PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Why did US fighters not use cannon in WW2?
Old 3rd Mar 2018, 15:01
  #55 (permalink)  
Load Toad
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Hong Kong
Age: 56
Posts: 1,445
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by izod tester
I recall reading that Capt Eric "Winkle" Brown shot down 2 FW 200 Condor whilst flying the Grumman Martlett (Wildcat) from HMS Audacity. Thus the .50 cal ammunition was effective against a large 4 engined aircraft. Although the Sea Hurricane with only 8 .303cal mg did manage to down 3 FW 200 Condors, there were a number of occasions when they were unable to inflict sufficient damage to shoot them down.
IIRC he chose to attack from head on to avoid the 20mm defensive armament - and shoot into the cockpit...
Load Toad is offline