Warbird Information Exchange

Did anyone see the "no room for error" episode with the 190s flying in a tight box formation 8 across and 8 deep, and engaging the flight of B-17s? Anyone have any info on this tactic? I had never seen/heard/read anything like that before.

Ya, Seemed alittle hard to believe. I mean how could you bring all the planes guns to bare with that formation?

Phil

I didn't see the episode, but did they describe extra armor being applied to the '190s? A tactic used for formation busting was to fly in a fixed pattern directly through the bombers' defensive fire with a large group of fighters. I believe they were called "Sturmbock" or some such name. I will post a photo of the up-armored FW 190 when I get home from work if Jack doesn't beat me to it!

Scott

8x8 is stretching it a bit.
The armour plated Fw190's were indeed called Sturmbock's, they had extra armour glass windscreen and side of canopy, as well as metal on sides of cockpit. Sometimes just the metal sides was worn.
They would usually attack 1st from head on.
Is this from a new TV series?

two items for you

http://hsfeatures.com/features04/fw190a7cw_1.htm

http://members.aol.com/falkeeins/Sturmg ... lacht.html

Yes, I have read about it before and it was a great tactic in that the 8x8 was in a 3-D formation where they could bear down a down of firepower on a formation of bombers.

Second link isn't working Hellcat

Try it again, comes up for me.

So it does

It was a legitimate tactic by the SturmGruppe, particularly in last six months of war when there were so many inexperienced pilots.

The line abreast was to keep the bomber defensive fire dispersed (vs 'trail') and the formation depicted would 'refresh' the frontal firepawer from the next rank as the first splits S and headed for the deck.

Down side is no maneuverabily if bounced by a significant force from behind.