Day bomber

A day bomber is a bomber aircraft designed specifically for bombing missions in daylight. The term is now mostly of historical significance, because aircraft suited to both day and night bombing missions have become more and more prominent.

During World War I, day bombing was the normal form of bomber operations. While the same aircraft often also carried out night raids, the rudimentary bomb sight technology of 1914–1918 often made bombing sorties impractical at night. Consequently, the first purpose-built bombers were usually conceived with day bombing in mind. Day bombing was performed by the crews of aircraft ranging from light bombers – which were usually single-engine types at the time – to the first four-engine heavy bomber, the Sikorsky Ilya Muromets, operated by the Russian Imperial Military Aviation Fleet. Adapted from a pre-war civil aircraft, the Muromets was noted for its exception load-bearing abilities, by the standards of the era; (e.g.) a typical bombing configuration might comprise 500 kg (1100 lbs) and two defensive gun positions.

During the interwar period (1918–1939), day bombing continued to feature prominently in the doctrines of major air services, especially the Royal Air Force. to be well-defended against air-to-air attacks; and carried multiple defensive weapons, operated by air gunners, often heavy machine guns. Such aircraft were intended to have minimal defensive blind spots: at least one gunner would be able to sight and fire on an attacking enemy fighter, regardless of the angle at which an attacker approached.

The waist gun positions in a Boeing B-17G epitomise the heavy defensive armament carried by day bombers.

During World War II, the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, one of the heavy bombers most prominent in that war, was used mainly for day bombing missions, by the US Eighth Air Force, over Western Europe. At the same time, however, general purpose bombers and multirole aircraft were becoming more and more prominent: such designs were often capable of relatively high top speeds and rapid acceleration, assisting their pilots in avoiding direct attacks from fighters.

References

Footnotes

Bibliography

• Ian M. Philpott, 2007, The Royal Air Force, 1918-1939: Vol. II, Re-Armament 1930 to 1939. Barnsley, Yorks., UK; Pen & Sword Aviation.