NOE level bombing with a B-25C

[Baumer]

I thought after last night that it might be helpful if I were to show an example of the low altitude bombing technique I use.

What I do is move the pilots head position up until the center of the gun sight is just at the top of the sight glass. Then make the approach at an altitude of 200 feet, you can be 20 feet low or about 150 feet hi, and about 250 mph. You then release the bombs when your target is at the bottom of the sight. If you look at the image below, I rewound the film so you can see my impact crater just in front of the target hanger. As you can see I'm about 100 feet hi as I was looking around at all the Zero's. I did manage to get a good drop and destroyed the hanger on this pass. Once you drop your bombs pull up quickly and smoothly to get to 400 feet before the bombs explode, if not you can find your self in the tower rather quickly.

Try it out in the TA and you can be very accurate in no time.

[Simaril]

Your NOE technique is a great one, and is especially valuable when the area is hot -- like it was last night. There were A LOT of fighters around!

Also saw the downside of NOE attacks, at least on large bases. That ack was incredible! If we have to do that again, I'd just expect to write off the bombers from the get-go, because I can't see how we'd get any through the ack and home again.

Was a fun mission overall, even if we did get jumped. The tactical approach let us get over base -- I got to drop before dying, which wouldn't have happened if we hadn't gotten close before hitting their tripwire.

[Partagas]

Yea the downside   I was loosing parts before I even dropped anything. The ack was brutal.

[Earthdog]

Nice technique, but I'm not sure going NOE when you're the third group of planes hitting a base is the best order of attack.  I thought the point of NOE was the element of surprise.  With the B25s I guess there's some advantage to staying on the deck because of the lack of belly and tail guns.  Still, next time maybe we should consider sending the NOE group in first.  In this last mission however, I don't think it mattered much what altitude you were at.  I was at 12k and still got my wing taken off by a zeke before I dropped my bombs.  If I had a do-over I would come in at +15K.

[daddog]

Great post Baumer. I will have to try this as for years I have been doing it by the seat of my pants.

[daddog]

What did you set your .delay to?

[Baumer]

Salvo 6 delay 0.05

I was loaded with six 500lbs bombs.