You’ve all probably seen the film clip as an Invader dropped a bouncing bomb at a mere 12ft and lost his tail.
There are many sites on the internet that show this amazing footage, however, I am unable to find a single photograph showing what she looked like.
As some of you know, I have been putting together sideviews of every type of aeroplane to have dropped a bouncing bomb.
I’m just putting the finishing touches to the DC 4 of Buffalo Airways and would like to get more info on the A26 Invader.
This is what I have:
A-26 43-22644 (42nd BG, 100th BS) lost May 5, 1945 near Tagalinog Island
on a practice skip bombing mission. Practice bomb was an inert ‘highball’
dropped over water, approx 12ft, bomb bounced off surface
and hit the plane, destroying the aircraft and killing
the entire crew.
Crew:
Lt Bryce L Anderson
Sgt Russel L Boyer
S/Sgt Dale T Jackson
Cpl Burton J Naberhuis
Any help appreciated
Baz
By: spitfireman - 24th May 2012 at 13:53
bump (or should I say bounce:rolleyes:)
By: Arabella-Cox - 23rd May 2012 at 07:46
A26 going in
Yes, that’s amazing footage of the accident.
I think it was part of the trials down under for Highball and its potential use against Japanese shipping.
As I remember, the tail is knocked clean off and the nose immediately pitches down reverse-loading the main wings which, with a small puff of smoke, snap down the middle of the fuselage in the moments before it dives in. At least it was a quick end for the crew.
One of the propellers emerges from the impact splash in its correct orientation but with its tips bent, flying through the air for another 1/4 mile completely steady. Wierd.
Anon.
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May 23, 2012 at 12:45 am