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B-17s vs B-24s ??

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B-17s vs B-24s ??

Quote from Andy Rooney (WWII Correspondent)...

"When they flew over Germany after crossing the English Channel, some of our bombers were always shot down. The bomb groups were either B-17s or B-24s, and the B-17s always got the dirty jobs because they were harder to destroy than the B-24s. The B-24 was faster, more maneuverable and in many ways a better airplane but it had that one shortcoming: It got shot down more easily."...
http://www.ihavenet.com/h...rld-War-II-Memory.html
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    WillowRun
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    Re:B-17s vs B-24s ?? (permalink)
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    b24bestweb

    Quote from Andy Rooney (WWII Correspondent)...

    "When they flew over Germany after crossing the English Channel, some of our bombers were always shot down. The bomb groups were either B-17s or B-24s, and the B-17s always got the dirty jobs because they were harder to destroy than the B-24s. The B-24 was faster, more maneuverable and in many ways a better airplane but it had that one shortcoming: It got shot down more easily."...
    http://www.ihavenet.com/h...rld-War-II-Memory.html


    Dan,  What a great quote!  I know I've read it before, but had forgotten about it.  What a great addition it would (will?) make to my "long-running mega-Thread." 
    http://forum.armyairforces.com/B24-versus-B17-m123916.aspx

    Best Regards!
    Steven Puhl
    Ford Willow Run Bomber Plant (FO) Historian
    ADMINISTRATOR: http://www.armyairforces.com/
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    jpeters140
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    Re:B-17s vs B-24s ?? (permalink)
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    Steven...My answer and comment....
    Quote :   Hap Arnold..Chief of the USAAF....The B-24 will get you home faster, but the B-17 will get you home MORE OFTEN.
    Unquote. 
     
    <G>
     
    Jim :-)

    James S. Peters Sr. T/Sgt B-17 Flt Engr, 27 missions 99 BG, 348BS, 5th Wing, 15th AAF Tortorella, (Foggia#2), Italy My Tour was from 12/03/44-06/19/45 M/Sgt USAF (Retired)
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    Al Blue
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    Re:B-17s vs B-24s ?? (permalink)
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    jpeters140

    Steven...My answer and comment....
    Quote :   Hap Arnold..Chief of the USAAF....The B-24 will get you home faster, but the B-17 will get you home MORE OFTEN.
    Unquote. 

    <G>

    Jim :-)

     
    Jim,
    Would you please tell us the source for your Hap Arnold quote? It just doesn't sound like something General Arnold would say.
    Al


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    Erick M.
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    Re:B-17s vs B-24s ?? (permalink)
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    I believe that during 1943 most 8th AF B-24s were tasked with diversion raids while B-17's were directed to the main strategic targets because of the still small numbers of B-24 groups in the ETO.
    By 1942-43 the 8th AF was till far away from becoming the mighty armada in terms of numbers that became in 1944-45.
    It is my opinion that the B-24 would not have been tasked with famous low-level Ploesti raid if the AAF strategist would not have trusted it with bringing back their crews.
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    jpeters140
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    Re:B-17s vs B-24s ?? (permalink)
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    Al...At this time, I cannot locate the reference about Hap Arnold's remark, that "the B-24 would get you home faster but the B-17 would get you home more often", but it apparently was in relation to the conversion ofall of  the  B-24 units, to an all B-17 Combat 8th Air Force. This was only partially accomplished prior to the end of WW II, in Europe.
     
    I will keep looking for the reference. I recall reading it somewhere.
    From what I recall, it was at a Staff meeting.
     
    Jim :-)
     

    James S. Peters Sr. T/Sgt B-17 Flt Engr, 27 missions 99 BG, 348BS, 5th Wing, 15th AAF Tortorella, (Foggia#2), Italy My Tour was from 12/03/44-06/19/45 M/Sgt USAF (Retired)
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    RSwank
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    Re:B-17s vs B-24s ?? (permalink)
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    Supposedly, on page 311 of the book by Max Wallace, 
    The American axis: Henry Ford, Charles Lindbergh, and the rise of the Third Reich,  Wallace states that Hap Arnold, in conversation with Charles Lindbergh  (then a consultant for the Ford Willow Run Plant)  said that combat squadrons greatly preferred the B-17 bomber to the B-24 because  "when we send the 17’s out on a mission, most of them return.  But when we send the 24’s out, most of them don’t."
     
    (Maybe someone who has the book could check.)
     
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