I agree completely, that the JSF is a bit of a superfluous waste. Is there any chance that it will be cancelled, or is it more likely that the JSF program will continue, and the F-22 program will suffer?

As I said to JDK on Sunday, it is just who is able to answer first with what references they have to hand! I am sure that had this question been posted at this time of night (UK BST) then a few more Americans would have sewn it up for you…
All I have is that book on the Fortress – if it is wrong or incomplete then I will look a fool amongst my peers (again) and, hopefully, I too will be enlightened when some one posts that they do, in fact, have a YB40 stored in their tool shed against the time when they can retire…;)

Are you slagging Anna?:mad:

Flood.™

Of course I’m not slagging Anna, Flood; I’m sorry if it sounded like I was making trouble here. 🙂 I’m completely harmless, trust me.

I thank you for the fantastic information and pictures you provided Flood- they’re excellent. Please, provide more if you should have the info- it’s greatly appreciated.

Regards,

google

I didn’t know you knew so much about historic aviation Flood! I figured you just hung around on the GD Forum pining after Anna and making clever jokes. 🙂

Right, that’s the same website I came across as well. I was hoping that some worthy memebers on this board might somehow have such images even if the website author didn’t…..:)

Flood posted his reply to my question on the Historic Aviation Forum- take a look at that chin turret!

“Checking my copy of The B17 Flying Fortress Story by Freeman and Osborne it says that the XB40/YB40 carried 14 x .50 calibre guns and three times the ammunition of a standard B17F. This was later upped to 16 guns when the cheek positions were added. It was not a success.
42-5897, a B17F from the 385th BG, was given a 20mm cannon but the recoil was regarded as compromising the safety of the nose compartment and was found to be difficult to aim also.
42-38090 was one of five B17Gs from 97th BG which had a similar 20mm cannon fitted in their tails.
B17G 42-31435 of the 384th BG suffered damage to its nose and was fitted with a fixed battery of six .50 calibre guns to be fired by the pilot in the event of a head on attack. It did fly a few operational sorties in July 1944 but suffered a crash landing before it could be used.

Pictures:
Top row – the nose mounted 20mm cannon installation.
Bottom row left – the tail mounted 20mm cannon.
Bottom row right – 42-31435’s six .50 gun pack.

B17G 42-38090 and its tail mounted 20mm cannon in flight.

Flood.™”

Ooh, great pic Mark2, thanks!

I hope someone took a picture of the 40mm version….