Flying Fieldpiece

Over Florida's Eglin Field, an old B18 staggered in midair. Flame belched from its nose, and the plane slowed perceptibly. There was a loud report; the plane flew on. That experiment in aerial gunnery took place four years ago. Last summer, in the South Pacific, the Japs saw a new Mitchell bomber (B25) that also belched flame with frightening results. Last week the Army Air Forces confirmed what the enemy well knew: the U.S. had aircraft which carried a full-sized cannon.

Modified to pack a 75-mm., the B-25 has a sinister look. There is no plexiglass in the nose, only a smooth metal face with one angry, flaring nostril, from which the gun muzzle protrudes. The gun is mounted low on the left, fired by the pilot at the right. It is fixed, aimed by pointing the plane. The 20-lb. shells are loaded manually.

Secret of the use of such powerful loads in a plane is the new mechanism for absorbing the recoil. Pilots say there is little effect on flight characteristics, only a thumping jolt like driving a car over a stone in the road.

The Air Forces consider the flying 75 still in "the exploratory stage." But "exploration" has produced impressive battle results.

One of the first cannon-equipped Mitchells made a flaming kill of a Jap air transport as it was landing, with one shot from 1,500 yards. Other attacks have sunk barges, ripped up gun emplacements, shot up destroyers so that they ceased firing. Until they get a better, airmen will go on swearing that the cannon-toting B-25 is the hardest hitter yet.

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