Air Force the Official Service Journal - Air Force Historical Studies ...
Air Force the Official Service Journal - Air Force Historical Studies ...
Air Force the Official Service Journal - Air Force Historical Studies ...
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Jap <strong>Air</strong>-to-<strong>Air</strong> Bombing. It has become apparent that J;lP<br />
strategists arc couutiug heavily on air-to-air bombing to combat<br />
our bomber formations. Reports from all areas of <strong>the</strong><br />
Pacific indicate increasing usc of this tvpc of attack, \\hieh<br />
is less hazardous to <strong>the</strong> attacking airplane than couvcut ion.il<br />
fighter interception.<br />
~Iany Jap airplanes arc being equipped primarily for usc<br />
in air-to-air bombing. This 7th <strong>Air</strong> <strong>Force</strong> report is typical:<br />
"On one 'L'ruk mission, a healy bombardment group \I'as<br />
intercepted by sing!c-engine fighters at about 19,:;00 feet<br />
shortly after <strong>the</strong> bom h run. The enem:' figh tcrs did not make<br />
:I1lY firing passes hut did maneuver into range several times<br />
only to pull out after our gunners opened up. About eight<br />
.rir-to-uir hombing p:lsses \I'LTe made from one o'clock and<br />
three o'clock high, <strong>the</strong> attacker LIking cure to remain well<br />
away from <strong>the</strong> 1\.\F planes. About four bomhs were dropped,<br />
two of which \I'LTe close to altitude and on <strong>the</strong> course of<br />
<strong>the</strong> hom bers. I LId it not heen for evasive action, scvcr.rl<br />
i\AF planes would hale sustained hits, A, it 11':1" three<br />
planes flew through <strong>the</strong> streamers without d:unage."<br />
The Japs hale unclcrt.rkcu to -t.mdardizc an :>ir.t(hlir<br />
born h attack pl:111 for <strong>the</strong> Zeke fi~h ter. If s like th ix:<br />
The a ttuckcr comes in high from hc.ul-on, levels orF for<br />
<strong>the</strong> hom bing run at an all ituclc of about 300 feet higher<br />
th.m om homlx:r. At a Llnge of ,.,00 feet from <strong>the</strong><br />
bomber, <strong>the</strong> fighter pilot fil1C]