World War II Database

1.  Bill says:
2 May 2009 06:53:35 PM

During 1943 the Leipheim factory built 19 examples of a powered version, the Me 323E-1 The aircraft was powered by six Gnome/Rhone 14R radial engines,of 1,200 hp each. Armament increased adding (2) HDL 151 gun turrets with a 20mm MG 151/20 gun in each, and the crew increased to seven. So far as known, the Me 323 story ended in June 1944 when TG./,5 Gruppen disappered from opernational records,after transferring to Luftflotte 4 control in May of 1944. Total production was 201 aircraft.

2.  Bill says:
8 Aug 2010 12:05:15 PM

Did You Know...

Before MOAB or "The Mother of all Bombs"
The Germans tested a 17.7 ton bomb dropped
from a Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant.

This weapon was never used in operations,the
aircraft crashed due to structural failure.
The aircraft was damaged by enemy fighters
the day before the tests.

As a transport aircraft, it could carry 120
troop or 20,000lbs of cargo.
No Messerschmitt Me 323 survives today.

3.  Bill says:
8 Aug 2010 04:29:39 PM

Continued from #2:

What is MOAB, Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb
The GBU-43/B is 21,000lb./9525kg, GPS guided weapon, It's the "Mother of all Bombs".

The weapon is carried and dropped by a USAF
C-130 Hercules aircraft.

But wait! there's more:

The Russians have their version called the
Aviation Thermobaric Bomb of Increased Power (ATBIP) the "Father of all Bombs" this is a massive 7.8 ton/7076kg weapon.

This weapon was carried and dropped by the
Tupolev Tu-160 (Blackjack) Supersonic Bomber.

More Bang for the Buck or Ruble, and more
MOAB's and FOAB's will follow.

Besides the German 17.7 ton/16057kg weapon
the British also used the "Grand Slam" this was a 22,000lb/9979kg weapon.
Carried by the RAF Avro Lancaster Bomber,and used during WWII against German targets.
One weapon is on display at the RAF Museum
London, England.

After World War II, the USAAF tested the
T-12, 44,000lb/19958kg the Boeing B-29 was
modified to carry the weapon. Tests were conducted by the now USAF in 1948.

56 of these weapons were built, by the time the project was cancelled in 1954, the USAF
considered them expensive, and with new
A-bombs and H-bombs, the T-12 had little
future with the USAF.
What happened to the rest of the T-12's after
tests? some say, there are in storage, but who really knows.

4.  Bill says:
30 Aug 2010 03:36:33 PM

Info on above photo:

Messerschmitt Me 323E-2 (C8+CB)? of I./TG 5
Odessa, 1944. This is my guess