"Lesser known 4.5" rocket armed aircraft" Topic

Here are a few aircraft I would not think to be armed with rockets and the 4.5" rocket launchers. I have seen these on the P-47s and P-51s. Robert

SBD-5 of Bombing Squadron Three Hundred Five (VB-305) pictured in flight carrying aerial rockets.

P-39

P-40

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How about Piper Cubs?
Bazooka Charlie would have mounted them.
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Now John. We have been over that before LOL,

"Bazookas on Piper Cubs," Topic
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"Bazooka Charlie" Topic
TMP link

Robert

I have never felt bound by the "If it has been on TMP once, we cannot bring it up again" rule.

Of course Bazookas are different from the rockets and rocket launchers pictured . I never would have thought that they would have mounted 4.5" launchers on the P-39 and P-40. These are the first photos I have seen showing them mounted on them before. I also forgot to add that there were 4.5" launchers on P-38s too. Robert

Well, OF COURSE they would have been on P-38s!

I would not be surprised to hear that the Finns stole some and mounted them on Gloucester Gladiators.

I don't know how I forgot the P-38s. I built a model of one with them years ago. I just think I have seen more photos of P-47s and P-51s with them. Robert

Does anyone have any photos of any P-38s armed with the multiple rockets racks?. Robert

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The FAA stuck them under Swordfish for use in anti-shipping & submarine strikes.

Kaoschallenged have you read Beevors D-Day? In that he saying that the rockets of the aircraft on the Normandy front had little effect? It seemed that rocket firing planes were more a terror weapon than an effective platform?! Great article / topic as always.

Yes I have MM. Years ago LOL. And I know that rockets were mounted on quite a few aircraft.But didn't know about them being mounted on P-40s and P-39s and SBDs. Robert

My Dad told me of some P-38s which accidentally sank or damaged some British minesweepers during the D-Day landings – they used missiles and cannon.

Hmmm…May have to look that up. Robert

Hi Kaos!
The'official' record said it was RAF fighters which made the mistake, but my dad, who was a radio operator on HMS Gazelle, met another radio op from one of the attacked 'sweepers in a pub, and he was told the attacking aircraft were 'twin boom Americans'.
One of the minesweepers had its stern blown off and was later scrapped.Several others were severely damaged with many casualties.
Thhe accident occured when my dad's flottilla of American built twin stack minesweepers had to return to Bristol to refuel, and were replaced by single stack British minesweepers.
Apparently the American F/Bs mistook them for similar looking German minesweepers as they returned to base from France at low level.
A sad affair, but these things happen in the chaos of war.

As to other missile carrying planes -- I am surprised no one has mentioned the Hawker Typhoon!!!

Thanks herkybird *Grin*. The Typhoon is still another well known fighter armed with rockets. I did find another photo with a P-38 armed with rockets. But they weren't in a rack like the one in the model photo I posted. Robert

Hmmm. I can find photos of model kits with the underwing Rocket rack. But my Google-fu must be weak. I can't find any actual photos. Robert

Found one here withe the other type of installation,
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Robert

IL-2 with RS – 132

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LAGG-3 equipped for RS-82

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I-153 with RS-82

PS both pics also qualify for "planes with skiis" thread ;)

Heres another. A B-25 in the CBI with 3 tubes under each wing. Robert
fold3.com/image/47636027

I think that the Soviet aircraft with Rockets are more well Known the the P-39,P-40,SBD and B-25s. Here is another P-38 in the CBI.
fold3.com/image/47636541
Robert

There is also other photos of the P-38 and B-25 there on that site too. Robert