Was the F-105 a good plane?
“It was a great airplane,” said one Thud pilot. “Not much of a fighter, but it was so much faster than everything else.” The 105 could go so fast down low that the canopy would start to soften or become opaque from the heat. But speed was its salvation, particularly when challenged by MiG-17s.
Why was the F-105 called the Thud?
According to F-105 pilots and crews, the “Thud” nickname was inspired by the character “Chief Thunderthud” from the Howdy Doody television series. The aircraft’s offensive capabilities were sarcastically referred to as a “Triple Threat” — it could bomb you, strafe you, or fall on you.
How many US bombers were shot down in WW2?
By type, losses totaled 21,452 fighters, 12,037 bombers, 15,428 trainers, 10,221 twin-engine fighters, 5,548 ground attack, 6,733 reconnaissance, and 6,141 transports.
How many MiG 21 shot down in Vietnam?
American airmen shot down 196 MiGs—137 by the Air Force, 59 by the Navy and the Marine Corps—and sustained 83 losses.
Can a B-17 fly on 2 engines?
The answer depends on how heavy you are and how high you are. It may not be possible to maintain altitude on two engines at very high altitudes because of the weight and altitude. The weight of a lighter aircraft may allow it to maintain altitude with two engines.
Was the B-24 better than the B-17?
The B24 had a larger bombload and a better range. However the B17 was tougher and could fly higher. The cynic says if you’re crew the B17 is the better plane as you have a better chance surviving in one. If you’re planning the war the B24 is a better plane as it can drop more bombs further into Europe.
Do b52s still have tail guns?
Fighters didn’t need to come within range to attack, and their missiles were generally too small and fast to reliably hit. Instead, aircraft defence focused on chaff, flares and electronic countermeasures. The USAF removed the last B52 tail guns in 1992 to cut costs.
How many MIG 21 shot down in Vietnam?
How many B-52s were shot down in Vietnam?
Thirty-three B-52 crew members were killed or missing in action, another 33 became prisoners of war, and 26 more were rescued. Over 11 days, North Vietnamese air defenses fired 266 SA-2 missiles downing—according to North Vietnam—34 B-52s and four F-111s.
Did the do 335 ever fly in combat?
No Do 335 saw regular combat missions, even if some A-0 from autumn 1944 from the Erprobungskommando 335 also had to be used in airspace where contact with enemy planes could be happened. Several Allied pilots reported the sighting of the odd-looking plane.
What is the Dornier do 335 Pfeil?
The Dornier Do 335 Pfeil (“Arrow”) was a World War II heavy fighter built by the Dornier company. The two-seater trainer version was called Ameisenbär (“anteater”). The Pfeil ‘ s performance was much better than other twin-engine designs due to its unique push-pull configuration and the lower aerodynamic drag…
What happened to the do 335 A-1?
When the United States Army overran the Oberpfaffenhofen factory in late April 1945, only 11 Do 335 A-1 single-seat fighter-bombers and two Do 335 A-12 trainers had been completed. French ace Pierre Clostermann claimed the first Allied combat encounter with a Pfeil in April 1945.
When was the first do 335 delivered to WW2?
In January of 1945, the first planes were delivered to the frontline units, but when the factory was overrun in April of that year, only 11 had been completed. The first combat encounter of the Do 335 was claimed by French ace Pierre Clostermann when he intercepted one in April 1945.