It's called a 'Lead Assembly Ship'. Until a few days ago I'd never heard of the idea.
These brightly and uniquely coloured aircraft would lead a formation of bombers before they headed off to their intended target. With the job done they would then turn back to base. As a result of their role they would earn the nickname 'Judas Goats', after the animal which would lead others to slaughter.
As the build up of the Eighth Air Force in the UK continued during late 1942 and 1943 and as air operations increased various issues arose. These were as a result of hundreds of bomber aircraft from a number of different airfields trying to form up in the skies before they headed to their intended target. The most pressing concern was the loss of aircrews as a result of mid-air collisions and aircraft joining different groups from their own.
The solution to this problem was reached during 1943 and would require each Bomber Group to choose one of its older aircraft, normally a B-17 or B-24 Liberator, to be modified to lead that group's formation. Once the aircraft had been chosen it would be stripped of its armour and armament, fitted with extra navigations lights and repainted in a distinctive paint scheme tailored for each group.
With a basic crew of five or six people, two pilots, navigator, radio operator and either one or two crew members to discharge flares, the aircraft would be the first to take off. They would then fly to the rendezvous point discharging flares and flashing their lights until the aircraft of the group they were leading had successfully formed up. Once this had been done they would then change course for the intended target until they formed up with the other groups on the sortie. Then, along with the other lead assembly ships, turned round and returned to base.
The one pictured is either the original or a copied paint job of: B-17E (41-9100) 'Birmingham Blitzkrieg' Lead Assembly Ship in the 379th Bomb Group for the 525th Bomb Squadron. Originally served with the 97th Bomb Group.
[Isn't the Internet wonderful for this kind of research!]
It's funny - I've read about RAF bombers getting lost or not meeting up with the others from their group before - especially on REALLY big raids - but no one over here came up with a solution like this one. Of course the USAAF concentrated on daylight bombing which the RAF thought/discovered was FAR too dangerous. Presumably bombing at night they wouldn't like a lead plane lit up like a Christmas tree!!!
4 comments:
some sort of camouflage?
It's called a 'Lead Assembly Ship'. Until a few days ago I'd never heard of the idea.
These brightly and uniquely coloured aircraft would lead a formation of bombers before they headed off to their intended target. With the job done they would then turn back to base. As a result of their role they would earn the nickname 'Judas Goats', after the animal which would lead others to slaughter.
As the build up of the Eighth Air Force in the UK continued during late 1942 and 1943 and as air operations increased various issues arose. These were as a result of hundreds of bomber aircraft from a number of different airfields trying to form up in the skies before they headed to their intended target. The most pressing concern was the loss of aircrews as a result of mid-air collisions and aircraft joining different groups from their own.
The solution to this problem was reached during 1943 and would require each Bomber Group to choose one of its older aircraft, normally a B-17 or B-24 Liberator, to be modified to lead that group's formation. Once the aircraft had been chosen it would be stripped of its armour and armament, fitted with extra navigations lights and repainted in a distinctive paint scheme tailored for each group.
With a basic crew of five or six people, two pilots, navigator, radio operator and either one or two crew members to discharge flares, the aircraft would be the first to take off. They would then fly to the rendezvous point discharging flares and flashing their lights until the aircraft of the group they were leading had successfully formed up. Once this had been done they would then change course for the intended target until they formed up with the other groups on the sortie. Then, along with the other lead assembly ships, turned round and returned to base.
The one pictured is either the original or a copied paint job of: B-17E (41-9100) 'Birmingham Blitzkrieg' Lead Assembly Ship in the 379th Bomb Group for the 525th Bomb Squadron. Originally served with the 97th Bomb Group.
[Isn't the Internet wonderful for this kind of research!]
remarkable: a practical solution to a confusing problem...
It's funny - I've read about RAF bombers getting lost or not meeting up with the others from their group before - especially on REALLY big raids - but no one over here came up with a solution like this one. Of course the USAAF concentrated on daylight bombing which the RAF thought/discovered was FAR too dangerous. Presumably bombing at night they wouldn't like a lead plane lit up like a Christmas tree!!!
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