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During WW2, aerial campaigns became a vital anchor of military operations. Most ground and naval attacks extensively used aircraft for reconnaissance and bombing missions.
The most crucial aerial asset of the European theatre was the bomber. Protected by escort fighters, the American B-17s became an icon of sheer American firepower and innovative technological advances.
However, once the war ended, thousands of B-17s were quickly sold, sent to the scrapyard, or used for experimental testing after being replaced by superior aircraft and military technologies.
As the Cold War tensions increased, with a palpable fear of a Nuclear War, some B-17s became an essential asset for testing the accuracy, speed, and damage of American missiles and other defensive systems.
One of those was Project Nike, a military program whose objective was protecting American cities from nuclear threats.
An integral part of this defensive system was the Nike Ajax, the first surface to air missile, better known as SAM. And if the US was going to be ready to take on Soviet bombers, they would have to blow up a bunch of B-17s for practice.
The most crucial aerial asset of the European theatre was the bomber. Protected by escort fighters, the American B-17s became an icon of sheer American firepower and innovative technological advances.
However, once the war ended, thousands of B-17s were quickly sold, sent to the scrapyard, or used for experimental testing after being replaced by superior aircraft and military technologies.
As the Cold War tensions increased, with a palpable fear of a Nuclear War, some B-17s became an essential asset for testing the accuracy, speed, and damage of American missiles and other defensive systems.
One of those was Project Nike, a military program whose objective was protecting American cities from nuclear threats.
An integral part of this defensive system was the Nike Ajax, the first surface to air missile, better known as SAM. And if the US was going to be ready to take on Soviet bombers, they would have to blow up a bunch of B-17s for practice.
Cold War
Flying
WWII World War Two
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 2
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Devastating, PO1 William "Chip" Nagel thanks for the read and share of the most informative.
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Just some thoughts on B-17s and the strategic bombings. The Army Airforce believed large formations of bombers could defend themselves. Boy were they wrong. We lost 4700 B-17s. The advent of the P-51 made strategic bombings much safer as they escorted the bombers.
The strategic bombers flew so high that they were often ineffective due to the height of their flying. The allies found out it is much easier to bomb a city than a manufacturing plant. The British who were victims of German rocket attacks were quite appalled at the complete devastation brought upon by strategic bombers.
The strategic bombers flew so high that they were often ineffective due to the height of their flying. The allies found out it is much easier to bomb a city than a manufacturing plant. The British who were victims of German rocket attacks were quite appalled at the complete devastation brought upon by strategic bombers.
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