R.A.F. Bombers

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 39, 14 August 1942, Page 4

R.A.F. Bombers

The R.A.F. so far..has conducted the big bombing operations over the Reich. Its bombers are large and medium. The largest and most successful is the Avro Lancaster, fully described in the news this week. It has a range about 3000 miles, carries eight tons of .bombs, and has a maximum speed of 300 miles an hour. It has flown to Danzig and back, and, in daylight, monopolised in the famous raid on Augsburg. The Short Stirling is also a big and successful bomber, with a maximum speed of 300 miles an hour, a range of 2000 miles, and "a maximum load of eight tons. vThe Handley Page Halifax has about the same range and speed, with a lower bomb-load of 5£ tons. These are four-engined bombers, with engines of about 1600 h.p. each. All are armed with machine-guns in turrets, mostly eight guns in three turrets. The Lancaster has ten guns in four turrets. Twin-engined bombers are still used for certain classes of operation. They include the famous Vickers Wellington, "one of the best bombers ever turned out for general piirposes. The maximum speed is 265 miles per hour, the range .3200 miles, and the bombload from H to 3 tons. The Armstrong Whitworth Whitley is lighter and slower'(24s miles per hour) and the range is put down at 1800 miles. Then there is the "old war horse," the Bristol Blenheim, which has played many roles in the war and vis still serviceable.* It is fast (300 miles an hour), is heavily gunned, and; has a range of 1900 miles. It is uncertain what • American bombers will be used, but in general the American bomber is faster, with longer range, and higher service ceilings. It is not as a rule so heavily armed as the British big bomber, nor does it carry so heavy a bomb-load: