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The first real fighters flew in 1915 carrying what is generally known as “rifle caliber” machine guns using .30 caliber (7.62mm) ammunition, much the same as a deer hunter. The light bullets were effective well into the 1930s against the unarmored and fragile planes of the time.
But by the beginning of World War II, the heavier construction of warplanes, along with their increased speed and power, necessitated a drastic change in military thought. What to arm an airplane with? What caliber? Should it be cannon or machine gun? What was the primary mission and target? How many rounds could or should a plane carry? What rate of fire, effective range and how many guns were needed?
But by the beginning of World War II, the heavier construction of warplanes, along with their increased speed and power, necessitated a drastic change in military thought. What to arm an airplane with? What caliber? Should it be cannon or machine gun? What was the primary mission and target? How many rounds could or should a plane carry? What rate of fire, effective range and how many guns were needed?
Machine Guns In The Sky
Posted from warfarehistorynetwork.com
WWII World War Two
Aviation
Flying
Weapons
World History
Edited 8 mo ago
Posted 8 mo ago
Responses: 8
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Great information. Far too many don't understand that aircraft mission part and see an aircraft as a do it all thing that flies and shoots.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
OH. I Realize It Contained Mostly Fiction,
But It Was, None-The-Less, A Great Movie.
One Of My Favorite Parts Where When The Jets Were Taking Off
And The Sounds Were So Loud, They'd Shake The Whole Room
And We Could Feel The Vibrations Go Through Our Body .
But It Was, None-The-Less, A Great Movie.
One Of My Favorite Parts Where When The Jets Were Taking Off
And The Sounds Were So Loud, They'd Shake The Whole Room
And We Could Feel The Vibrations Go Through Our Body .
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney Ya, like I said great action, but I just have to not laugh too much.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen -
Many Years Ago I Noticed Many Inconsistencies In The Movies.
Movies With Electric Lights Before They'd Been Invented; A Movie Taking Place In 1955 With A 1957 Car Parked At The Curb....1 Candle Lighting Up An Entire Room (Often)..
.An Occasional Mountain In A State Where None Existed,... In A Crowd Shot, I THINK,
In The Movie "Raiders of the Lost Ark", One Of The Men Was Wearing A Blue Base Ball Cap With Matching Jersey..... I Just Enjoy The Laugh When Such Errors Are Found; Some Are Real Beauties
Many Years Ago I Noticed Many Inconsistencies In The Movies.
Movies With Electric Lights Before They'd Been Invented; A Movie Taking Place In 1955 With A 1957 Car Parked At The Curb....1 Candle Lighting Up An Entire Room (Often)..
.An Occasional Mountain In A State Where None Existed,... In A Crowd Shot, I THINK,
In The Movie "Raiders of the Lost Ark", One Of The Men Was Wearing A Blue Base Ball Cap With Matching Jersey..... I Just Enjoy The Laugh When Such Errors Are Found; Some Are Real Beauties
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney My wife hates me for pointing that kind of stuff out. For me that's the best part of watching a movie, I'm doing it for enjoyment not an education.
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A few supposed upgrades had to be revisited when gunners shot off portions of their own airframe.
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
Propellers were a major victim early on. Took a while before engineers figured out how to synchronize engine and guns.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen -
AND If I Understood Properly, Another Issue Was,
"As The Plans Flew Faster, They Exceeded The Speed Of The Ammo,
And Shot Themselves Out Of The Air"..
True Or Not, I Do Not Know ~~ What Say You Others?
AND If I Understood Properly, Another Issue Was,
"As The Plans Flew Faster, They Exceeded The Speed Of The Ammo,
And Shot Themselves Out Of The Air"..
True Or Not, I Do Not Know ~~ What Say You Others?
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney Not so sure about that one. Granted today's rounds are more powerful than back then but I'm not sure rounds came out that much slower.
https://misspursuit.com/you-asked-how-fast-does-a-bullet-travel/#:~:text=Generally%2C%20handgun%20bullets%20range%20from,bullets%20can%20exceed%203%2C000%20mph.
https://misspursuit.com/you-asked-how-fast-does-a-bullet-travel/#:~:text=Generally%2C%20handgun%20bullets%20range%20from,bullets%20can%20exceed%203%2C000%20mph.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen -
YUP ~~ Conformation Of What I've Heard For Decades
"Ya Never Hear It Coming, You're Hit Before The Sound Arrives"
Were It Not For The Pay, The USAF Would Have Been "My Choice Of Careers".
In Addition: I Worked Outside Of My Career AFSC's More Than In Them..(I Had 2)
And That Being The Case, I Could NOT Be Promoted As There Was No Person To Rate Me, Nor Was I Doing The Work; The Units I Served In Were Not In My AFSC ......
Being An E-3 Forever Was Not My Goal In Life ~~ LOL
YUP ~~ Conformation Of What I've Heard For Decades
"Ya Never Hear It Coming, You're Hit Before The Sound Arrives"
Were It Not For The Pay, The USAF Would Have Been "My Choice Of Careers".
In Addition: I Worked Outside Of My Career AFSC's More Than In Them..(I Had 2)
And That Being The Case, I Could NOT Be Promoted As There Was No Person To Rate Me, Nor Was I Doing The Work; The Units I Served In Were Not In My AFSC ......
Being An E-3 Forever Was Not My Goal In Life ~~ LOL
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