Keep That Line Rolling

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
10/14/2015 at 10:12 • Filed to: planelopnik, planelopnik history, wingspan

The Arsenal of Democracy. Republic P-47 Thunderbolts, most likely D models, the most widely produced variant (over 12,000). By the end of WWII, more than 15,000 Thunderbolts had been built, making it the most-produced American fighter in history.

DISCUSSION (8)

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > ttyymmnn
10/14/2015 at 10:22

>Oblig comment about “nice jugs”<

TheHondaBro > ttyymmnn
10/14/2015 at 10:32

I think you like planes.

ttyymmnn > TheHondaBro
10/14/2015 at 10:34

Ya think? Planes and history, actually.

Viggen > ttyymmnn
10/14/2015 at 13:57

It’s interesting to look at how many aircraft were produced in such a small span of time. The amount of factories that took in production, the work force. It’s amazing.

That being said, one thing that really fascinates me is just how many Bf 109s were made.

ttyymmnn > Viggen
10/14/2015 at 14:14

You can make a lot of airplanes (and tanks, and jeeps, and rifles, etc.) when your factories aren’t being bombed into oblivion. That’s why Japan was so stupid to pick a fight with us. Americans, on the whole, weren’t all that interested in going to war in 1941, even to help the British. Once the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, the gloves came off.

My initial assumption was that most of the 109s were produced before the war, but that was not the case. They were built in 7 factories, with the highest production year being 1944.

Total Bf 109 production was 33,984 units; Wartime production (September 1939 to May 1945) was 30,573 units. Fighter production totalled 47% of all German aircraft production, and the Bf 109 accounted for 57% of all German fighter types produced. A total of 2,193 Bf 109 A–E were built prewar, from 1936 to August 1939. (Wiki)

Viggen > ttyymmnn
10/14/2015 at 14:18

Apparently the Germans can build a lot of aircraft when their factories are being bombed into oblivion. Now getting them into the air was a different story.

ttyymmnn > Viggen
10/14/2015 at 14:30

I’m in the middle (well, after the beginning) of a fascinating history of WWII written by British military historian JFC Fuller. Germany has conquered Europe and run out of energy in Russia. Japan has just secured their Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere (a fancy name for empire) but been blunted at Midway. The tide is starting to turn. As Churchill said, “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” Fuller is no fan of strategic bombing, so it will be interesting to see what he has to say about it.

Interestingly, German production actually increased during the war. Allied strategic bombing of factories was not terribly effective, though the attacks on oil production and storage facilities were much more successful. The biggest benefit of the strategic bombing campaign against factories and cities was that the Germans had to focus on defense rather than offense, and their resources were not directed outward but inward.

Viggen > ttyymmnn
10/14/2015 at 14:40

Couple years ago, actually longer, I was in eighth grade or a freshman, I read a facinating book on the Eighth Air Force and strategic bombing in Europe. I want to say the title was Masters of the Air. One of the best books I’ve ever read.