How accurate can U.S. fighter-bombers be?

[TRDG]

This subject is from the SPR (Saving Private Ryan) movie and how the final Tiger got killed right before the end. How realistic was that, in a town with many friendlies and terrain features, a "one in a million" bomb drop or was is fairly common by this time???

Cheers, thanks in advance.

Tom

[McCoy]

They could bomb pretty well with bombs but the rockets wasn't at all that accurate.

OT. The P-51's in SPR lacks bombracks plus one of 'em is a Swedish one that was used filming it.

[TRDG]

Thanks for the reply, I know about the rockets, so at least they did'nt use those to KIA the Tiger!!!

On a side-note, the rockets were effective because they used a lot of them for a spreading target efect, like at least a couple would get near the target I think, not quite sure here??

So you would find that the Tiger being destroyed that way was pretty true to form.....? My main "wonder" here is at the time of this, were the pilots that accurate in the early part of the Normandy campaign? By the middle/end of it, you bet, but that early and how much training did they have on hiting targets in a city/town compared to in trees/brush or open country???

Cheers, any ideas anyone?

Thanks

Tom

[McCoy]

The prelude to the Normandy campaign was dominated by a offensive USAAF n' RAF over Normandy. They ruled the sky n' flew a lot with jabos (mainly P-47 n' Typhoon) in pairs seekin' stuff to destroy.

[TRDG]

But one tank in the middle of a town? Though with a very important bridge no less, but still, "just" the movies.......??

Cheers

Tom

[Geek44]

I have no evidence to back this but my opinion is 'educated'. The single engined Fighter/Bomber had no means to aim bombs making them reliant on skill and practice. I think the kill in SPR would certainly have been possible but not neccessarily probable. The more I see that movie, the less I like it.

[LAH 1 SS]

in an enclosed area such as town any tiger would be dead meat the enclosed space would have kept the explosion enclosed in the area which would have maximum effect. very rarely were tigers operating alone in the normandy campaign and they woul never have gone into a town with streets that tght where movement was limited. the ss troops would have tried to capture the town first or clear the area before the tank entered as stated before its just the movies. there has been some evidence to prove that some tigers were destroyed by direct bomb hits or close to it so anything is possible

[Geek44]

Yeah, it's pretty basic military doctrine that tanks in built up areas are at their most vulnerable. Urban warfare in any weather has to be the most 'hands-on' kind of combat.
The first twenty minutes of SPR still ranks as one of the most amazing cinematic experiences I've ever had. But it's all downhill to Hollywood after that for me.

[LAH 1 SS]

the landing on the beach all im going to say is "hell on earth" very good cinematography

[Leatchy]

I'm with the Geek on this. I saw SPR four times at the movies and the first 20 minutes are the best war themed film I have ever seen. The rest is pure shmaltz. I am over it.