Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: Cvengr

I am not sure what you mean by continuously supportable. Saipan was the main base of the nuclear planes, as well as the conventional bombers.

The island hopping campaign was necessary for both. The early nuclear bombs were large, and could not be launched from a carrier based plane, or even the B-25 which was carrier based in 1942. (a one time deal, I think all of them were lost on that mission.)


10 posted on 06/19/2005 7:31:31 PM PDT by Donald Meaker (You don't drive a car looking through the rear view mirror, but you do practic politics that way.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies ]


To: Donald Meaker

I don't believe the US had any more nukes after the first two were deployed for at least another 6 months.


11 posted on 06/19/2005 7:32:59 PM PDT by Cvengr (<;^))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies ]

To: Donald Meaker
"The early nuclear bombs were large, and could not be launched from a carrier based plane, or even the B-25 which was carrier based in 1942. (a one time deal, I think all of them were lost on that mission.)"

The B-25 was never carrier-based. There was one incident (with many modifications required) where a group of B-25's flew off the deck of the carrier Hornet. This is the famous 'Doolittle Raid'. It was a psyclological raid on Tokyo. Some of the planes flew (real low) over the imperial palace but, with orders not to cause damage to it. It was a one-way trip where the pilots were to ditch in friendly Chinese territory. Some made it, many didn't.

17 posted on 06/19/2005 8:19:55 PM PDT by blam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies ]

To: Donald Meaker
Doodle Raid On Japan


18 posted on 06/19/2005 8:24:26 PM PDT by blam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson