Generally speaking, parachutes were mandatory for all bomber crewman during a bombing mission. Parachutes were considered property of the USAAF, and individual crewman had to check out and check in their parachutes after each mission. This procedure applied to all crewman.
- 1 Did pilots have parachutes in ww2?
- 2 Why did ww1 planes not have parachutes?
- 3 Did Spitfire pilots wear parachutes?
- 4 What was the survival rate for ww2 bomber crew?
- 5 Did planes in ww2 have ejection seats?
- 6 Why were planes known as flying coffins?
- 7 Is it a war crime to shoot an ejected pilot?
- 8 What was the life expectancy of a Spitfire pilot?
- 9 Did fighter pilots have parachutes in ww1?
- 10 Can you shoot down a Zeppelin?
- 11 Did ww1 pilots wear seatbelts?
- 12 How far could WW2 bombers fly?
- 13 Do fighter pilots wear parachutes?
- 14 How many bombers were shot down over Germany?
- 15 Which plane shot down the most planes in WW2?
- 16 Is it a war crime to shoot at a medical helicopter?
- 17 Did German soldiers shoot medics?
- 18 Why do Migs crash so much?
- 19 Are soldiers allowed to surrender?
- 20 Why MiG-21 is a flying coffin?
- 21 How many MiG-21 does India have?
- 22 Did the Luftwaffe respect the RAF?
- 23 What was the average age of a pilot in the Battle of Britain?
- 24 Who had the most kills in the Battle of Britain?
- 25 What was the point of blimps in ww2?
- 26 Can airships be shot down?
- 27 Do pilots get punished for ejecting?
- 28 Can a pilot fly after ejecting?
- 29 Did they have paratroopers in ww1?
- 30 Why did Zeppelins use hydrogen?
- 31 Does ejecting from a plane hurt?
- 32 When were planes first used in combat?
- 33 What was Germany’s plan for fighting France and Russia called?
- 34 What was the biggest plane in WW2?
- 35 What was the fastest airplane in World War II?
- 36 Which WW2 aircraft had longest range?
- 37 How many bombers did the US have in ww2?
- 38 How many Flying Fortresses were shot down?
- 39 Who shot down the most German planes in ww2?
- 40 Who was the best pilot ever?
- 41 Was the b24 better than the B 17?
- 42 Who has the fastest planes in ww2?
- 43 Is it a war crime to use a flamethrower?
- 44 Do medics treat the enemy?
- 45 Is it a war crime to shoot an ejected pilot?
- 46 Who was the best medic in ww2?
- 47 How did they pick medics in ww2?
- 48 Did ww2 medics have guns?
- 49 What is Code 19 military?
- 50 Is looting a war crime?
- 51 Is it a war crime to shoot someone who surrendered in ww2?
- 52 Why is IAF not retiring MiG-21?
- 53 Does Russia still use MiG-21?
- 54 Are sukhois better than Migs?
Did pilots have parachutes in ww2?
Instead, pilots must use their hands on the side of the cockpit and roll over the “wall.” Then, the pilot waits to clear the plane (usually with a ten count) before pulling the ripcord, deploying a parachute.
Why did ww1 planes not have parachutes?
American pilots never wore them because the higher ups—who had never flown themselves before—believed that these devices would make a pilot likely to jump out at the first hint of danger. Too many planes would be lost.
Did Spitfire pilots wear parachutes?
In peacetime, however, the retired Spitfire pilot was able to parachute for the thrill alone. Accompanied by an instructor, Proctor made a freefall jump from over thirteen thousand feet in the air.
What was the survival rate for ww2 bomber crew?
During the whole war, 51% of aircrew were killed on operations, 12% were killed or wounded in non-operational accidents and 13% became prisoners of war or evaders. Only 24% survived the war unscathed.
Did planes in ww2 have ejection seats?
The first ejection seats were developed independently during World War II by Heinkel and SAAB. Early models were powered by compressed air and the first aircraft to be fitted with such a system was the Heinkel He 280 prototype jet-engined fighter in 1940.
Why were planes known as flying coffins?
The infamous name ‘flying coffins’ or the ‘widow maker’ was given to these planes because of the lives these planes have claimed and that too in normal sorties and training missions, leave the combat and dogfights scenario.
Is it a war crime to shoot an ejected pilot?
The law of war does not prohibit firing upon paratroops or other persons who are or appear to be bound upon hostile missions while such persons are descending by parachute.
What was the life expectancy of a Spitfire pilot?
During the Battle of Britain, the life expectancy of a Spitfire pilot was four weeks. Even in peacetime, Britain’s most iconic fighter plane is hardly the safest, and the older our remaining Spitfires grow, the riskier it becomes to fly them.
Did fighter pilots have parachutes in ww1?
Observation crews were the first men to be issued with parachutes to ensure their survival in such circumstances. Pilots in the Royal Flying Corps, however, were not issued with parachutes. Initially the design of plane cockpits meant there was barely room for the pilot as it was, and no room for a bulky parachute.
Can you shoot down a Zeppelin?
Even if a Zeppelin was successfully intercepted they could still be remarkably difficult to shoot down. Although far far larger than the average barn door, hitting them with a machine gun could be remarkably difficult in the dark.
Did ww1 pilots wear seatbelts?
Pilots wore them sometimes. If crashed it could be safer not to be strapped in so you would be thrown clear of the wreck. Observer/gunners typically did not wear them, and some did fall out of the aircraft during negative g pushovers.
How far could WW2 bombers fly?
Maximum Speed | Maximum Altitude | Maximum Range |
---|---|---|
217 mph (349 kph) | 25,000 ft (7,620 m) | 683 mi (1,099 km) |
Do fighter pilots wear parachutes?
Each pilot, co-pilot, or weapons systems officer wears a large parachute and harness that buckles into the seat of their aircraft.
How many bombers were shot down over Germany?
Overall, the Germans claimed they shot down approximately 3,600 aircraft, nearly twice as many as the British lost. RAF Fighter Command reported that they shot down 2,692 German aircraft in the Battle of Britain, nearly twice as many as the Germans lost, including losses from flak and accidents.
Which plane shot down the most planes in WW2?
It is accurate to state that the P-38 did shoot down more Japanese aircraft than any other USAAF plane with 1,857, with the P-40 running a close second at 1,633.5. Even though the F6F did not start reaching Naval and Marine units in the Pacific until late 1943, once it did it came in prodigious numbers.
Is it a war crime to shoot at a medical helicopter?
MEDEVAC aircraft and ground transport are mandated by the Geneva Convention to be unarmed and well marked. Firing on “clearly marked and identified” MEDEVAC vehicles would be considered a war crime under Article II of the Geneva Convention, in the same sense as firing on a hospital ship would be a war crime.
Did German soldiers shoot medics?
“The Germans were pretty good about not shooting at medics,” he said. “There were several times they could have shot me, and they didn’t.” At times, the battle raged so close that the building shook violently, blowing out the windows.
Why do Migs crash so much?
Experts believe that the absence of any more fighter jets in the Indian Air Force for a long time is also one of the reasons for the accident. For a long time, with the inclusion of no new fighter jets in the Air Force, the entire weight is on the MiG-21.
Are soldiers allowed to surrender?
Surrender is the willful act of members of the Armed Forces turning themselves over to enemy forces when not required by utmost necessity or extremity. Surrender is always dishonorable and never allowed.
Why MiG-21 is a flying coffin?
In the last few decades, the image of MiG-21 fighter jets has received a lot of shock due to its accidents and the casualties of pilots. This is the reason why it is being called “Flying Coffin”, ie a coffin floating in the air.
How many MiG-21 does India have?
IAF operates four squadrons of MiG-21 Bison aircraft — a squadron has 16 to 18 fighter jets. The last of these upgraded MiG-21s are set to be phased out in the next three to four years.
Did the Luftwaffe respect the RAF?
15.” At first, the Luftwaffe regarded the entire RAF as the target and scattered its efforts for weeks before focusing on Fighter Command.
What was the average age of a pilot in the Battle of Britain?
The defence of Britain during the Battle of Britain depended on the courage of just 2,937 British and Allied aircrew. The average age of the Battle of Britain pilots was just 20 years old.
Who had the most kills in the Battle of Britain?
Rank | Pilot | Kills |
---|---|---|
1 | Flt Lt Eric Lock | 21 |
2 | Sqn Ldr Archie McKellar | 19 |
3 | Sgt James Lacey | 18 (23 by end of November) |
4 | Sgt Josef František | 17 |
What was the point of blimps in ww2?
During World War II the U.S. Navy used blimps to fly along with convoys heading to England and the Soviet Union to protect these mighty armadas from German U-boats. And you may have seen in the photographs of the D-Day landings the many airships flying over the mighty fleet.
Can airships be shot down?
The terror the airships induced was amplified by the fact conventional attempts to shoot them down typically failed. Bullets could pierce the skin of the airships, but the Baby Killers – as the airships were nicknamed – were still able to fly back across the North Sea to their bases in north-west Germany.
Do pilots get punished for ejecting?
No punishment can beat this! ‘Ejection seats are optimized to operate at minimum speed and altitude. This is called 0/0 ejection, meaning a seat designed to perform safe ejection and man-seat separation at 0 feet and 0 Knots.
Can a pilot fly after ejecting?
Yes, after pulling the ejection handle the entire seat will eject from the cockpit and the pilot will be kept in the seat until the seat knows that it is at a sensible height and speed to then deploy the parachute and initiate the “seat-man separation”; all of the modern Mk.
Did they have paratroopers in ww1?
The 82nd was the first U.S. unit to parachute into battle in force and conducted 2 airborne assaults in Sicily and Salerno. These were followed by the Normandy assaults the following year and the Market Garden operation for a total of 4 airborne assaults in the war.
Why did Zeppelins use hydrogen?
The airship was designed to be filled with helium gas but because of U.S. export restriction on helium, it was filled with hydrogen. Hydrogen is extremely flammable, and the official cause of the fire was due to a “discharge of atmospheric electricity” near a gas leak on the ship’s surface, according to History.com.
Does ejecting from a plane hurt?
High altitude ejections can suffocate
This entire process can take less than three seconds from tugging the ejection handle to descending safely under a chute. It’s a rapid sequence, full of violent jerks that can injure you, and Newman says people typically have a clear memory of the entire thing.
When were planes first used in combat?
The first use of an airplane in war was on October 23, 1911, during the Italo-Turkish War, when an Italian pilot made a one-hour reconnaissance flight over enemy positions near Tripoli, Libya, in a Blériot XI monoplane.
What was Germany’s plan for fighting France and Russia called?
The Schlieffen Plan drawn up in 1905 was the German army’s answer to its central strategic problem: how to win a war on two fronts, against France in the west and Russia in the east.
What was the biggest plane in WW2?
The Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant (“Giant”) was a German military transport aircraft of World War II. It was a powered variant of the Me 321 military glider and was the largest land-based transport aircraft to fly during the war.
What was the fastest airplane in World War II?
Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet – (702 mph)
The fastest plane to see action during WW2, the Me 163 was powered by rockets and was lightyears ahead of its time.
Which WW2 aircraft had longest range?
However, the Dominator had the longest range—3,800 miles—of any bomber built during the war. Sadly, not a single B-32 survives today. The B-29 may have been the biggest and the B-32 having the longest range, but it was the B-24 Liberator that was produced in the largest numbers in terms of bombers.
How many bombers did the US have in ww2?
The United States manufactured about 300,000 military aircraft just prior to, and during, World War II. Included in this number was large quantities of numerous bomber aircraft. Production totaled 97,810 bombers.
How many Flying Fortresses were shot down?
Of the 291 attacking Fortresses, 60 were shot down over Germany, five crashed on approach to Britain, and 12 more were scrapped due to damage – a loss of 77 B-17s. Additionally, 122 bombers were damaged and needed repairs before their next flights.
Who shot down the most German planes in ww2?
Luftwaffe fighter pilot Erich Hartmann was exceedingly good at aerial combat. While serving in Germany’s Luftwaffe in World War II, Erich Hartmann flew more than 1,400 missions in the Messerschmitt Bf 109, enabling him to score an astonishing 352 kills.
Who was the best pilot ever?
- Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger.
- Florence ‘Pancho’ Barnes.
- Louis Bleriot.
- Erich Hartmann.
- Charles E. Yeager.
- Baron Manfred Von Richthoven.
- James ‘Jimmy’ Doolittle.
- The Wright Brothers.
Was the b24 better than the B 17?
The B-24 was a faster plane having a greater range and payload capacity. However, in the ETO, the B-24 operated with the B-17 which constrained the aircraft’s operating speed. The B17 was a sedate aircraft and placed fewer demands on the flight deck crew. The B-17 was also an easier aircraft to fly in formation.
Who has the fastest planes in ww2?
With a top speed of 540 mph, Germany’s Messerschmitt Me 262 was by far the fastest fighter of World War II. It was powered by jet engines, a new technology that was not always reliable. Still, the streamlined Me 262 looked—and behaved—unlike anything else in the skies over Europe, and Allied pilots initially feared it.
Is it a war crime to use a flamethrower?
Though flamethrowers aren’t entirely banned, you can’t use them to fry your enemies, according to Protocol III of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. This clause prohibits the use of incendiary weapons on people. You can, however, use them to clear foliage.
Do medics treat the enemy?
The book answer is to engage the enemies, stopping them from hurting more soldiers or further injuring the current casualties. Despite this, Army medics will sometimes decide to do “care under fire,” where they treat patients while bullets are still coming at them.
Is it a war crime to shoot an ejected pilot?
The law of war does not prohibit firing upon paratroops or other persons who are or appear to be bound upon hostile missions while such persons are descending by parachute.
Who was the best medic in ww2?
Desmond Doss | |
---|---|
Relations | Harold Doss |
How did they pick medics in ww2?
Medics were sometimes chosen for their medical expertise; more often they had to be trained from scratch. Some were conscientious objectors who opposed the taking of life and were assigned this role as an alternative to a combat role.
Did ww2 medics have guns?
During World War II, for example, Allied medics serving the European and Mediterranean areas usually carried the M1911A1 pistol while those serving the Pacific theater carried pistols or M1 carbines. When and if they use their arms offensively, they then sacrifice their protection under the Geneva Conventions.
What is Code 19 military?
Within each occupational field, there are usually several codes available. Within armor (branch 19) there are three specialties available: 19A (armor, general), 19B (armor), and 19C (cavalry). After an officer’s fifth or sixth year of service, he or she may receive a “functional area” designation.
Is looting a war crime?
During modern-day armed conflicts, looting is prohibited by international law, and constitutes a war crime.
Is it a war crime to shoot someone who surrendered in ww2?
In its chapter on “War crimes, individual criminal liability and command responsibility”, the manual states that “killing or wounding an enemy who, having laid down his arms or no longer having a means of defence, has surrendered” constitutes a war crime.
Why is IAF not retiring MiG-21?
Owing to the number of accidents that it has been in, the aircraft has been dubbed as the ‘flying coffin’ and the ‘widow maker’. Notably, Soviet Air Force, ie Russia which built the aircraft doesn’t use it anymore.
Does Russia still use MiG-21?
Air Force of Guinea: 8 ‘MiG-21MF’ and one ‘MiG-21U’ delivered in 1986. Five restored to airworthy condition in Russia and returned to service; one of these crashed into a TV tower in 2007. Three still in service as of December 2021.
Are sukhois better than Migs?
It is able to carry weapons on 12 hard points as compared to the MiG 8 hard points. The Su-35 has an additional 30% more range. In terms of weapons, it could carry a much heavier and bigger weapons than the MiG such as the long range anti ship Brahmos missile as well as the much longer range R-27 missiles.