Jagdgeschwader 54 Bf 109 G-6/R6 fighters intercepting USAAF B-17 Flying Fortress bombers in 1943

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Күн бұрын

The Messerschmitt Bf 109 variants visible appear to be G-6 variants that replaced the pair of 7.92mm MG 17 machine guns in the engine cowling with a pair of 13mm MG 131 machine guns.
0:13 Ammunition belts for the MG 151/20 cannon are prepared, most of them appear to be yellow high explosive rounds with a relatively low number of black armor piercing rounds. Apart from the MG 131 machine guns, standard armament was a MG 151/20 cannon firing through the propeller hub. Most aircraft featured in the footage are also equipped with the Rüstsatz 6 kit that added two more cannon in underwing gondolas.
The added weight and drag of this installation hurt performance, however the increase in firepower made the aircraft more effective in the bomber destroyer role. Armor piercing shells were effective against vital elements of the bombers like the engines and crew, however these represented relatively small targets relative to the aircraft structure and hits were less likely. It was therefore deemed more effective to pack as much explosive as possible in shells to attack the aircraft structure itself, tearing open fuel tanks and damaging flying surfaces.
0:38 As the Bf 109's inertia starter is cranked, the "Beule" blisters over the MG 131 breeches are evident. Later 109 models replaced these blisters with more streamlined bulges along the length of the cowling.
1:12 Debris coming off the bomber bears witness to the effect of high explosive shells, and this was frequently a danger to the attacking aircraft as well. It was not unknown for fighters to be brought down after striking parts shot off their quarry.
1:27 The aircraft being targeted is Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress 42-29859 "The Annihilator", possibly the only such aircraft that can be positively identified in gun camera footage from what appears in the footage itself. The aircraft was shot down on May 14th 1943 during a mission to bomb Courtrai airfield in Belgium and was piloted by Captain William P. Forsythe, commander of the 510th Bomb Squadron that contributed five aircraft to the mission.
Waist Gunner S/Sgt Leroy D. Donaldson and Ball Turret Gunner S/Sgt Albert L. Jensen were killed in action while the rest of the crew bailed out to be taken prisoner. A crew member can be seen bailing out as the attacking aircraft continues to fire on the bomber that would eventually come down at Dadizele near Ypres in Belgium. It had been around four miles short of the target before coming under attack, and this would be its first and only combat mission. In the final frames the H-TU squadron code on the bomber fuselage can be discerned confirming the identification.
It's worth noting that the bomber crews on this mission reported being attacked by Focke-Wulf Fw 190s rather than Bf 109s. Of the eighteen 351st Bomb Group Flying Fortresses deployed, apart from 42-29859 509th Bomb Squadron B-17F 42-29862 was also shot down by fighters after bombs were dropped. On this aircraft Tail Gunner S/Sgt Robert H. Hilton was killed while the rest of the crew was taken prisoner. This was the group's first successful combat mission, with the mission on the previous day having been aborted due to a combination of factors.
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@hw97karbine 4 ай бұрын

The Messerschmitt Bf 109 variants visible appear to be G-6 variants that replaced the pair of 7.92mm MG 17 machine guns in the engine cowling with a pair of 13mm MG 131 machine guns. 0:13 Ammunition belts for the MG 151/20 cannon are prepared, most of them appear to be yellow high explosive rounds with a relatively low number of black armor piercing rounds. Apart from the MG 131 machine guns, standard armament was a MG 151/20 cannon firing through the propeller hub. Most aircraft featured in the footage are also equipped with the Rüstsatz 6 kit that added two more cannon in underwing gondolas. The added weight and drag of this installation hurt performance, however the increase in firepower made the aircraft more effective in the bomber destroyer role. Armor piercing shells were effective against vital elements of the bombers like the engines and crew, however these represented relatively small targets relative to the aircraft structure and hits were less likely. It was therefore deemed more effective to pack as much explosive as possible in shells to attack the aircraft structure itself, tearing open fuel tanks and damaging flying surfaces. 0:38 As the Bf 109's inertia starter is cranked, the "Beule" blisters over the MG 131 breeches are evident. Later 109 models replaced these blisters with more streamlined bulges along the length of the cowling. 1:12 Debris coming off the bomber bears witness to the effect of high explosive shells, and this was frequently a danger to the attacking aircraft as well. It was not unknown for fighters to be brought down after striking parts shot off their quarry. 1:27 The aircraft being targeted is Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress 42-29859 "The Annihilator", possibly the only such aircraft that can be positively identified in gun camera footage from what appears in the footage itself. The aircraft was shot down on May 14th 1943 during a mission to bomb Courtrai airfield in Belgium and was piloted by Captain William P. Forsythe, commander of the 510th Bomb Squadron that contributed five aircraft to the mission. Waist Gunner S/Sgt Leroy D. Donaldson and Ball Turret Gunner S/Sgt Albert L. Jensen were killed in action while the rest of the crew bailed out to be taken prisoner. A crew member can be seen bailing out as the attacking aircraft continues to fire on the bomber that would eventually come down at Dadizele near Ypres in Belgium. It had been around four miles short of the target before coming under attack, and this would be its first and only combat mission. In the final frames the H-TU squadron code on the bomber fuselage can be discerned confirming the identification. It's worth noting that the bomber crews on this mission reported being attacked by Focke-Wulf Fw 190s rather than Bf 109s. Of the eighteen 351st Bomb Group Flying Fortresses deployed, apart from 42-29859 509th Bomb Squadron B-17F 42-29862 was also shot down by fighters after bombs were dropped. On this aircraft Tail Gunner S/Sgt Robert H. Hilton was killed while the rest of the crew was taken prisoner. This was the group's first successful combat mission, with the mission on the previous day having been aborted due to a combination of factors. If you would like to support the channel consider visiting www.buymeacoffee.com/hw97karbine

@FrecherPfirsich 4 ай бұрын

are you sure it's 13mm ammo belts that are being prepared? 13mm armor piercing grenades (Sprenggranate) were black top with yellow ring at the bottom. 20mm armor piercing grenades (Panzergranatpatrone) were all black, armor piercing HE grenades (Panzersprenggranatpatrone) were black with yellow ring in the upper part. Based on the black grenades with the yellow ring in the upper part, I think they are 20mm grenades. There were no 13mm grenades with the yellow ring in the upper part. Also it looks like the yellow grenades have a colored ring on top, which is not visible due to the black and white video, I'm guessing it's a green ring, which makes them 20mm MG151 mine shells with a fragmentation device instead of all yellow 13mm HE grenades (Sprenggranate).

@hw97karbine 4 ай бұрын

@@FrecherPfirsich I thought I saw a belt on the cartridge base but on closer inspection I think it was an optical illusion and they are indeed 20mm.

@FrecherPfirsich 4 ай бұрын

@@hw97karbine Yes, I think so too. No problem, your descriptions of your gun cam clips are otherwise very good. I was just a little confused by the colors and size of the grenades.

@SteveBrownRocks2023 4 ай бұрын

One things for sure; the B-17s being attacked are just shredded. Those bullets go straight through everything that’s not armored, including the crew. The 20mm shells explode on impact, & aside from the hole in the skin, the fragments are what does the damage.

@kimjanek646 4 ай бұрын

@@hw97karbine Yes. I also thought they were 13mm rounds at first but they are indeed 20mm for the MG 151/20. The belt composition is 1xAPHE or potentially API followed by two HEFI-T and two Mineshells.

@Keckegenkai 4 ай бұрын

dont think I saw a closer gun cam than the last one

@hw97karbine 4 ай бұрын

It's extremely rare that one can actually read the squadron identification of the target in such footage.

@TheJarlofWhiterun 4 ай бұрын

Imagine falling through the sky with a fighter plane close by shooting towards you.

@bryantbridgewaters7177 4 ай бұрын

Eugen-Ludwig Zweigart @0:34 . He was shot down on June, 8 1944 and was shot and killed by P-51s while floating down in his parachute.

@Keckegenkai 4 ай бұрын

he wasnt shooting at him but at the bomber which was already on its way to fall out of the sky

@TheJarlofWhiterun 4 ай бұрын

@@Keckegenkai yes I know but it is still quite close to him!

@SatelliteYL 4 ай бұрын

These shots at 0:53 with the huge numbers of Forts in boxes in the background, further forward in the bomber stream, made my jaw drop. What an awesome amount of power.

@RDEnduro 4 ай бұрын

Can see one guy get out the bottom maybe the ball turret guy, no chute but its early

@CurtRaftshol 4 ай бұрын

Doubtful, no room in the ball for a chute. Looked more like a piece of the airplane getting shot off.

@17cmmittlererminenwerfer81 4 ай бұрын

This is precious stuff. *Thank you for posting it!*

@CzechImp 4 ай бұрын

00:50 Attacking from the back against the low squadron - avoiding most of the concentrated fire from the rest of the B-17s Head-on attacks were more common (until the B-17G appeared with its nose turret), but it depended on the direction from which you intercept the bomber stream. 01:00 Once a plane drops away from the main stream it becomes an easy target.

@AmericasChoice 4 ай бұрын

Generally, head on attacks were preferred, even after the chin turret appeared. Rear attacks were usually against damaged B-17's as they left the protection of the formation. But, certainly, both tactics were utilized.

@MimiThomaFlwrs 22 күн бұрын

0:00 they really went and predicted ganondorf 50 years before OOT came out

@Losowy 4 ай бұрын

I think that the guy didn't really get the point of intercepting allied bombings If 1 bomber is turning then why not go for the other one? It was about stopping then from bombing not just getting the kill

@DannyBoy777777 4 ай бұрын

This would be III Gruppe since the other two were in the Soviet Union.

@josefhorndl3469 4 ай бұрын

Exactly! The devil's head at 0:01was the badge of the 9th Staffel of JG 54. And as you surely know, the 9th was part of III. Gruppe (for all who don't know it).

@DUNHILLLIGHT11 Ай бұрын

ThNks for ya services, without ya actions the westerner simply dominated this world

@happyhome41 4 ай бұрын

Excellent

@johnrose9559 4 ай бұрын

The spray and pray across an entire formation at 1:01 was out of range and without anywhere close to enough elevation or lead. I imagine that pilot was sharply criticized at debrief.

@JG-ff5rn 4 ай бұрын

If he made it back, the german fighter force defending the reich suffered up to 90% casualties by KIA

@FrecherPfirsich 4 ай бұрын

He was probably very nervous or accidentally pressed the trigger button of the cannons.

@FrecherPfirsich 4 ай бұрын

@@JG-ff5rnThis information isn’t correct, do you have a source for this?

@SatelliteYL 4 ай бұрын

Could he have been firing his guns just to activate his camera to capture footage of the American formation?

@wanderer7755 4 ай бұрын

I think that’s plausible, particularly if this was part of a wider filming effort of JG/54.

@ziqqqqqqq 4 ай бұрын

0:44 im not mistaken right?? Is that an extended fuel or 20mm cannon?

@ukasz-zm9qc 4 ай бұрын

Both are mounted on this fighter.

@hw97karbine 4 ай бұрын

Fuel tank under the fuselage and an MG 151/20 cannon under each wing.

@НиколайНестеров-й2л 4 ай бұрын

Эх катались мы с тобою Мчались вдаль стрелой А теперь плетёмся тихо По асфальтовой Ты да я. Поникли оба головой....... 😢😢😢

@mske903 4 ай бұрын

totally awesomst

@DannyBoy777777 4 ай бұрын

Grow up.

@mske903 4 ай бұрын

@@DannyBoy777777 plwease don't say such a thing lil Dannyboy

@DannyBoy777777 4 ай бұрын

@mske903 Keep proving my point. Combat and death isn't entertainment, you fool.

@DannyBoy777777 4 ай бұрын

Combat isn't for entertainment. Keep proving my point. Grow up.

@jeffreyb8770 4 ай бұрын

Look at all those bombers! This has to be 1943.

@sgtellioman 4 ай бұрын

Awesome

@Shtahel 4 ай бұрын

0.32. what the pilot wore on his back ?

@SharkHustler 4 ай бұрын

I believe it's his own personal ['good-luck'] 'trick-or-treat' knapsack, just in case he manages to 'bag' something else up there, other than some hapless Flyin' Fort ... Hell if I know - but it looks like it's just some sort of back-supporting 'cushion', likely to guard against the [standard/bare]-metal bucket-seats employed on those 109s. (His parachute-pack would've been his 'seat', mind you, [normally] strapped onto his butt [or in this case, {likely} already strapped onto the bucket-seat].)

@Shtahel 4 ай бұрын

@@SharkHustler ist es ein Schlauchboot

@theblitz6838 4 ай бұрын

@@ShtahelThat's a very neat feature

@bryantbridgewaters7177 4 ай бұрын

The parachute is already in the pilots seat and was used as a cushion.

@SharkHustler 4 ай бұрын

@@Shtahel Yes, good point; in fact, it very-well could be.