icing conditions, WW2

[pjpahs]

Seem many photos of aircraft using leading edge de-icing boots on bombers , U.S. and German.
The JU88 had a system where engine heat was redirected into the leading edge and bled into
the main wings to heat internally and externally to de-ice. The horizontals and vertical had boots.
Did the U.S. or allies have anything like that? If the bombers were into icing conditions and could combat
this menace, what about the escort fighters? Is it because of the mission that the bombers flew
high and in formation and the escorts could seek altitudes away from icing and join the fight when
needed?

[John Dupre]

You can see deice boots on the B-17, B-24, B-29 and C-47 and C-54. I imagine the twin engine B types could have them or not depending on how they were ordered. These were rubber pneumatic boots. I haven't heard of heated wing deicing in American aircraft. I don't think any single engine or twin engine day fighters had any kind of flight surface deicing.

[Taigh Ramey]

I was surprised to find out that the PV-2 had hot leading edges for both the wings and horizontal stab. There is a good sized heat exchanger that the exhaust runs through and is ducted to each wing and then back to the tail. This was also used for cabin heat and defrost. The controls actually have a cylinder heat temp like instrument and a valve to regulate the heat.

Interestingly the D model Harpoons had the hot leading edges and tail systems removed and used only one heat exchanger on the right engine for cabin heat and defrost. This is why I think they were slated for the Pacific and the invasion of Japan.