Dozens of different bombers operated on the fronts and in the rear of World War II. All of them had different technical characteristics, but at the same time they were equally important for their armies. The conduct of many ground operations became impossible or extremely difficult without the bombing of strategic enemy targets.
Heinkel
One of the main and most common bombers of the Luftwaffe was the Heinkel He 111. A total of 7600 of these machines were produced. Some of them were modifications of attack aircraft and torpedo bombers. The history of the project began with the fact that Ernest Heinkel (an outstanding German aircraft designer) decided to build the fastest passenger aircraft in the world. The idea was so ambitious that it was viewed with skepticism by both the new Nazi political leadership in Germany and industry professionals. However, Heinkel was serious. He entrusted the design of the machine to the Gunther brothers.
The first experimental aircraft was ready in 1932. He managed to break the then speed records in the sky, which was an undeniable success for an initially dubious project. But it was not Heinkel He 111 yet, but onlyhis predecessor. Passenger aircraft became interested in the army. Representatives of the Luftwaffe achieved the start of work on the creation of a military modification. The civilian aircraft was supposed to be transformed into an equally fast, but at the same time deadly bomber.
The first combat vehicles left their hangars during the Spanish Civil War. The planes were received by the Condor Legion. The results of their application satisfied the Nazi leadership. The project was continued. Later Heinkel He 111s were used on the Western Front. It was during the Blitzkrieg in France. Many enemy bombers of World War II were inferior to the German aircraft in terms of performance. His high speed allowed him to overtake the enemy and escape from pursuit. First of all, airfields and other important strategic objects of France were bombed. Intensive air support allowed the Wehrmacht to operate more effectively on the ground. German bombers made a significant contribution to the success of Nazi Germany at the initial stage of World War II.
Junkers
In 1940, Heinkel began to be gradually replaced by more modern Junkers Ju 88 ("Junkers Ju-88"). During the period of active operation, 15 thousand such models were produced. Their indispensability lay in their versatility. As a rule, the bombers of the Second World War were intended for one specific purpose - the bombing of ground targets. With Junkers, things were different. It was used as a bomber, torpedo bomber, reconnaissance and nightfighter.
Like the Heinkel, this plane set a new speed record, reaching 580 kilometers per hour. However, the production of "Junkers" began too late. As a result, only 12 vehicles were ready by the start of the war. Therefore, at the initial stage, the Luftwaffe used mainly Heinkel. In 1940, the German military industry finally produced enough new aircraft. Rotations have begun in the fleet.
The first serious test for the Ju 88 began in the Battle of Britain. In the summer-autumn of 1940, German planes stubbornly tried to take over the skies over England, bombing cities and enterprises. Ju 88s played a key role in this operation. British experience allowed German designers to create several modifications to the model, which were supposed to reduce its vulnerability. The rear machine guns were replaced and new cockpit armor installed.
By the end of the Battle of Britain, the Luftwaffe received a new modification with a more powerful engine. This "Junkers" got rid of all the previous shortcomings and became the most formidable German aircraft. Almost all World War II bombers were changed throughout the conflict. They got rid of unnecessary features, updated and received new characteristics. The Ju 88 had the same fate. From the very beginning of their operation, they began to be used as dive bombers, but the aircraft frame could not withstand too much load exerted by this method of bombing. Therefore, in 1943, the model and its sight were slightly changed. After this modification, the pilots were able todrop projectiles at an angle of 45 degrees.
Pawn
In the series of Soviet bombers "Pe-2" was the most massive, widespread (about 11 thousand units were produced). In the Red Army, he was called "Pawn". It was a classic twin-engine bomber, based on the VI-100 model. The new aircraft made its first flight in December 1939.
According to the design classification, "Pe-2" belonged to low-wing aircraft with a low wing. The fuselage was divided into three compartments. The navigator and the pilot sat in the cockpit. The middle part of the fuselage was free. At the tail was a cabin designed for the shooter, who also served as a radio operator. The model received a large windshield - all the bombers of the Second World War needed a large viewing angle. This aircraft was the first in the USSR to receive electrical control of various mechanisms. The experience was trial, because of which the system had many shortcomings. Because of them, cars often ignited spontaneously due to the contact of a spark and gasoline fumes.
Like many other Soviet aircraft of the Second World War, the Pawns faced many problems during the German offensive. The army was clearly unprepared for a surprise attack. During the first days of Operation Barbarossa, many airfields were attacked by enemy aircraft, and the equipment that was stored in those hangars was destroyed even before it had time to make at least one sortie. "Pe-2" was not always usedfor its intended purpose (that is, as a dive bomber). These aircraft often operated in groups. During such operations, bombing ceased to be pinpoint and became non-targeted when the "leading" crew gave the command to bombard. In the first months of the war, "Pe-2" practically did not dive. This was due to the lack of professional staff. Only after several waves of recruits passed through the flight schools, the aircraft was able to reveal its full potential.
Pavel Sukhov's bomber
The other bomber, the Su-2, was less common. It was distinguished by high cost, but at the same time, advanced manufacturing technologies. It was not only a Soviet bomber, but thanks to a good viewing angle and an artillery spotter. Aircraft designer Pavel Sukhoi achieved an increase in the speed of the model by transferring bombs to an internal suspension located inside the fuselage.
Like all aircraft of the Second World War, "Su" experienced all the vicissitudes of hard times. According to Sukhoi's idea, the bomber was to be made entirely of metal. However, there was an acute shortage of aluminum in the country. For this reason, the ambitious project never came to fruition.
The Su-2 was more reliable than other Soviet military aircraft. For example, in 1941, about 5 thousand sorties were made, while the Air Force lost 222 bombers (this was about one loss per 22 sorties). This is the bestSoviet index. On average, irretrievable losses amounted to one aircraft with 14 departures, which is 1.6 times more often.
The crew of the car consisted of two people. The maximum flight range was 910 kilometers, and the speed in the sky was 486 kilometers per hour. Rated engine power was 1330 horsepower. The history of the use of "dryers", as in the case of other models, is full of examples of the exploits of the Red Army. For example, on September 12, 1941, pilot Elena Zelenko rammed an enemy Me-109 aircraft, depriving it of its wing. The pilot died, and the navigator ejected according to her order. This was the only known case of ramming on the Su-2.
IL-4
In 1939, a long-range bomber appeared, which made a serious contribution to the victory of the USSR over Germany in the Great Patriotic War. It was the Il-4, developed under the direction of Sergei Ilyushin at OKB-240. It was originally known as "DB-3". Only in March 1942, the aircraft received the name "IL-4", which remained in history.
Model "DB-3" was distinguished by a number of shortcomings that could become fatal during the battle with the enemy. In particular, the aircraft suffered from fuel leaks, cracks in the gas tank, brake system failure, undercarriage wear, etc. It was extremely difficult for pilots, regardless of their training, to maintain a takeoff course during takeoff in this aircraft, regardless of their training. A serious test for "DB-3" was the Winter War. The Finns managed to find a "dead" zone near the car.
Bug fixesbegan after the completion of that campaign. Even despite the accelerated pace of aircraft modification, by the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, not all newly-made Il-4s were freed from the shortcomings of the previous model. At the first stage of the German offensive, when defense plants were hastily evacuated to the East, the quality of products (including in aviation) decreased markedly. The car did not have an autopilot, despite the fact that it constantly fell into a roll or strayed off course. In addition, the Soviet bomber received incorrectly adjusted carburetors, which caused excessive fuel consumption and, consequently, a decrease in flight duration.
Only after the turning point in the war did the quality of the IL-4 begin to noticeably improve. This was facilitated by the restoration of industry, as well as the implementation of new ideas of aviation engineers and designers. Gradually, the IL-4 became the main Soviet long-range bomber. Famous pilots and Heroes of the Soviet Union flew it: Vladimir Vyazovsky, Dmitry Barashev, Vladimir Borisov, Nikolai Gastello, etc.
Battle
In the late 1930s. Fairey Aviation designed the new aircraft. These were single-engine bombers used by the British and Belgian Air Forces. In total, the manufacturer has produced more than two thousand such models. Fairey Battle was used only in the first stage of the war. After time showed its inefficiency compared to German aircraft, the bomber was withdrawn from the front. Later it was used astraining aircraft.
The main disadvantages of the model were: slowness, limited range, and vulnerability to anti-aircraft fire. The last feature was especially pernicious. Battle was shot down more often than other models. Nevertheless, it was on this model bomber that the first symbolic victory of Great Britain in the air during the Second World War was won.
Armament was (according to the bomb load) 450 kilograms - usually it included four 113-kilogram high-explosive bombs. The shells were held on hydraulic lifts that retracted into the niches of the wings. During the release, the bombs fell into special hatches (with the exception of dive bombing). The sight was under the control of the navigator, located in the cockpit behind the pilot's seat. The defensive armament of the aircraft included a Browning machine gun located in the right wing of the vehicle, as well as a Vickers machine gun in the rear cockpit. The popularity of the bomber was explained by another important fact - it was extremely easy to handle. Piloting was handled by people with minimal flight hours.
Marauder
Among the Americans, the twin-engine Martin B-26 Marauder occupied the medium bomber niche. The first aircraft of this series was in the air for the first time in November 1940, on the eve of the outbreak of World War II. After several months of operation of the first B-26s, a modification of the VB-26B appeared. She received enhanced armor protection, new weapons. The aircraft's wingspan was increased. This was done in order to reduce the speed,required for landing. Other modifications were distinguished by an increased angle of attack of the wing and improved takeoff characteristics. In total, over the years of operation, more than 5 thousand aircraft of this model were manufactured.
The first combat operations of the "Marauders" took place in April 1942 in the skies of New Guinea. Later, 500 of these aircraft were transferred to the UK under the Lend-Lease program. A significant number of them acted in battles in North Africa and the Mediterranean. B-26s made their debut in this new region with a major operation. For eight days in a row, German and Italian troops bombed near the Tunisian city of Sousse. In the summer of 1943, the same B-26s took part in raids on Rome. Planes bombed airfields and railway junctions, causing serious damage to the infrastructure of the Nazis.
Thanks to their success, American cars were in increasing demand. At the end of 1944, they participated in repulsing the German counter-offensive in the Ardennes. During these fierce battles, 60 B-26s were lost. These losses could be overlooked as the Americans delivered more and more of their aircraft to Europe. After the end of World War II, the Marauders gave way to the more modern Douglases (A-26).
Mitchell
The other American medium bomber was the B-25 Mitchell. It was a twin-engine aircraft with a three-wheel landing gear located in the forward fuselage compartment and a bomb load of 544 kilograms. As a protective weapon, the Mitchell received medium-caliber machine guns. They werelocated in the tail and nose of the aircraft, as well as in its special windows.
The first prototype was built in 1939 in Inglewood. The movement of the aircraft was provided by two engines with a capacity of 1100 horsepower each (later they were replaced by even more powerful ones). The Mitchell production order was signed in September 1939. For several months, experts have made some changes to the design of the aircraft. Its cockpit was completely redesigned - now both pilots could sit in close proximity to each other. The first prototype had wings on top of the fuselage. After revision, they were moved a little lower - to the middle.
New sealed fuel tanks were introduced into the design of the aircraft. The crew received enhanced protection - additional armor plates. Such bombers became known as the B-25A modification. These aircraft took part in the very first battles with the Japanese after the declaration of war. The model with machine gun turrets was named B-25B. The weapon was controlled using the newest electric drive at that time. B-25Bs were sent to Australia. In addition, they are remembered for their participation in the raid on Tokyo in 1942. "Mitchells" were purchased by the army of the Netherlands, but this order was thwarted. Nevertheless, the planes still went abroad - to the UK and the USSR.
Havok
The American light bomber Douglas A-20 Havoc was part of a family of aircraft that also included attack aircraft and night fighters. During the war years, the machinesThis model appeared in several armies at once, including the British and even the Soviet. The bombers received the English name Havoc ("Havok"), i.e. "devastation".
The first representatives of this family were ordered by the US Army Air Corps in the spring of 1939. The new model received turbocharged engines, the power of which was 1700 horsepower. However, the operation showed that they had problems with cooling and reliability. Therefore, only four aircraft were produced in this configuration. The following cars received new engines (already without turbocharging). Finally, in the spring of 1941, the Air Corps received the first completed A-20 bomber. Its armament consisted of four machine guns mounted in pairs in the nose of the vehicle. The aircraft could use a variety of projectiles. Especially for him, they began to produce 11-kilogram parachute fragmentation bombs. In 1942, this model received a modification of the Gunship. She had a modified cabin. The position that the scorer occupied was replaced by a battery of four machine guns.
Back in 1940, the US Army ordered another thousand A-20Bs. The new modification appeared after it was decided to provide the Havok with more powerful small arms, including additional heavy machine guns. 2/3 of this batch were sent to the Soviet Union under the Lend-Lease program, and the rest remained in American service. The most massive modification was the A-20G. Almost three thousand of these aircraft were produced.
Great demand for Havok has loaded Douglas' factories to the limit. Hermanagement even licensed production to Boeing so that the front could get as many aircraft as possible. Cars produced by this company received other electrical equipment.
Mosquito
Only the German Ju-88 could compete with the versatility of the De Havilland Mosquito during World War II. British designers managed to create a bomber that, due to its high speed, did not need protective weapons.
The plane might not get into mass production, because the project was almost hacked to death by officials. The first prototypes were produced in a limited series of 50 cars. After that, the production of aircraft was stopped three more times for a variety of reasons. And only the perseverance of the leadership of Ford Motors gave the bomber a start in life. When the first Mosquito prototype took to the air in November 1940, everyone was amazed at its performance.
The basis of the design of the aircraft was a monoplane. The pilot sat in front, who had an excellent view from the cockpit. A distinctive feature of the machine was the fact that almost the entire body was made of wood. The wings were covered with plywood, as well as a pair of spars. The radiators were located in the forward section of the wing, between the fuselage and the engines. This design feature came in very handy when cruising.
In later modifications of the Mosquito, the wingspan was increased from 16 to 16.5 m. Thanks to improvements, the exhaust system and engines were improved. Interestingly, at first the aircraft was considered as a reconnaissance aircraft. And only after it became clear that the lightweight design had outstanding flight performance, it was decided to use the car as a bomber. "Mosquito" was used during allied air raids on German cities in the last stage of the war. They were used not only for point bombing, but also for correcting the fire of other aircraft. Model losses were among the smallest during the conflict in Europe (16 losses per 1,000 sorties). Due to the speed and altitude of the flight, the Mosquito became inaccessible to anti-aircraft artillery and German fighters. The only serious threat to the bomber was the jet Messerschmitt Me.262.
