The Swordfish is easier to shoot down because of its slow speed, but on the other hand its a steadier platform for a bombing run. :arrgh!:

Welcome:up:

RDP

Well, night doesnt matter, they are less, but still patrol around. Dont be fooled by darkness!

Leigh lights.:ping:

Radar :ping: :D

Also dont forget the allies had use of the Azores from 43 also
Aircraft from both directions

:damn:

Mainly bought about by the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance between Britain and Portugal dating back to 1373 :o

Not true. I'm pretty sure even the Swordfish had an aluminum frame. It and a couple of others had fabric skins, but most planes were built out of and skinned with aluminum. The point about the small target is right on the money, though. Also, even a .303 bullet doesn't have to penetrate anything; it just has to kill everybody standing on the bridge and gun positions, and that's more likely than the AA guns shooting down the plane.

That's correct. What I meant was that some planes were wooden or made out of fabric (Huricane, Mosquito etc). The ones that were made from aluminium were also quite "bullet free" as most of the vital equipment was stored in the front part of the plane and around the pilot. So if you drill a couple of holes in the airframe of a Spitfire (Fully made of Aluminium) it will not bring it down unless you hit something vital (i.e the pilot, the fuel tanks behind him or a multiple direct and lucky hit on the engine)

That's true. Also even if the bullets won't kill you they can cause serious injuries and the shock effect on the fellow sailors will be huge.

I can't think of anything more shocking to a crew than seeing a group of their guys with sucking chest wounds dying on the control room floor with very little in the way of medical assistance. Even if they were lucky enough to have a qualified medic aboard, gunshot wounds are not fun or easy to fix, particularly in cramped dark and damp conditions. Shock effect: Massive:o

Spot On TarJak :up: It has a horrible effect on the moral of the crew, and it also indicates their mortality. When you see your friends die in front of your eyes you start thinking that you might be next.