World War II US Gunships

Viac o knihe

The XB-40 and XB-41 were experimental modifications of the B-17F and B-24D, designed as heavily-armed bomber gunships, referred to as "convoy protector airplanes" or "bomber escorters." Developed during early WWII, they aimed to address the absence of long-range USAAF fighters that could escort B-17 formations on missions deep into Germany. However, these modifications struggled to perform as intended, failing to protect large formations effectively. Delays in development, particularly with the Bendix chin turret, compounded issues. The added armaments made the aircraft overweight and tail-heavy, leading to center of gravity problems. Consequently, after dropping their bombs, standard B-17F formations could easily outpace these overloaded escorts. The YB-40 saw limited operational service in mid-1943 before being withdrawn, while the XB-41, a unique bomber escort, faced similar performance issues and never underwent operational testing before its cancellation. Over the past 75 years, the histories of both aircraft have been minimally documented. This work utilizes previously classified documents to present their detailed history, including the politics, development challenges, armament specifics, and operational missions of the YB-40, all within the broader context of USAAF strategic bombing and fighter escort efforts during the European air war.