the cross-flow of fuel through the aircraft.

 

[Baluncore]

The petrol bomb has become the 'Fuel Air Explosive'. The initial impact and explosion is designed to disperse and mix the fuel with air, without ignition of the fuel. A second charge is then ignited to initiate combustion of the approximately stoichiometric air-fuel mix that may have been drawn into cavities and ventilation systems. Following the AFE pressure wave, there is a partial vacuum that adds to the destruction, hence the parallel term 'vacuum bomb'. That is the mechanism used in today's thermobaric weapons.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermobaric_weapon

 

[Drakkith]

The petrol bomb has become the 'Fuel Air Explosive'.

True. Plane crashes typically spread burning liquid gasoline/petrol everywhere rather than disperse and then ignite it in a fuel-air explosion.

 

[difalcojr]

Memorial Day today in U.S. A photo from WWII in Europe, returning those to ship.

 

[DennisN]

Four years ago, the youtube channel The Great War started producing weekly videos detailing the events of World War 1,

Regarding World War 1 I recently heard about a weird, crazy tank design that never made it to the frontline. I hereby give you: the Tsar Tank.

Looking like a plough with wheels measuring 9 meters in diameter, it may not have been effective in combat, but maybe it would have stunned the enemy into utter confusion.

 

[Swamp Thing]

Patrolling the Ether in WW2...

 

[sbrothy]

I know little of the actual brutal events of WW1, but I felt greatly enlightened by, and enjoyed, the fine book The Sleepwalkers, by Christopher Clark, explaining in great detail the many deviously plotted, some accidental, and tragically foolish sequences of events, i.e. treachery, deception, arrogance, intransigent nationalism and stupidity, that led up to that war.

I can recommend the Sleepwalkers as well. It provides a great perspective of the events leading up to the actual war.

 

[Swamp Thing]

Why were Polish pilots so bad@ss in the Battle of Britain?

 

[Swamp Thing]

The Glücksberg Heist, Part 1

 

[Astronuc]

Why were Polish pilots so bad@ss in the Battle of Britain?

Apparently, the Polish Air Force was small compared to those of other nations like Germany, France and England, and the Polish Air Force selected the best pilots for further training; one group became known in France as the Polish Fighter Squadron of Warsaw. Plus, they were highly motivated following the invasion of Poland and escape from Europe via France to England, where they formed the 303 fighter group at Northolt. I do not know how many separate groups there were in France, or how many formed the 303.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Northolt
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._303_Squadron_RAF





Disclaimer: I have not independently verified the contents of the articles or video.

 

[Astronuc]

Night time bombing, radio directional finding (navigation) and countermeasures.

 

[Hornbein]

Apparently, the Polish Air Force was small compared to those of other nations like Germany, France and England, and the Polish Air Force selected the best pilots for further training; one group became known in France as the Polish Fighter Squadron of Warsaw. Plus, they were highly motivated following the invasion of Poland and escape from Europe via France to England, where they formed the 303 fighter group at Northolt. I do not know how many separate groups there were in France, or how many formed the 303.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Northolt
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._303_Squadron_RAF





Disclaimer: I have not independently verified the contents of the articles or video.

They taught the UK that a fighter plane is an attack dog. You've got to close with the enemy. Snipeing won't do.

 

[Swamp Thing]

The Glücksberg Heist, Part 2

 

[sbrothy]

Don't really know if this belongs in this thread or @pines-demon 's as it is kind of an anecdote. Since it relates to WWII I'll put it here.

Abraham Wald and Armor Placement

I searched to see if someone already posted it but couldn't find it. Sorry if it's already here somewhere. Not improbable. I find it somewhat hard to believe that the US Air Force would be this dumb though. But you should never underestimate human stupidity. Every time something is idiot proofed nature invents an even better idiot!



EDIT: No, I finally found it here but it's an old one.

 

[Baluncore]

I find it somewhat hard to believe that the US Air Force would be this dumb though.

Operations researchers are not that silly.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operations_research
Many stories are later embellished and told to mock someone.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lighthouse_and_naval_vessel_urban_legend

 

[sbrothy]

Operations researchers are not that silly.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operations_research
Many stories are later embellished and told to mock someone.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lighthouse_and_naval_vessel_urban_legend

I suspected as much. I found it hard to believe a room full of highly educated and well disciplined people making such a glaring error. (Then again think about the mass hysteria of Nazi Germany itself and other confirmed stupidities up through history. One can never be completely sure.

Oh, and yeah, Wikipedia has that myth-buster page where a lot of stories are debunked. The one with "sharks not being able to stop swimming or they asphyxiate" and the one with "the Coriolis force forcing the water to rotate down the bathtub drain in a particular direction based on which hemisphere you're on". A whole bunch of them.